Edith Keenan Ceccarelli

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Ceccarelli

Edith "Edie" Ceccarelli (née Recagno, formerly Keenan; born February 5, 1908) is an American supercentenarian.[1] At the age of 116 years, 1 day, she is the oldest person living in the United States and is also the second oldest living person in the world after Maria Branyas Morera from Spain.[2][3]

Life
Born in Willits, California, on February 5, 1908, Ceccarelli is the eldest of the seven children of Italian immigrants Agostino and Maria Recagno, who both lived into their 90s.[2] Her father was a lumber worker who also sold groceries by horse and buggy before opening a store in Willits in 1916.[4] She graduated from Willits Union High School in 1927.[3]

Ceccarelli danced regularly well into old age, and lived independently until she turned 107 and moved into a retirement home. She suffers from dementia, but was able to walk with a walker until her 114th birthday.[4] Each year her birthday is celebrated officially by the town of Willits,[5] most recently with a drive-by parade to mark her 116th birthday.[2][6]

Family
In 1933, she married Elmer Keenan, whom she had met at high school, and moved with him to Santa Rosa, California, where he worked as a typesetter for the The Press Democrat.[2] They adopted a daughter, Laureen,[2] and returned to Willits in 1971. After being widowed in 1984, she married Charles Ceccarelli in 1986 and was widowed for a second time in 1990.[3]

Ceccarelli has outlived her six younger siblings, two husbands, a daughter and three grandchildren.[7]

References

"World Supercentenarian Rankings List – Gerontology Research Group". Retrieved 2023-11-24.

The Guardian, "Sweet 116: town throws birthday bash for America’s oldest person", February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.

The Ukiah Daily, "Willits resident Edie Ceccarelli, Earth's third-oldest-known living person, to celebrate 115th birthday", January 24, 2023. Retrieved November 24, 2023.

"Essential California: At 113, she may be the oldest native Californian in the state". Los Angeles Times. 2021-02-16. Retrieved 2023-11-24.

USA Today, "America's oldest living person is turning 116. Her hometown is throwing a birthday bash", February 2, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2024.

The Press Democrat, "Oldest living American Edie Ceccarelli of Willits celebrates 116th birthday with parade", February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2024.

"At 113, she's California's oldest native. She got through a tough 2020 and is still going strong". Los Angeles Times. 2021-02-21. Retrieved 2023-11-24.