The U.S. Is Getting Ready To Celebrate America’s Oldest Living Person’s 116th Birthday

Meet California resident Edith “Edie” Recagno Keenan Ceccarelli. She loves a good meal, showing off her stylish outfits, and being gussied up for the day ahead – and she’s been enjoying her favorite things in life for 115 years. This February, the Golden State will be celebrating Ceccarelli on her 116th birthday as the oldest living person in the United States.

Ceccarelli was born on February 5, 1908, in quaint Willits, California, population: 4,988 residents. The entire area has had a tradition now of celebrating the supercentenarian – anyone who reaches 110 and older – on February 4 for years now. Ceccarelli has some remarkable credits to her name as the oldest confirmed Californian in recorded history as well as the second-oldest person in the world.

America is celebrating the 116th birthday of Edith Recagno Keenan Ceccarelli

One of Ceccarelli’s many admirers, Evelyn Perisco, has big dreams for this year’s parade. Ceccarelli is another year past a major milestone and closer to even more; the oldest living person on Earth is just a bit ahead of her at 116 years, a record belonging to Maria Branyas.

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“I think it’s going to be very well attended,” said Perisco, who has known Ceccarelli since she became a centenarian. The two grew closer after her own retirement. “Hard to put a number on it, but last year it went for a couple of hours.”

She added, “We’re hoping the weather is going to be cooperative so they can have her out and view the parade and the parade people can see her.”

Meet America’s oldest living citizen and the oldest Californian in recorded history, Edith Ceccarelli

The supercentenarian was born as Edith Recagno, the daughter of an Italian immigrant named Agostino who took work in lumber, sold groceries from a horse-drawn buggy, and helped build parts of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. She’s the eldest of seven and has outlived all of her siblings.

Ceccarelli graduated from Willits Union High School in 1927 and married Elmer “Brick” Keenan in 1933. Together, they adopted a daughter, Laureen, who went on to marry and have three children of her own. Tragically, Laureen and her children had a genetic condition that saw Ceccarelli outlive them all.

After Keenan died in 1984, Ceccarelli married Charles Ceccarelli and they stayed happily married until his death in ’90.

The drive-by parade takes place on the eve of Ceccarelli’s birthday, accessed by Highway 101 North to exit 568, and heading to Grove Street. Last year, more people than ever headed to the Holy Spirit Residential Care Home in decorated cars to celebrate her on her special day.

A very happy 116th birthday to Edith Recagno Keenan Ceccarelli!

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