Birthday preparations are underway for Edie Ceccarelli, America’s oldest living person

(FOX40.COM) — A birthday celebration is coming up for a Northern Californian woman who is the oldest living person in the United States. 

Edith “Edie” Recagno Keenan Ceccarelli, of Willits, will turn 116 and be celebrated with a drive-by parade in the city on Feb. 4. 

Ceccarelli is a pillar in the community, as her birthday in recent years has become a community tradition.

“We’re hoping the weather is going to be cooperative so they can have her out and view the parade and the parade people can see her,” Evelyn Perisco told FOX40.com.

Born on Feb. 5, 1908, with Recagno as her maiden name, Ceccarelli is the second oldest person in the world. The world’s oldest person is 116-year-old Maria Branyas of Spain, who was born in San Francisco.

The Keenan surname comes from Ceccarelli’s first husband and her current last name is from her second husband. 

Ceccarelli has lived in California her entire life, being born and raised in the small town of Willits, which has a population of 4,988. She is the eldest of seven, outliving all of her siblings. 

Throughout her life, Ceccarelli has lived in different places throughout Northern California such as Eureka, Santa Rosa, and Ukiah. 

A huge turnout is expected for Ceccarelli’s 116th birthday celebration, as last year’s drive-by parade was bigger than the year before, Perisco said. The drive-by celebration is being held one day before Ceccarelli’s actual birthday on a Sunday to enable more people to attend. 

“I think it’s going to be very well attended,” Perisco said. “Hard to put a number on it, but last year it went for a couple of hours.” 

Perisco has known Ceccarelli since the latter was a centenarian, and has admired her over the years. She grew closer to Ceccarelli after spending time and getting closer to her since her retirement.

Perisco married into Ceccarelli’s family, as her husband Lee Perisco and his brother Charles Perisco are Ceccarelli’s second cousins.   

“She would ask ‘Why am I still here? I don’t understand it’ and I said ‘Edie, God has a plan for you,’” Perisco said. “My conclusion, I just feel she’s God’s chosen one”