Staten Island Live – by Carol Ann Benanti
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Experts maintain that women who drink alcohol in moderation have a better chance of staying healthy as they age than non-drinkers — especially if they spread out their consumption over most days of the week.
And now, one South Beach woman — a super centenarian in fact, who seems to have acquired just the right recipe for longevity — has adopted that theory and lives the above-mentioned hypothesis each and every day. Read on and we’ll explain!
Hooray for Nancy Lamperti, who should be applauded on this Easter Sunday, on the occasion of her 101st birthday.
Born Annunziata Ranieri on March 30, 1912, in the town of Oppido Mamertina, in the Province of Reggio Calabria, Italy, to Josephine and Rocco Ranieri, Nancy was one of three children.
Her brother was Vincent and her sister Rose. Interestingly, Nancy (Annunziata), was named after the Feast of the Annunciation.
Nancy Lamperti in a photograph as a young adult.Family photoAccording to Nancy’s son, Louis Lamperti Jr., his mom was forced to curtail her education, and picked olives in the mountains of her town in order to help support her family.
In 1927, Josephine brought Nancy, Rose and later Vincent to America aboard the SS Conte Biancamano.
The Lampertis opted to settle in the Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn, the neighborhood where Nancy found work as a seamstress at a time when wages were just $10 a week.
She met her husband, Louis Lamperti, in 1940. He was a carpenter by trade.
In 1945, the couple said their “I do’s” in Our Lady of Guadalupe R.C. Church, Brooklyn.
In time, Nancy and Louis relocated to Staten Island and moved into a small bungalow apartment off Sand Lane in South Beach.
They became the parents of twin daughters, Dolores and Lucille, and later settled in another South Beach home, where they raised their family, who also included a son, Louis Jr. who was born nine years later.
Louis, our source, reveals that his mom’s day usually begins around 5 a.m. — with her often still insisting on making the coffee — and the beds.
Her lunch consists of a small sandwich plus a banana, and two glasses of Paisano wine, that’s followed by a nap at 1 p.m. Louis adds that at 2 p.m., his mom sets the table and at 4 p.m., she indulges in a small glass of Southern Comfort, and at 6 p.m., she enjoys a can of Budweiser. At 10 p.m., she’s fast asleep.
In further conversing about his mom, he points out that she has always been a wonderful friend to everyone with whom she comes in contact and can’t do enough to ensure their comfort.
For example, when a friend stayed in their home for eight weeks in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, she was right there to make sure he was as comfortable as possible.
Nancy also is a faithful viewer of cable TV channel NY1, inasmuch as she enjoys keeping up with what goes on around New York City.
In fact, when the family visits Hilton Head Island, S.C., where Nancy also resides — she makes sure to order the channel.
However, in time, she reminds her family that she’s tired of looking at deer and alligators and wants to return to her home on Staten Island.
Her dog Keiter — she calls him her grandson — also keeps Nancy company throughout the day.
Happy birthday, Nancy!
CELEBRATIONS
Happy Easter Sunday birthday today to Josef Prashker; AnnMarie Reindl of New Springville, who turns 35, Jennifer Michele Benevento; Tricia Roberts; Tom Carnesecchi; Tom Flannagan, and John Erik Lorentzen.
Tomorrow is birthday time for Terrance DeForest, Paul Drabczyk, Barbara DeSantis, Steven Buckley and Camille Baumwoll.
And happy wedding anniversary to Thanh and Ivar Betten.