116 Years-Old! How America’s Oldest Centenarian Edith Ceccarelli Marked Her Birthday— What’s Her Secret?

RELATED: What You Need to Know About Aging

In a heartwarming New York Times article, recognizing the incredible woman’s milestone birthday and the historic events she’s lived through, Ceccarelli was photographed at a table with a large cake, lots of flowers, balloons surrounding her, and a sign reading, “AGE is just a number! Happy 116th EDIE!”

We’re thrilled to see a woman aged 116 living life to the fullest and in the presences of her loved ones. Ceccarelli is surely someone to look up to as she’s likely has captivating stories to tell—she’s lived through two World Wars and two pandemics.

At 116, she is the oldest known person in the U.S. and the second oldest on Earth.

For most of that time, she has lived in one place: a village tucked in California’s redwood forests that was once known for logging but now may be better known for her. https://t.co/EQ4i4LeBAf

— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 8, 2024

Willits Mayor Saprina Rodriguez, 52, attending Ceccarelli’s birthday bash, saying, “When she hit her hundredth birthday, the whole community was kind of in awe, and she became a bit of a local celebrity,” according to The New York Times.

Ceccarelli’s birthday festivity was equipped with a parade of residents, including of police cars and fire trucks, balloons, flowers, and people singing.

Longtime Willits resident, who was leading an S.U.V. with the words “Happy Sweet 116!” on it, told the Times, “She’s a local icon. She’s always been just a total delight, and we’re thrilled to celebrate her one more year.”

The lead parade organizer, Suzanne Picetti, told USA TODAY, “Every year at her birthday, we make sure she knows how special she is.”

“Her birthday, ever since she was 100 has always been a community thing, a public party,” she added.

“It brings community together to celebrate a really special human being. It bring a lot of joy and happiness to our community.”

Ceccarelli’s longing to live life to the fullest was previously shown when she put an ad in her local newspaper, when she was 104, which read, “I, Edith Ceccarelli, also known as ‘Edie’ by her family and a multitude of friends, would like to keep on dancing.

“Dancing keeps your limbs strong. What is nicer than holding a lovely lady in your arms and dancing a beautiful waltz or two-step together?”

According to the Gerontology Research Group, which has dedicate a page on its website to Ceccarelli, the centenarian was “the first of seven children born to Italian immigrants Agostino and Maria Recagno.”

“She married Elmer ‘Brick’ Keenan and moved to Santa Rosa, California, where he worked as a pressman for the Santa Rosa Democrat,” research group continued. “When he retired after 36 years, they returned to Willits. After her husband’s death in 1984, she married Charles Ceccarelli in 1986. She widowed in 1990.”

Ceccarelli ultimately moved into a senior living facility at age 107. Two years later she had a hip replacement at 109, and the other hip replaced at 111.

According to USA Today, Ceccarelli’s caretakers and family members noted she may not be able to talk on the phone or talk with others like she used to, but she’s still able to feed herself.

Ceccarelli’s cousin, Evelyn Persico, also spoke with USA TODAY, saying, Ceccarelli has always been a “people person” and truly believes she’s “God’s chosen one to be on Earth as long as she has been.”

She also noted how Ceccarelli— who enjoyed cooking, walking, and dancing in her adult life— and her first husband had one daughter and three granddaughters together.

Understanding Aging

It’s understandable that aging can feel like a mystery at times, and it’s great to see Ceccarelli taking life day by day surrounded by her beloved communityl. After all, we’ve all heard phrases like “Age is just a number,” but what does that mean? And how does it impact our health and well-being?

From the day we are born, our bodies and minds start to change and grow. This continuous process is, fundamentally, what we call ‘aging.’ Life is a journey filled with countless changes, and aging is an integral part of that journey. Quite often, when we talk about aging, we focus on the physical changes, but it’s also about the evolution of our mental and emotional states.

SurvivorNet has provided an overview of aging to guide you through this universal process.

Some key points to remember about aging:

• Aging is a natural biological process that affects everyone.
• The experience of aging can vary greatly among individuals.
• While aging comes with some inevitable changes, many aspects of aging are influenced by lifestyle choices and attitudes.

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• With the right information, support, and proactive strategies, aging can be a rich and fulfilling stage of life.
• Aging isn’t something to fear or shy away from—it’s a phase of life that we all share.

Healthy Aging Tips

Healthy aging isn’t just about accomplishing medical check-ups or managing illnesses. It’s also about maintaining a high quality of life as you age, keeping your body and mind as robust as possible, and living life to the fullest. SurvivorNet has put together some tips that can help you age healthily:

• Physical Activity: Try to incorporate at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise into your daily routine. This could be walking, cycling, swimming—any physical activity you enjoy!
• Nutrition: Eat a balanced diet heavy on fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Limiting processed foods, sugars and unhealthy fats can make a big difference in your overall health.
• Social Engagement: Stay socially active. Whether it’s attending family gatherings, participating in group hobbies, volunteering, or just catching up with friends, maintaining social connections can significantly enhance your emotional health and well-being.
• Mental Stimulation: Engage in activities that stimulate your mind. This could include reading, doing puzzles, learning a new skill or language, or even playing memory-boosting games.
• Regular Check-ups: Don’t forget about your regular medical, dental, and eye check-ups. Prevention is always better than cure!
• Sleep: Good sleep is vital for your overall health. Practice good sleep hygiene – keep a regular sleep schedule, make your sleeping environment comfortable and quiet, and try to avoid screens before bed.

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Remember, consistency is the key. Building these habits and making them part of your daily routine can potentially slow down the aging process and improve your overall well-being.

Even small steps can have a significant impact, so it’s never too late to start. After all, aging is just another word for living. And our aim should not be to just live longer, but to live healthier and happier.

Milestones Really Matter

Edith Ceccarelli may have never battled cancer, but she’s certainly seen a lot and been through it all during her 116 years of life. She’s truly an inspiration to anyone dealing with challenges or all that comes with aging.

Remember, by making a list, whether physically or mentally, of all the things you want to do or moments you want to be there for, it can make you even more determined to push through the hard times, like cancer treatment.

Chrissy Degennaro is the perfect example of how determination can help you appreciate milestones even more. Degennaro has been battling a rare blood cancer called multiple myeloma for 14 years, and was first diagnosed when she was 36-years-old. She had a 2-year-old son at the time, and once hearing the news, almost expected to not be able to see him enter kindergarten. However, she was determined to try as hard as possible.

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Over the past 14 years, she’s gone through 27 rounds of chemotherapy, two stem cell transplants, participated in a CAR T cell trial, and had two CAR T cell transplants. Needless to say it’s been a difficult road, and continues to be, but she’s enjoying every day to the fullest.

Chrissy Degennaro Focused On Milestones During Cancer Treatment, And It Paid Off

“You know, I do live one day at a time,” Degennaro told SurvivorNet in an earlier interview. “Now, maybe I can go a week, a month, but things are looking pretty good. I’m able to be here for more milestones for my son, for more holidays, more birthdays. I do feel like I have had another chance at life.”

The Importance of Support

Having a strong support system is crucial during the emotionally and physically taxing job of fighting cancer, battling disease, or even aging. As Edith Ceccarelli continues to age, her quality of life is enhanced by her supportive friendships, family members, and community.

The Benefit of Support Networks for Cancer Patients

“Studies have found consistently that loneliness is a significant risk factor for physical and mental illnesses and the trajectory of recovery,” licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin told SurvivorNet.

“The act of sharing our time and words with others can alleviate emotional and physical pain.”

In order to receive support, however, it is imperative you share at least some details about your journey, either with disease or a disability, with others. But whom you share with and how much to share is entirely up to you.

“Some people start to kind of share the information with many family members and friends, and they feel that works for them, and that it’s a way that they can get support from other people,” New York-based psychiatrist Dr. Lori Plutchik said. “Other people are much more private about it, and there is no one right way to handle this diagnosis. People should do what feels right to them.”

Some cancer survivors don’t need to go beyond their circle of family and friends for support, but others might need a little extra help. For the latter group, Dr. Plutchik recommends reaching out to a mental health professional who has experience working with cancer warriors.

“Try to find a mental health professional who is experienced in this area and who really understands the nuance and intricacies involved in this,” Dr. Plutchik explained. “Make sure that the mental health professional that you work with is reaching out with your consent to the rest of the team, to the oncologist, to the surgeon if those people are involved.

“It can be helpful to reach out to family, friends, anybody else, any other caretakers that would be involved in the person’s treatment. You don’t want a situation where everybody is kind of doing their own thing on the team.”

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Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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