Mighty Maggy celebrates her nifty 98th

To say that Margaret “Maggie” Goneconte has enjoyed many marvelous milestones in her life would be an understatement.

For starters, “Mighty Maggie” as her son Peter Goneconte calls his mom, is part of one of the largest families to ever live in the Silver Lake section of Providence that’s near the Johnston town line.

Maggie, who recently reached the tender age of 98, was born in the once densely-Italian neighborhood of Silver Lake and was one of 13 girls and two boys who all lived in a small house on Prudence Avenue.

“Think about it,” suggested Peter Goneconte, Maggie’s son who is well known for his works with Classic Blend, a talented group of five singers who perform everything from oldies to doo wop music at various clubs like Brewed Awakenings where they sold out the store Saturday night. “You just don’t hear about families having 15 children these days.”

As her son said recently, “My mother and father [late Peter Goneconte] were married for over sixty years. Mom is still going strong and has been a Johnston resident for over 35 years. Now, she’s living at the Cherry Hill Manor.”

In addition to her son Peter Goneconte and his wonderful wife Janis, Maggie was the mother of the late Carmine J. Goneconte, a standout basketball player and his wife Cheryl.”

Maggie and Peter had four children – Peter, Kristen, Carmine Charles and Jessica Goneconte – and, as Peter said: “My mother loves her four great grandchildren Alexa, Michael Gianna and Lorenzo, who mom refers to as the little guy.”

Career wise, as Peter Goneconte said, “My mother worked all her life as a cashier in most of the markets in Silver Lake and even after her retirement she kept on as a teacher’s aide at Laurel Avenue School.”

During her recent and fun-filled 98th birthday bash, Maggie said: “I love you all and I’m looking forward to my 99th birthday.”

Although she’s not as active as she once was, Maggie still holds membership in the Young Pannese Society Club Women’s Auxiliary.

“My mother loved to bowl and enjoyed square dancing back in the day,” Peter Goneconte said. “She became best known for her famous wine biscuits. He has been quite the mighty mom, to say the least.”