Any woman who makes it to the beautiful age of 100 deserves to be treated like the ultimate queen, complete with a tiara, sash and a group of loving subjects parading around in celebration of such a remarkable milestone.
That’s exactly how the community of Arbor Terrace at Citrus Park in Tampa, Fla., marked the centennial birthday of Jennie Ciccarello on Aug. 12. Decked in her Sunday best and surrounded by oversized “100” balloons, Jennie sat under the porte-cochére smiling and waving as the vehicles paraded around the building. Police cars led the parade, a local business tossed beads and filled the air with soap bubbles, and her loved ones blew her kisses and shed happy tears.
The new centenarian was born in Tampa, right at the beginning of the Roaring Twenties. It was a decade of economic prosperity, when Americans owned cars, radios and phones for the first time, and women earned the right to vote. Woodrow Wilson was president; movies were silent; the Charleston made dancing way more fun; and what we know as the NFL was formed.
Sports would be a big part of Jennie’s life, beginning in her teenage years when she played basketball and volleyball, to her first job sewing uniforms for football and baseball players. Several years later she became manager of the garment shop where she made so many treasured memories.
She credits her aunt, Carmella, and uncle, Vincenzo, who adopted her at a young age, for instilling in her the value of hard work that she passed along to her own children.
She was married for 65 years to her childhood friend and neighbor, Tony, whom she calls “a wonderful man.” Today, she’s most proud of her three children, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren – a bunch that includes teachers; business owners; health care providers; and even two television editors who worked on the popular reality show “Survivor”.
When asked about her advice for staying young, she says that besides walking and staying active every day “you gotta eat your vegetables.”
Happy Birthday, Jennie!
