For many, retirement conjures images of sunlit beaches, leisurely afternoons, and the freedom to do nothing at all. For Ann Angeletti of Cresskill, New Jersey, the idea of slowing down is far from appealing. At 101 years old, she works six days a week, running a jewelry business she built from the ground up, proving that age can be just a number when purpose drives your days.
Ann is the owner of Curiosity Jewelers, a fixture in her community since 1964. Each Tuesday through Saturday, she opens her shop, greeting customers and overseeing every detail of her business from morning until early evening. Her workweek doesn’t end there. On Saturdays, she drives roughly 30 minutes to New York City’s Diamond District, where she buys, sells, and maintains vital connections in the heart of the jewelry trade.
For someone of any age, such a schedule would be impressive. For a centenarian, it is extraordinary. Yet Ann insists she wouldn’t have it any other way. “If I retire, I would die. So I cannot stay home,” she told ABC 7, her laugh a mix of conviction and ease. Work, she explains, isn’t a chore—it is what keeps her mind sharp, her hands steady, and her spirit alive.
Her work ethic has deep roots. Growing up in Brooklyn during the Great Depression, Ann left school early to help run her parents’ grocery store, learning responsibility before many of her peers had ever earned a paycheck. During World War II, when her husband went off to serve, she worked at the Navy Yard and later as a waitress, experiences that forged resilience and an enduring respect for honest labor.
The path to Curiosity Jewelers began in 1964 when Ann noticed a small shop for rent in Cresskill. At $85 a month—a significant sum at the time—she took a chance, confident she could create something lasting. Six decades later, her decision endures. Today, the store is a three-generation family business, with her daughter and granddaughter by her side, weaving together stories, laughter, and the sparkle of gold and gemstones.
Ann credits her longevity to daily self-care and an active lifestyle. “You must get up, you must shower, you must eat, you must take care of yourself. You must exercise,” she said, words she follows with unwavering discipline. Her routine keeps both mind and body engaged, echoing the habits that have defined her life.
Her advice is equally straightforward: “If you don’t like what you’re doing, then change.” For Ann, fulfillment is not measured by age or circumstance—it is determined by choice, attitude, and persistence.
With approximately 2,600 centenarians living in New Jersey, Ann Angeletti is more than a remarkable statistic. She is a living testament to the power of passion and purpose, a reminder that a life well-lived is shaped not just by years, but by curiosity, commitment, and care for every single day.
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