Valley Streamer celebrates 100 years

In the winter of 1912, the Titanic was still deemed “unsinkable,” the Yankees were still 11 years away from their first world championship and Lucille Ball still hadn’t celebrated her first birthday and was years away from explaining anything to Ricky Ricardo.

But to a host of people in Valley Stream, 1912 has a special meaning because it’s the year Rose Parrilli was born. Parrilli celebrated her 100th birthday on March 9.

She has resided in Monica Village, in the heart of Valley Stream, since 1985. Monica Village honored Parrilli’s milestone birthday by throwing her a party on March 7. Her family and friends were all on hand and Mayor Ed Fare presented Parrilli with a special citation.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Parrilli said the party. She added that turning 100 is “unexpected.”

“Even though she knew it was coming, she was overwhelmed to see the whole place filled with friends and neighbors,” said Lucille Moran, executive director at Monica Village.

Parrilli was born in Manhattan and then lived in the Bronx and Brooklyn with her sister, Mabel, and her parents, Ann and Charles. She can remember the first Armistice Day parade after World War I on Nov. 11, 1918, and helping her father hang an American Flag.

She was skipped three times in grade school and attended college in 1928 at New York University. She was also accepted to Barnard, but Parrilli said credits there were $8.50 while at NYU they cost $8 a piece.

“She remembers how proud her father was writing out a check for her college tuition because in those days, not that many women went to college,” said Parrilli’s daughter, Camille.

Parrilli worked at Standard and Poors until she married her husband, Vincent, on June 2, 1935, at Good Shepherd Church on Avenue S in Brooklyn. The couple had two daughters, Camille and Ann. Once her children were older, Parrilli worked at Investment Dealers Digest where her sister Mabel was vice president.

Camille said her mom lives a healthy life. She never drove and walked everywhere, including frequent trips around the block from their old house to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, which she ate often.

Camille added that her mom loved to read and is a big fan of both American and world history. She was never much for gossip and instead would always prefer a good book. Camille said her mom’s apartment is like a library and that Parrilli is particularly interested in the Royal Family and the Kennedys.

Parrilli doesn’t read much anymore, but Camille said her mom does enjoy her view from Monica Village. “She loves looking out the window because her apartment faces south so she faces the railroad,” Camille said. “She watches the people getting out of their cars, rushing to the train in the morning and then coming back. When she gets into bed at night she watches the stars and she just loves it.”

Parrilli’s husband passed away in 1977 and her daughters convinced her to move to Valley Stream a few years later. In addition to her two daughters, Parrilli has five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Her family hosted an additional celebration on March 10 for Parrilli at her favorite restaurant, Mia’s of Valley Stream.

Parrilli’s family will take this time to honor 100 great years. “It’s really a momentous occasion,” Camille said.