For her birthday, the thing Dorothy Stickney Frost wanted most was a big bash.

At 100 years old, she deserved it, and a bash was what she got.

The Bow resident, who has lived in town for more than 40 years, celebrated her birthday with about 60 friends and family on Aug. 31 in anticipation of her birthday, which was Sept. 11.

Frost’s daughters Polly Frost Gilson and Gail Loomis, who works as the administrative assistant for the Board of Selectmen’s office, and her husband, Jim Loomis, hosted the party.

“Jim and Gail had that party and it wasn’t a surprise, but a lot of people that were there were a surprise,” Frost said. “I had a beautiful time.”

Both of Frost’s daughters attended the party as well as several of her grandchildren and many great grandchildren, who range in age from 1 to 21 years old.

Frost’s family came from near and far: daughter-in-law Colleen Frost of Utah, grandchildren Sarah Loomis McEntee and husband Tom of California, Mark Loomis and wife, Val, of Pembroke, and Heather Gilson McClintock and husband, Greg, of Lancaster, Mass. Scott Gilson and family from California were not able to attend as well as Jeff Frost from Illinois and Tim Frost from Utah.

Since the age of 98, Frost has held a special honor in Bow as the holder of the Boston Post Cane, which is given to the oldest resident in town. The award was designed in the 1800s and a cane was given out to every town in New Hampshire for its oldest resident, but many towns have since lost track of their cane.

“I have that right in my bedroom,” said Frost. “I don’t use it, because I have my own cane, but that was quite a nice thing as well. I am very proud of it.”

Gail Loomis was proud to see her mother reach such a milestone birthday.

“I think it’s exceptional that someone can reach that age in the first place, but to be able to still do things and get around is pretty exceptional,” she said.

Jim Loomis has developed a special relationship with his mother-in-law.

“She has been more than a mother-in-law, I call her a mother- in-love,” said Jim Loomis. “I would describe her as a very thoughtful person who, at 100, still at times has a great sense of humor. She is sharp as a tack.”

Seeing her mother reach the century mark gives Gail Loomis a reason to smile for more than one reason.

“I love her a lot and I hope she’s got many more,” she said. “I feel pretty optimistic. They talk about good genes. She had other relatives who were right up there, including an uncle who was 105. There are definitely good genes on her side of the family, and hopfully I got some of them.”