Christopher Heights resident, Mary Massauro celebrates 100th birthday

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By Nance Ebert, Contributing Writer

Christopher Heights resident, Mary Massauro celebrates 100th birthday
Mary Margaret Massauro at her 100th birthday celebration at Christopher Heights Assisted Living Community

Marlborough – Mary Massauro openly confessed that her 100th birthday simply snuck up on her. She celebrated with about 40 family members at the Westborough Chateau restaurant March 11 and again at Christopher Heights, where she resides, on March 12.

Massauro was surrounded by friends, residents and three of her children at the Christopher Heights Assisted Living Community party. Even Marlborough’s Mayor Arthur Vigeant came to present her with an official proclamation honoring her becoming a centarian.

“Mary is such a wonderful member of our community who is dearly loved by so many,” said Stephanie Nordstrom, admissions and marketing coordinator at Christopher Heights.

Mary Margaret Massauro was born March 13, 1918, to parents who emigrated from Sicily. She was one of six children and still has two living sisters – Rose, 92, and Margaret, 89. She and her husband, Louie, raised four children, Lorraine, Louis Jr., Michael and Johnny. There are five generations now, including eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandsons.

“I have always kept myself very busy and as far back as I can remember,” Massauro said. “I always held a job. I was a supervisor at Raytheon for 20 years in Newton and worked at Unitrobe in Waltham afterwards. Retiring from there, my husband and I lived in Maine for several years before admitting that it was just too cold so we returned to Massachusetts to be closer to family.”

At 73, Massauro took a part-time job at the Wendy’s in Marlborough. She loves being around people and this environment gave her the opportunity to interact with patrons of all ages. There, she assisted customers in many roles and was a popular fixture even working the drive-thru window. She spent 12 years there before retiring.

“My mother is so independent and has always relied on herself. She is hard-working and has been a wonderful role model for me and the rest of our family. She is such an inspiration,” said her daughter, Lorraine.

Massauro moved into the Christopher Heights Assisted Living Community five years ago. She is very happy there and enjoys spending time with other residents who have become her friends.

She rises early in the morning, gets dressed and eats a light breakfast before heading to the pub to join a group of women that she enjoys having coffee with. She loves to play cards and Bingo, listen to singers and more. She even handcrafts towels that she sells.

Massauro said she is humbled by all of the attention she is getting just for having another birthday. She could not figure out why she has been blessed with such good health and doesn’t even wear glasses.

“My mother has always been young at heart. I don’t believe she has ever lived her life based on her age,” said her son, Louis Jr. “She has always said, ‘love yourself and everything else will follow.’”

 

Christopher Heights resident, Mary Massauro celebrates 100th birthday
Three of Mary’s children attended the festivities: (l to r) Michael, Lorraine and Louis Jr.
Christopher Heights resident, Mary Massauro celebrates 100th birthday
Mary Massauro with Mayor Arthur Vigeant

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