close

LaGuardia celebrates the century mark

3 min read
article image -
Angela LaGuardia blows out the candles on her cake with help from her niece, Cathie Welch, from Buffalo, N.Y., during her 100th birthday party at Palm Harbor Apartments on Thursday. CHUCK BALLARO

Angela LaGuardia may have lost her hearing and may not be as fleet afoot as she used to be, but she hasn’t lost her ability to laugh and make others feel good.

That was evident as LaGuardia’s friends jammed into the community room at Palm Harbor Apartments recently to celebrate her 100th birthday.

Even better, members of her family came all the way from her native Buffalo, N.Y, to witness the festivities, which included cake, ice cream and a sing-along.

It is a testament to LaGuardia’s ability to make people feel good that many of those who live nearby help her however they can.

“She’s so sweet and loved by everyone, and they go out of their way to take care of her, help bathe, put on her clothes and feed her,” said Cathie Welch, LaGuardia’s niece who came from Buffalo.

Also present was her adopted son, Robert, and his family. He said she was not only as a great mother but also a wonderful cook.

“She made everything from scratch and everyone came over for dinner,” Robert said. “She’s had a great life.”

Even in her later years, she always had time to cook and bake, according to Maria De Padilla, her former caregiver for seven years. Cruz Rodriguez has been her caregiver for the past three years and gives regular reports to Robert on how she’s doing.

LaGuardia not only took care of the family, she worked in a munitions plant during World War II. She moved to Cape Coral in 2001.

LaGuardia was very active in the Catholic Church in Buffalo and was married to her husband, Nicholas, for 51 years before his death in 1987. She has two grandchildren, Jennifer and Jenelle.

And while the years have taken her hearing, they haven’t taken away her spirit. Even though she needs the help of a caregiver, LaGuardia can still read without the use of glasses.

LaGuardia received her share of cards and presents, but perhaps the best well-wish she got was from NBC’s Willard Scott of the Today show, who sent her a letter for her birthday.

Virginia Smith was another birthday girl, celebrating her 96th birthday. She said it takes a lot to make it as far as they have. “She’s nice. We started passing notes to her when she couldn’t hear. At our age you do the best you can with what you have,” Smith said, a 42-year resident of North Fort Myers who didn’t stop driving until two years ago.

Howie Jacobsen has lived nearby for six years and knew from the moment she met her the kind of person she is.

“Every day she’s gotten sweeter. If everyone in the world would be named Angela, people would think they were in paradise,” Jacobsen said. “I’d like to see another 10 birthdays for her.”