Mare Ferise was born at home, delivered by a midwife in East Newark in 1914, when Woodrow Wilson was president of the United States. She grew up in Kearny and lived in Harrison and Rockaway, among other places, before moving to the Homestead Health Care and Rehabilitation Center in Frankford.

She and her late husband, Anthony, were married in 1935 and have two daughters, 5 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, ages 2-27 years old. They were married for 58 years. Having recently celebrated her 104th birthday, Ferise will be the first to admit she likes to talk. Her talk is filled with stories of her life and her memories.