We all dream of growing old and being able to look back on a life filled with meaning while still enjoying the days we have left.
For centuries, people have searched for the secret to living a long, healthy life — pushing human longevity as far as possible. Of course, eating well, exercising, and caring for your body are proven ways to increase your chances, but could there be more to it than that?
One woman who’s lived more than a century — and still works almost every day — believes she’s found the key.
At 101 years old, Ann Angeletti is a living example of vitality and purpose. Despite her age, she continues to work six days a week in New York’s Diamond District, where she’s well-loved by her customers.
Speaking to ABC7 NY, Ann shared that she began working young, leaving school to help with her family’s grocery store in Brooklyn. During World War II, while her husband was serving overseas, she worked as a waitress in New York, and she’s been in business ever since. Today, she still runs her jewelry shop, Curiosity Jewelry in Cresskill, with help from her daughter and granddaughter — but she remains hands-on with the daily operations.
Reflecting on how she came to own the shop, Ann recalled: “I was driving by, saw the store for rent, and called the owner. He said it was $85 a month — that was in 1964.”
She laughed and added, “If I retire, I would die.”
Though the store officially opens five days a week, Ann works six — a schedule she credits for keeping her sharp and fulfilled.
When asked about the secret behind her longevity, she said it all comes down to consistent self-care:
“You must get up, you must shower, you must eat, you must take care of yourself. You must exercise. If you don’t like what you’re doing, then change.”
Her daily goal is simple but powerful: “Make the most of the day. I’m happy working every day.”