Oak Park hosts 'Be Like Betty' celebration on Jan. 15

Betty White is getting a special celebration in her hometown of Oak Park on Saturday, Jan. 15.

The "celebration of the life” to honor the late actress begins at 10 a.m. under the marquee of the Classic Cinemas Lake Theater, just days before what would have been White’s 100th birthday on Jan. 17. 

"Betty is something someone different and we feel like everyone wants to celebrate her everyone wants to be like Betty,” Oak Park resident and event organizer, Lourdes Nicholls, told WLS-TV.

White graced the screen for more than 60 years in a host of unforgettable roles, including Rose on “Golden Girls.” 

Cindy Fee, the woman who sang the theme song for the sitcom, lives in Oak Park and is set to perform at the event.

Across the street from the theater, there will also be an Animal Care League pet adoption event. White was a life-long animal rights advocate.

Oak Park businesses will also participate in the special day:

Wise Cup, 1018 Lake St., has created a unique coffee drink called the "Betty White Mocha.”

Tre Sorelle Ristorante, 1111 Lake St., will be serving a Betty White martini throughout the weekend.  

Sugar Fixe Patisserie, 119 N Marion St., will be selling limited edition "Stay Golden" cookies with White's face atop the frosting. 

"I thought of a Betty White quote that I heard long ago that she said, 'You can't become a professional mourner.' And with that, I thought we are still moving forward, and it's gonna be great,” said Nicholls. 

White died at the age of 99 on New Year's Eve. Her death certificate said she died after suffering a stroke on December 25.

Related: Golden-Con, a first-ever 'Golden Girls' fan convention, to honor Betty White’s life and legacy