For 101-year-old Ann Angeletti, working six days a week isn’t a burden—it’s just how she lives her life. From her cozy jewelry shop in Cresskill, New Jersey, to her trips across the Hudson River to New York City’s diamond district, Ann shows no signs of slowing down.
Even after decades of work, she’s still sharp, passionate, and full of energy. She loves helping her customers find just the right piece of jewelry, but it’s more than just a job for her. Ann truly believes her work keeps her alive.
“If I retire, I would die. So I cannot stay home,” she said with a smile.
Her secret to staying so active at such a special age? Simple, everyday self-care.
“You must get up, you must shower, you must eat, you must take care of yourself. You must exercise. If you don’t like what you’re doing, then change,” she explained.
Ann’s work ethic started early. As a young girl in Brooklyn, she left school to help at her family’s grocery store. When her husband went off to fight in World War II, she worked at the Navy Yard and later as a waitress.
In 1964, Ann opened her own jewelry store, Curiosity Jewelers. Back then, the rent for the little shop was just $85 a month. All these years later, she still runs the business with pride.
Her shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. And on the sixth day, she heads to the diamond district to keep doing what she loves best.
Ann is part of a growing group of Americans who live past 100. In Hawaii, for every 100,000 residents, there are 44.4 centenarians—the highest number in the country. In New Jersey, where Ann lives, there are more than 2,600 people who are 100 or older. Experts say that number is rising fast, and the world needs to be ready for more people living long, full lives like Ann.
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