America’s oldest living person Edie Ceccarelli turns 116 today: Second oldest person on Earth will enjoy hometown party – TH

America’s oldest living person Edie Ceccarelli turns 116 today: Second oldest person on Earth will enjoy hometown party

THE oldest person living in the United States is marking her 116th trip around the sun in a town-wide celebration.

Edith “Edie” Recagno Keenan Ceccarelli, from Willits, California roughly three hours north west of Sacramento, is celebrating her milestone birthday on Monday.

The oldest living person in the United States Edie Ceccarelli turns 116 on Monday

Her northern California hometown has been celebrating her birthday for years

She was born in Willits, California, in 1908
Ceccarelli is the oldest recorded living person in the US, and second oldest on Earth, according to data collected by the Gerontology Research Group.

She is just 11 months younger than American Maria Branyas Morera who will be turning 117 in March.

Morera currently lives in Spain.

While Ceccarelli officially turns 116 on Monday, her birthday was the talk of the town in the days leading up to it.

In fact, the small northern California town threw a massive celebration in her honor on Sunday.

Organizers and city employees revealed to USA Today that they would be hosting a parade, which would feature the vice mayor, council members, first responders, the Boy Scouts, horses, and a locally famous dog walker.

The parade was scheduled to pass directly by the assisted living home where Ceccarelli has lived for nine years, so she could see the highly decorated cars.

“Every year at her birthday, we make sure she knows how special she is,” Suzanne Picetti, the lead organizer of the parade, told the outlet.

Ceccarelli has been celebrating her birthday with the town of Willits every year since she turned 100.

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

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

In return, Picetti said the town looks to make sure Ceccarelli knows “how special she is.”

The celebrations turned into a parade in 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition to the joyful parade, Ceccarelli can expect a delicious carrot cake and strawberry ice cream.

Perla Conzalez, one of her caretakers, told USA Today that the birthday girl would likely eat the yummy desserts at around 11:0 am on Sunday, and then take a nap ahead of the afternoon parade that would last around an hour.

Willits residents typically start planning the celebrations in December of every year, and have said they will continue to host the hoopla rain or shine.

Ceccarelli’s is well-loved by her community and hometown, where she was born in 1908 after her family immigrated from Italy in the early 1900s.

The long-time California resident has reportedly not lived anywhere else.

“It’s really an honor for the city to have a person with the history she has, having been born and raised in Willits,” town clerk Delores Pedersen told USA Today.

Ceccarelli’s family has described her as a hard worker, “people person,” and beloved by all.

She was the oldest of seven children, all of whom she outlived, according to Ceccarelli’s cousin, Evelyn Persico.

The birthday girl is also known for her sense of fashion as well as her love for dancing, cooking, and walks.

“She had a very happy, fruitful life,” Persico added.

“I just feel that she’s God’s chosen one to be on Earth as long as she has been.”