BIOGRAPHY

Caleca was born in Palermo, Sicily, Italy on 5 February 1895. She had four sisters, with whom she emigrated to the United States in 1925. Caleca and her partner, car mechanic Vincent DiPaola, settled in Brooklyn, New York that same year.

While Caleca and DiPaola never married, the couple had five children together: Antoinette, Marie, Victor, Frank, and Rose, the latter of whom died young in 1935. DiPaola died in 1941, after which Caleca found employment at the Elizabeth Hat Company, located in Manhattan. She would work at the company for over two decades until her retirement aged 72.

In her later years, Caleca lived with her son Victor in the hamlet of Mattituck, New York, before moving into a nursing home on Long Island at the age of 109 due to declining health. Throughout her life, she thoroughly enjoyed cooking, as well as “black coffee with lots of sugar”.

Caleca died on 6 May 2007 at the age of 112 years, 90 days. She was survived by three of her five children, as well as 29 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

Following the death of 112-year-old Yettie Wilson on 27 May 2005, Caleca became the state of New York’s oldest resident. After her own death, the title passed to Fannie Greenberg (1895 – 2007)

Caleca’s age was verified by Louis Epstein and Giovanni Alunni, and was validated by the GRG on 19 July 2005.

ATTRIBUTION

• Rosaria “Rose” Caleca Find A Grave
• Rosaria Caleca Obituary Legacy

GALLERY