Fair Acres centenarian hosts steak luncheon for 104th birthday

Five generations of family, staff and fellow residents honor Angelina Santella 

At 104, Fair Acres resident Angelina Santella still loves to cook and entertain family and friends. So when her May birthday approached, she decided to host a festive luncheon for her family, fellow Fair Acres residents and staff.

She ordered steak, salad and fresh vegetables prepared according to her Italian family recipes. For dessert, she wanted strawberry shortcake “with real whipped cream.” She also requested that the classic film, “White Christmas,” be shown on the big screen during the meal.

Smartly dressed in a gold blazer, she beamed as everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to her in the dining room at Building 7, Fair Acres, where she has been a resident since June 2005. Delaware County Council Vice Chairman Mario J. Civera Jr. congratulated Mrs. Santella and presented her with a commemorative plaque from Council before joining the crowd  in singing “Happy Birthday.”

“I am happy because everybody else is happy and I have my family here,” Mrs. Santella said.

The birthday party took place on May 22, although her official birthday is May 30. The party was attended by 35 family members and 80 Fair Acres residents. All were treated to the special meal as requested by Mrs. Santella.

Her daughter, Marie Flannigan, said her mother still “has it all together” and they talk by phone every evening.           

“When she went to Fair Acres, she decided to make that her home, to make it a place of joy,” Marie said. “She’s always enjoyed food – cooking, serving and eating – and felt that was the center of socializing. That’s what encouraged her to plan this party.”

The menu of grilled steak or chicken, fresh roasted vegetables drizzled with olive oil, salad and shortcake was planned by Mrs. Santella.

Born in 1909 in the central Italian province of Campobasso, she came to the United States when she was nine years old. She married Florinto Santella in 1927 and they honeymooned in Atlantic City, N.J. They were married for 69 years before he passed away. They had three children, eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

“She knew that her birthday would bring us all together,” her daughter said. “She wanted to host a party with the food she would have cooked if she was able.”

Mrs. Santella is a member of the Fair Acres Cooking Club, a therapeutic services activity that gives residents a change to prepare, cook and eat special meals every Tuesday in the specially designed Margaret Watson Kitchen.

There were five generations of her family at the birthday party: Angelina, daughter Carmina Sage, granddaughter Beverly Merrick, great-granddaughter Tiffany Merrick and great-great grandson Finnian Merrick.