Story at a glance
- Genevieve Marszalek of Bristol, R.I. is turning 110 years old.
- Born on Feb. 28, 1914, she celebrated her birthday a couple of days early at the Bristol House of Pizza.
- “Jeepers, what a crowd!” Marszalek exclaimed while sitting at a table surrounded by her friends and family. “Where did you all come from?”
BRISTOL, R.I. (WPRI) — Genevieve Marszalek is turning 110 years old.
The Bristol, Rhode Island, native, who was born on Feb. 28, 1914, celebrated her birthday a couple of days early at the Bristol House of Pizza.
“Jeepers, what a crowd!” Marszalek exclaimed while sitting at a table surrounded by her friends and family. “Where did you all come from?”
“You thought I wasn’t popular?” she shouted across the table. “Well, I am! Everybody loves me.”
Marszalek said when she first walked into the restaurant, she didn’t know what to think.
“I didn’t think it was for me! I said, ‘Who would do this for me?'” Marszalek recalled. “Evidently, I was wrong … I’m just so grateful so many people even think of me!”
Marszalek’s 109th birthday was also a surprise for her at Bristol House of Pizza. At that party she told Nexstar’s WPRI that she didn’t want another surprise party.
“They don’t listen to me,” she said, gesturing to everyone around her.
When asked what her secret is to a long life, Marszalek’s lips were sealed.
“It will never leave my mouth,” she said. “Not everybody can do what I do.”
Though Marszalek didn’t want any gifts other than spending time with her loved ones, she did seem open to celebrating her 111th birthday at Bristol House of Pizza, her favorite pizza place.
“I guess so!” she said. “I’ll try. If I succeed, I will see you all next year.”
Johnny Villella contributed to this report.