During the 1950s, Anna Melone, a resident of 18th and Wolf streets, crossed the Atlantic Ocean with a collection of treasures from her hometown nestled along the outskirts of Rome. On the 10-day journey, Melone brought along two of her children, healthy food recipes and a persistently positive demeanor.

All three, perhaps, could be attributed to the 101st birthday of the Roman native, as Melone was recently honored alongside more than 120 fellow Philadelphians at the city’s Centenarian Celebration last month when the class of senior citizens were honored for their longevity and accomplishments.