Come celebrate a special occasion with us as we honor Edith “Edie” Recagno Keenan Ceccarelli, who is turning an amazing 116 years old! Edie lives in the lovely town of Willits in northern California, and her community is throwing her a fantastic birthday party.
A Legendary Resident
Edie is the oldest person in the United States and the second-oldest person in the world, as recognized by the Gerontology Research Group. She celebrates her birthday on February 5th, and the town of Willits has a special tradition of honoring her every year. This year, the celebration will happen on Sunday, February 4th, and it will include a big parade that showcases her amazing life and achievements.
A Parade Fit for a Legend
The birthday parade is set to be the biggest celebration of the season in Willits! City workers, like the vice mayor, a council member, and members of the fire and police departments, along with the Boy Scouts, will all be part of the fun. As the parade goes through the town, everyone—both locals and visitors—can join in by decorating their cars with balloons, flags, signs, and streamers while driving by Edie’s assisted living home.
Suzanne Picetti, who is in charge of organizing the parade, highlights how important it is to make Edie feel loved on her birthday. “We always want her to know just how special she is on her big day,” Suzanne explains. Edie is really looking forward to enjoying her favorite carrot cake and strawberry ice cream, and then she plans to take a nice nap before the fun really starts.
A Community United in Joy
The birthday party has always been something the whole community gets involved in. When Edie turned 100, she started inviting everyone in town to join the fun. Her friends even went to The Willits News to let everyone know about this big public celebration. “It really unites the community to honor such an amazing person. It fills our town with joy and happiness,” says Suzanne.
A Life of Hard Work and Resilience
Edie was born in Willits in 1908 and has lived her whole life in northern California. She has called places like Eureka, Ukiah, and Santa Rosa home at different times. Her parents came from Italy and moved to Willits in the early 1900s. Edie is the oldest of seven kids and has outlived all of her siblings.
Growing up, Edie and her siblings learned the value of hard work, contributing to the family income by taking on odd jobs and helping with farm work. Life in those days was all about physical labor, walking everywhere, and growing their own food. Despite the challenges, Edie’s family persevered and built a house in which she was born.
A Testament to Elegance and Grace
Edie is not just a dedicated worker; she is also known for her amazing fashion sense. Even at 100 years old, you could spot her walking around town, looking fabulous in her stylish outfit, complete with a hat, gloves, jewelry, and perfect makeup. She raised a daughter with her first husband, who was a typesetter at the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, and now she enjoys being a grandmother to three granddaughters.
Throughout her life, Edie found happiness in dancing, cooking, gardening, and going for walks. She has undoubtedly led a fulfilling and extraordinary life.
Come celebrate Edie’s amazing life with us this Sunday! The parade will go on no matter the weather because our community’s spirit is too strong to be affected by rain or shine. Let’s make this 116th birthday unforgettable for America’s oldest living person, Edith “Edie” Recagno Keenan Ceccarelli!
