Tewksbury Woman Celebrates 107th Birthday

TEWSBURY, Mass. -- A Tewksbury woman celebrated her 107th birthday on Friday, and her family said she survived with hard work and prayer.

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David Boeri Reports On Birthday Celebration

NewsCenter 5's David Boeri reported that when Mary Scelzo was born, Grover Cleveland was president and the country was headed to war with Spain.

"I'm still here. Ain't my time yet," said Scelzo.

When she was 97, Scelzo fell off a ladder while washing her windows and decided to move in with her daughter. When she was 105, her daughter thought she should move to a Tewksbury hospital.

"The reason she's here is because she worked hard, and she prays very hard," said Scelzo's daughter, Mary McIntire, 83.

Sclezo recites the rosary 40 times a day. When that got her to 100, Scelzo said she set her goal at a 103 -- the Rose Kennedy standard.

"She said when Rose Kennedy died that she was going to outlive her and out live her a lot," said McIntire.

Four years ago, she hit the 103 mark, and she is still going strong.

When she turned 100, Scelzo said she zeroed the count and started over.

"I'm 7 years old," said Scelzo.

Scelzo's parents were from Italy and she grew up on a farm in Woburn. All these years later, she said she remembers the taste of sweet peppers and the taste of Boston seafood.

With her husband, Mickey, she opened the Rainbow Nightclub in Wilmington, Mass., where big bands played.

Scelzo, whose grandchildren have grandchildren, said she has a secret to reaching 107.

"I got drunk. Could you blame me?" said Scelzo.