Mary Papilon has lived the long, healthy life many wish for, and at 108, she continues to exceed expectations.
On Thursday, family and friends gathered to celebrate the belated birthday of one of Suffolk’s oldest citizens at the clubhouse of the Brookwood on the Lake senior living complex in Ronkonkoma.
Following a press conference, they surrounded her family and friends, shared trays of food, brought her gifts, including scratch cards, and presented her with at least two birthday cakes.
When asked about her secret to a long life, Papilon simply said, “Don’t worry.”
Henrietta Dobin of North Woodmere, believed to be the oldest resident of Long Island, died in September 2022 at the age of 111.
Papilon was born to Italian immigrants in the Bronx on August 3, 1916. Although she was an only child, she later raised a large family, including four children, seven grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Regina Giglio, 70, of Port Jefferson, Papilon’s daughter, says her mother was a seamstress when she was young. Later in life, she became a housekeeper at Central Islip State Hospital.
What Giglio appreciates most about her mother is her compassion.
“She’s very loving and easy-going. Most people I know complain about their parents,” Giglio said. “She’s just easy-going, she always has good help and they’ve never complained about her.”
Giglio says her mother appreciates her physical activity and that it contributes to her health.
“She doesn’t take any medication, that’s the most important thing,” said Giglio. “She’s very active, she didn’t drive when she was young. Until she was 50, she always walked everywhere.”
Giglio says her mother initially thought Brookwood on the Lake was “too old for her,” but now Papilon loves her community and enjoys the company.
She goes to bingo twice a week and Giglio takes her to the beach to show her the water.
As one of many great-grandchildren, 28-year-old Aliza Butruch has many fond memories with Papilon.
“She’s my best friend,” Butruch said at a press conference. “She made me homemade ravioli and came to my house on Christmas Eve. I used to be a huge Justin Bieber fan and always talked to her about him.”
Butruch describes her great-grandmother’s personality as follows: Papilon was very carefree.
“She’s funny, she’s silly, she’s smart, she sings in Italian, she speaks Italian,” Butruch said.
Al Giglio, 79, of Bay Shore, Papilon’s son, said his mother enjoys painting with her caregiver.
“She just ate her food, ate her vegetables, never smoked, never drank, just incredible,” he said.
Papilon’s granddaughter, 53-year-old Lorraine Williams, said her grandmother became ill eight years ago and her family began to believe Papilon would not live to be 100. But against all odds, she made it.
“When you asked her her secret, she would always say ‘don’t worry, she really lived her life without worrying so much,'” Williams said. “Considering how much stress we have in our lives, she really chose a life where she doesn’t let anything bother her.”
