GREENFIELD — When Ferdinanda Uchman walked into the Greenfield Senior Center on Friday afternoon to play a game of Mahjong, she was greeted by a small group of friends, family members and Mayor Ginny Desorgher, who gathered to celebrate her 100th birthday.

Desorgher, handing her a congratulatory certificate from the city, wished Uchman a happy birthday.

“We’re very, very happy for all the many, many years that you’ve been here playing these fun games,” Desorgher said. “I met [Uchman] at The Weldon playing bridge.”

While she enjoyed a birthday cupcake prior to her Mahjong game, Uchman, who was born in Adams, explained that she retired roughly 30 years ago from working as a legal secretary for the late attorney Stan Cummings. During World War II, Uchman said she worked as a secretary for the U.S. Department of the Navy in Washington D.C. after she graduated high school.

When asked if she had any advice for a long and successful life, Uchman responded, “Be good to yourself,” adding, “If you’re not, nobody else will be.

“I’ve lived during certainly different times,” she said. “I don’t recognize the world now.”

Uchman lives alone in Greenfield, and was joined by two of her three daughters, Nancy Uchman and Tricia Weimer, on Friday. Her daughters described her as a moral person who believes in living moderately. Weimer said she asked her mother on Thursday, May 8, which marked her official birthday, how she would describe the changes she’s seen in the world since she was young and her mother spoke of a decline in morality.

“She lives and does what she loves. She loves her games and her family,” Nancy Uchman said. “I guess her motto is ‘Everything in moderation.’”

Greenfield Council on Aging Director Hope Macary referred to Uchman as a “lovely person” and a talented Mahjong player who frequents the Senior Center. Macary added that within the last 20 years, the Senior Center has seen more and more centenarians, or residents living to the age of 100 or older.

“She’s been a member for a long time, a longtime bridge player, and she segued to Mahjong at some point. We’re happy to have the whole family here today to celebrate,” Macary said. “We have more and more centenarians, much more than we had maybe 20 years ago. People are living longer and have an improved quality of life in their aging years, so we’re delighted to have several [Senior Center] members over 100.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.