101-Year-Old Jeweler Shares Her Secrets to Staying Sharp

At 101 years old, Ann Angeletti defies expectations of aging by continuing to work six days a week at her jewelry shop, Curiosity Jewelers, in Cresskill, New Jersey. Open since 1964, the shop remains a family-run business, now including her daughter and granddaughter. Ann also travels weekly to New York City’s Diamond District to manage her business. For her, work is not just a livelihood — it’s her lifeline. “If I retire, I would die,” she said, emphasizing that staying active keeps her energized and mentally sharp.

Ann’s strong work ethic began in childhood when she left school to help in her family’s grocery store in Brooklyn. During World War II, while her husband served, she worked at a Navy Yard and took on various jobs to support herself. In 1964, she took a leap of faith and rented a storefront for $85 a month — a decision that blossomed into a lifelong career. Her story is one of resilience, commitment, and a refusal to conform to traditional expectations of aging or retirement.

Her advice for longevity and sharpness is rooted in simple but consistent self-care: get up, shower, eat, take care of your body, and exercise daily. Ann believes that maintaining a routine and doing meaningful work contribute greatly to both physical and mental health. “If you don’t like what you’re doing, then change,” she advises. Among the roughly 2,600 centenarians in New Jersey, Ann Angeletti stands out as a symbol of passion, purpose, and successful aging.