Marie Streeto's Advice On Living To Age 105: Take Each Day As It Comes

EAST HAVEN, CT — Two years ago, during the height of the pandemic and around the time COVID-19 vaccinations became available, Marie Streeto was one of many who got their shots at the town's Senior Center vaccine clinic. At the time, Patch visited the soon-to-be 103-year-old resident of the East Farms senior housing complex. Yes, 103.

Streeto, who said then she had little fear about the pandemic but knew that the vaccines were a must-do, was in good health, and for the most part, living self-sufficiently in her immaculate and cozy apartment with a view. Born in Fair Haven, she was an infant in 1918 when her parents contracted influenza during the Spanish flu pandemic. She lived with her aunt for months as her parents recovered.

Two years after we first met on the eve of her 103rd birthday, Patch again visited the very with-it Streeto, now on the eve of her 105th birthday, which arrives March 20.

Very little appears to have changed in those two years. She's still very vibrant, very present, and partly self-sufficient. She cooks for herself, does light housekeeping, attends East Farms events, occasionally goes out shopping or to a meal with friends. She just needs her walker.

"I'm not gallivanting, but I do go out, I'm active," she shared.

Streeto again shared much of what she spoke about in 2021 about her philosophy of living, and how she believes she's lived to be a centenarian.

She doesn’t worry. As a devout Catholic with her rosary beads always nearby, she prays.

She is accepting of people. "You need to like people, to accept them," she explained, adding that how you treat others will be reflected in the way they treat you. "Everybody is so good to me. People are good to me. They're kind." She's also a strong believer in family: "Being with family and living day-to-day." Streeto takes life "one day at a time."

And she enjoys red wine. As she said in 2012, her secret is: "Ordinary living. Good friends, close-knit family, faith, good food and red wine. That's it."

Marie Streeto turns 105 on March 20.

What does she want for her birthday?

"I want everybody to be happy," she said. Then added, "I'd like to go out."

"If I can, I'd like to go out to dinner. A very simple dinner. Have a drink," she described. "I don't want any 'thing.' You know, you reach this age, you've acquired most of everything you need or want."

Read more about Marie here.