Geneva Silverio celebrates 100th birthday with family from Monroeville, Plum
Geneva Silverio said the secret to living to see 100 is being happy.
“That’s important,” she said, smiling Feb. 24 on her 100th birthday. She said staying away from smoking, drinking and staying active through exercise and her faith helped, too.
Silverio, originally from St. Augustine, Fla., now lives at Beatty Pointe in Monroeville. Some of her family members brought cupcakes, flowers and cards to the retirement home.
Her granddaughter, Robyn Tongel of Plum brought a tiara and a sash emblazoned with “It’s My 100th Birthday” to help celebrate.
Silverio said it has been easy being happy all her life. She said she has wonderful children, “the best in the world.” And she had a wonderful husband, Armando Silverio, she said. He died in 2000. They were married 57 years.
“My faith in God has brought me through, and I’m just happy to be alive,” she said.
The last year has been difficult, she said. Living in a retirement home has offered challenges through the pandemic. The facility only started allowing guests back inside a couple of weeks ago. The tables inside the dining room, where residents typically eat meals together, have been spread apart. Silverio has trouble hearing clearly these days, so she has stayed in her room to eat — alone.
“We were so worried about her,” Tongel said.
Silverio also contracted covid-19. Her case was mild, but it gave her and her family a scare. She has since received her first dose of the covid-19 vaccine and now awaits the second shot.
But all is well now, said Silverio’s daughter, Beverly Barilla, of Monroeville. She spends a lot of time with her mother — taking her to the beauty salon once a week, playing Canasta and going on walks.
She attends church services, which are held at the retirement facility and gets along with the “wonderful staff” and other residents.
Silverio said she loves to walk. She said four laps around the building amounts to a mile. She hasn’t done it for a while but she hopes to get back out as the weather warms.
Tongel said the activities at Beatty Pointe and the frequent activity has kept her spry.
“She’s a pistol,” said her son-in-law Jack Barilla, laughing in agreement.
“I enjoy life,” Silverio said, moments after reading a card she had received from her hair stylist. It was one of several cards. She said she has two tables full of the cards in her apartment.
“I wish I could show them all to you,” she said. She said it feels good to be remembered on her birthday and that she felt like a celebrity.
She also wished her two sons could have made it for the family get-together. They both live in Montana. But the entire family plans on celebrating her birthday March 28 at Veltre’s Wedding and Event Center in Oakmont.
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