It’s not every day you turn 108. On Tuesday, Louise Silva, a native of Providence, celebrated her 108th birthday with family and friends.
“When you turn 108, it’s like, wow, we’re going to have a party for you,” said Linda Tucker, administrator of the Scandinavian Home, where the celebrations took place. “She is quite a lady.”
Louise currently lives at the Scandinavian Home in Cranston, but she’s only been there for three and a half years. Before that, she lived at home with her daughter, Dorothy Silva.
Dorothy was at her mother’s birthday party on Tuesday, enjoying the merriment, music and cake.
“I’m amazed by it,” said Dorothy of her mother’s age. “And I’m grateful.”
Dorothy said that longevity runs in her family. Both of Louise’s sisters died in their 90’s, and Louise’s mother passed away at the age of 100.
Louise said she has no secret for living 108 years and counting.
“She loves sugar, candy and sweets,” said Dorothy. “Doctors say it’s bad for you, but it doesn’t bother my mother.”
“She eats sugar packets,” said Deb Owens, from the Scandinavian Home’s Rehab Department. “She’s extremely feisty. She survived pneumonia a few years ago.”
Owens said that several days before the party, Louise asked how old she was going to be. When they explained she would be turning 108, Louise mused at herself.
“She just shook her head as if to say, ‘Ugh, I’m done,’” said Owens with a smile.
Tucker said she doesn’t know what Louise’s secret is, “she just keeps going.”
Louise was born on June 7, 1903 in Providence. Her parents were Italian immigrants. She spent her adult life as a housewife, caring for her husband, who passed away in 1988, and her only daughter. Dorothy recalls her mother’s excellent and abundant cooking, and her stories of her childhood.
“She said she remembers Buffalo Bill,” said Dorothy.
Dorothy also recalled her mother’s love of music, and said that Louise began piano lessons when she was 8.
At her party this week, Louise sat behind a small electric keyboard and took requests.
She played a few rousing renditions of “Happy Birthday,” and then was asked to play “God Bless America,” among other selections. If she didn’t know the song, she would try to play it by ear.
After singing “Happy Birthday,” Louise made sure to sample her birthday cake’s hot pink frosting with a swift swipe of her finger before they took it away for slicing.
Keeping with true birthday tradition, she got to eat the first piece.
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