Getting older is a natural part of life. Many people look forward to retirement, imagining long days spent on the beach, a cool drink in hand, and the luxury of doing nothing at all. For some, that sounds like heaven. But for others, it sounds like the end of excitement and purpose. Ann Angeletti of New Jersey belongs to the second group. At one hundred and one years old, she still works six days every week and has no intention of slowing down.
Ann owns and runs her beloved shop, Curiosity Jewelers, in Cresskill, New Jersey. The store has been part of the community since 1964, quietly glowing with the shimmer of gold and gemstones that reflect her lifelong dedication. She opens her doors every Tuesday through Saturday, working from morning until early evening. But even after those five full days, her week is not complete. On the sixth day, she drives about thirty minutes to New York City’s famous Diamond District, where she buys, sells, and keeps her business connected to the heart of the jewelry trade.
Her schedule would be impressive for anyone. For someone past a hundred, it is astonishing. Yet Ann insists she would not want it any other way. “If I retire, I would die. So I cannot stay home,” she told ABC 7 with a laugh that sounded both matter-of-fact and full of conviction. For her, work is not a burden. It is what keeps her mind sharp, her hands steady, and her spirit alive.
Ann’s work ethic has deep roots. She grew up in Brooklyn during a time when families depended on everyone to contribute. She left school early to help her parents run their small grocery store, learning the value of responsibility before most children her age had ever earned a dollar. When her husband went off to serve in World War Two, she did not wait idly for him to return. She took a job at a Navy Yard, contributing to the war effort, and later worked as a waitress to support herself. Those experiences shaped her resilience and taught her the satisfaction of honest labor.
In 1964, while walking through Cresskill, Ann noticed a small store available for rent. The price was eighty-five dollars a month, which was no small sum at the time, yet she decided to take a chance. She knew she could make something beautiful out of that space. Sixty years later, Curiosity Jewelers still stands as a testament to that decision. Her daughter and granddaughter now help her run the store, turning it into a three-generation family business filled with stories, laughter, and the sparkle of shared pride.
Ann credits her longevity to the joy she finds in staying active. Her secret, she says, is simple but powerful: self-care. “You must get up, you must shower, you must eat, you must take care of yourself. You must exercise,” she explained. She lives by those words every day, keeping her mind and body moving with the same quiet discipline that has guided her for decades.
Her advice to others is equally direct. “If you don’t like what you’re doing, then change,” she said. For Ann, fulfillment is not about age or circumstance. It is about choice, attitude, and persistence.
With around two thousand six hundred centenarians living in New Jersey, Ann Angeletti stands out as a living reminder that passion and purpose can keep the heart young. Her hands may be small and steady, but through them, she continues to shape more than jewelry. She shapes an example of how to live fully, with curiosity, commitment, and care for every single day.
