By Joe Bayona—

HOPELAWN – On Wednesday July 3, the Most Holy Rosary Seniors group gathered for their 4th of July picnic, or so it seemed to Antoinette Acciani. You see on the eighth of July Antoinette turned 100 years old and this luncheon was a surprise birthday party in her honor.

Mayor’s Aide Irving Lozada presents Antoinette with Mayoral Citation.

Antoinette was born in Calabria, Italy to parents Francesca and Pasquale Bonarrigo in 1913. As a young girl in school in Italy, Antoinette recalled walking a mile to school. Her mother used to give her bread to eat on the way and for lunch. Antoinette recalled one day when her mother gave her moldy bread. She said, “Mom, I can’t eat this it’s moldy.” Her mother said, “Eat it, you’ll get curly hair.” “In those days young girls in Italy were sent to school to learn a trade,” she told me; “I learned to sew.”

She immigrated to the United States in 1926 at the age of 13. She remembered her mother crying when she saw the Statue of Liberty and a group of men singing on the deck of the ship as they entered New York Harbor. She attended school in Perth Amboy. Antoinette remembered how the other children at school would make fun of her because she didn’t understand the language when they were playing games like “Ring around the Rosie.” This made her determined to learn English. So between school and a friend, who helped her, she did.

Her knowledge of sewing came in handy when, as a young woman, she got a job in a dress factory across from the old high school through a relative. She once put together a dress for designer Bob Mackie. She remembers him saying, “From a shoemaker I got this beautiful dress”. Shortly after, Antoinette was promoted to supervisor making 100 dollars a week, “which was big money in those days,” she recalled. She worked there for 35 years.

Committee members pose with Antoinette. L to R: Vice President Ronnie DeMatteo, President Connie Hudanish, Secretary Beverly Poloka, and Treasurer Jack Masculine.

Antoinette married Anthony (Tony) Acciani, who owned a barbershop under the old Washington Street Bridge.

Together they had 2 children, Grace and Robert, who graced her with 3 grand children and 7 great grand children.

At 100, Antoinette never takes pills, (except for vitamins), rarely sees a doctor, and still drives. She attends church every Sunday and is active in most church functions. She has traveled all over the world including China. She even rode a camel in the Middle East.

When asked the secret to her longevity she replies, “I drink one glass of red wine every night, just one glass.”

From myself and the staff at The Amboy Guardian, Happy Birthday Antoinette and many more.