It's become an annual appeal to the great beyond, and so far Helen Marrese has prevailed. "Every time we hit a new birthday, she'll say, "Maybe one more year," Marrese's granddaughter Emilykate St. Jean, 52, said Sunday as Marrese celebrated her 105th birthday.

"She woke up today and said, 'Next year I'll be 106.'" Marrese still lives in her own house with her granddaughter. The large sheet cake was on the table, the birthday sign and balloons were up and Marrese sat happily in a chair receiving guests in her carport.