Having been born and bred in Sicily, it’s unsurprising that Maria Messina nominates pasta as the secrets to living a long life.
And given that the resident at Estia Aged Care Werribee turned 100 last week, she’d know.
The mother of three, grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of 19 was honored with a birthday cake and balloons to mark her centenary on Friday February 16, ahead of a larger celebration on Saturday.
Maria’s daughter, 78 year old Gianna Zuich of Hoppers Crossing, said she was very proud of her mother’s milestone, adding that she was more important to her now than ever.
“She’s the only one left in my family,” Gianna said of her parents and two brothers who emigrated to Australia in the late 1950’s.
“My father passed away and my two brothers have passed away as well, so mum was left with just me, the only daughter.”
Gianna and younger brother Sam (Salvatore) travelled with their mother to Australia in 1958, following their father Giuseppe and older brother Nick (Nicola) who arrived in 1956.
Once together they settled in Yarraville, then later built a house in nearby Spotswood, which
Maria and Guiseppe shared until his death in 2006.
Salvatore followed a few years later aged just 61, while Nicola died in 2018.
Shortly after Maria left the inner-west for Wyndham, living for a few years with Gianna before moving into Estia Werribee in 2022.
“She loves it,” said Gianna of what her mother thinks of life at the aged care home where playing bingo and monthly harmonica concerts from Mario are her favourite activities.
Her daughter hopes she can continue to enjoy them for a long while yet.
“I can’t think of my life without my mother and that’s the honest truth.”
Cade Lucas.
