The oldest person in the U.S. is about to celebrate her 116th birthday.
Edith “Edie” Recagno Keenan Ceccarelli lives in northern California, in the small town of Willits and she’s the second-oldest person on Earth, according to the Gerontology Research Group.
She’ll mark another year around the sun on Feb. 5. The town of Willits celebrates her birthday annually, and will commemorate her 116 years on Sunday, Feb. 4, with a parade.
Ceccarelli is a local treasure and celebrity, and her birthday parade is the party of the season in Willits, organizers and city employees told USA TODAY. Town employees will drive in the parade, including a vice mayor, council member and the fire and police departments. The Boy Scouts will be on the route celebrating, as well as a few horses and a locally famous dog-walker. Willits residents and people coming into town for the parade can drive past Ceccarelli’s assisted living home in cars decorated with balloons, flags, signs and streamers.
“Every year at her birthday, we make sure she knows how special she is,” lead parade organizer Suzanne Picetti told USA TODAY.
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