What is the secret to a long and fulfilling life? For 101-year-old Ann Angeletti, the answer is simple: never retire. This remarkable New Jersey woman continues to run her jewelry store six days a week, and her reason for maintaining such a busy schedule is both blunt and profound. She believes that stopping work would mean stopping life itself, a risk she is not willing to take. Her story offers a powerful perspective on aging, purpose, and what it means to truly live.
Ann’s incredible work ethic was forged in a different era. Born in the 1920s, she left school as a child to help her family run their grocery store in Brooklyn. Her early life was filled with hard work, from a time before modern refrigerators were commonplace. She recalls her father boosting the family’s income by selling ice from a horse-drawn cart. These early experiences instilled in her a resilience and dedication that have defined her entire life, shaping the centenarian she is today.
Her journey of dedication continued through adulthood. When her husband went off to fight in World War II, Ann contributed to the war effort by working at the Navy Yard. Later, she took up work as a waitress. Her entrepreneurial spirit finally found a permanent home in the 1960s when she spotted a jewelry store for rent and decided to start her own business. With rent at just $85 a month, she took a chance that would become her life’s work, a legacy she now shares with her daughter and granddaughter.
Today, Ann is the heart of Curiosity Jewelry in Cresskill. For her, work is about more than just sales; it’s about connection. She famously doesn’t mind if customers leave without making a purchase. The real value for her is in the conversation and the shared cup of coffee. This genuine care for others has made her a local inspiration and a beloved figure in her community, proving that success is built on relationships as much as it is on revenue.
When asked for her secret to a long and happy life, Ann offers practical, self-aware advice. She emphasizes the importance of daily routine and self-care, insisting that you must get up, shower, eat well, and exercise. But more importantly, she highlights the need for passion. Her motto is to make the most of every single day. She concludes that the key to her happiness is no secret at all—she is simply happy working every day, finding joy and purpose in the rhythm of a life in motion.
