Antoinette Manno celebrates 102nd birthday

Warwick —When Antoinette Manno turned 102 on July 14, her family decided to host two celebrations. The first party, with her family and friends, was held at Mount Alverno Center, which Manno has called home for the past nine years. She and her family then headed over to the Warwick home of her grandson, Rocco Manno, his wife Kelly and their son Rocco James, 2, for a larger family celebration. In addition to celebrating her 102nd birthday that day, her great grandson Rocco James, 2, was also celebrating his birthday on the very same day. “Imagine this,” said her granddaughter Kim Corkum. “Their difference in age is 100 years, a century, and yet they share the same birthday and have this wonderful opportunity to enjoy celebrating their special day together.” Since Rocco James was born, the happy coincidence has made Antoinette Manno’s birthday a more meaningful and special occasion for generations of the Manno family, many of whom were raised on the farm just off Kings Highway in Warwick. During both her birthday parties, Antoinette Manno expressed in Italian, a language she now finds more comfortable than English, her happiness at being surrounded by her family, especially her two year old great grandson. When once asked to what factors did she attribute her longevity, Manno admitted at that time that she had no idea, but that she always worked hard, ate everything, drank wine and even liquor on occasion. Although celebrating one’s 102nd birthday is no small achievement for anyone, Manno has also managed to remain physically active at Mount Alverno Center. “They call her the bingo and shuffleboard queen,” laughed Corkum. In 1956, after living through two world wars, Manno, whose first husband had passed away, emigrated to the United States. Two years later she married Frank Manno, a foreman with the Lehigh Railroad, who had been a widower for 20 years. He purchased the Warwick dairy farm in 1950 and transferred ownership, about seven years later, to his son Rocco who has since been responsible for its management. Frank Manno passed away in 1993.