Hamden nun celebrates 103rd birthday

Hamden, Conn (WTNH) - This ain't her first trip to the dance. The spry lady with the fancy polka step is Sister Cecilia Adorni. For the past 23 years, she has been helping the old folks at the Clelian Adult Day Center in Hamden.

On Tuesday she celebrated a birthday. Sister Cecilia is 103 years old. Her secret to longevity? Joy.

"I think that's one of the best things in life is to be happy and to be cheerful, and people see you being happy and cheerful, and they become happy and cheerful," Sister Cecilia said.

It certainly isn't her diet. Sister Cecilia has been known to love an occasional steak, and some other guilty pleasures.

"She could eat you under the table with a pepperoni pizza. She's unbelieveable," Doreen Mosko from Clelian Adult Day Center said.

And exercise?

"I say the rosary. I walk up and down the hall while I say the rosary," Sister Cecilia said.

She still works every day from 8:30 in the morning until 1:00 in the afternoon helping the folks here who could use a little company and support, and she's made some great friends along the way.

"There used to be a gentleman here that he used to like to do the polka, so everytime that somebody played a polka, he would take me by the hand and we would do the polka, but now the poor fella, he's in heaven. He's probably praying for me. That's why I can still do the polka," she said.

It sure looks like sister Cecilia has a lot of dances left.