Born Feb. 2, 1924, in New York City to Rose and Sabato Cavalluzzo, Caraccio grew up in the Bronx with three sisters and one brother. Her path to centenarian status wasn’t without hardship. At age 25, following the birth of her first child, she endured a year-long battle with tuberculosis, spending months apart from her family in upstate New York during her recovery.

Today, that resilience has paid dividends. Caraccio is the mother of three, grandmother of three, and great-grandmother of six. She credits her longevity to good genes, a loving family, and an appreciation for life’s simple blessings.

The birthday celebration drew an impressive roster of local officials bearing proclamations. Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena, Council Member Mariann Dalimonte, and Nassau County Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton all attended. Representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi, Assembly Member Daniel Norber, and state Sen. Jack Martins also presented honors, along with the Peter & Jeri Dejana Foundation.

“Celebrating our dear member Anna Caraccio’s 102nd birthday was a beautiful reminder of what makes the Port Washington Adult Activities Center so special. A place where friendships flourish, generations connect, and milestones are shared together,” said Debbie Greco Cohen, executive director of the center. “We’re grateful to Anna’s family, our members, and local officials who joined us to honor this incredible moment of community and joy.”

The festivities included a bubbly apple cider toast and birthday cake. Family members in attendance included her son Louis and his wife Mary, plus her 96-year-old sister, Rose, proving longevity runs in the Cavalluzzo family.

Caraccio’s story reflects the broader narrative of North Shore communities, where immigrant families who arrived in the early 20th century put down roots and built multi-generational legacies. She married her sweetheart after World War II and began her married life in a rented room, grateful for simple comforts and the promise of the future.

That appreciation for life’s basics has apparently served her well through more than a century of changes on Long Island and beyond.