She’s 101, Still Working Six Days a Week—and Says She Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way

She’s 101, still working six days a week–and says she wouldn’t have it any other way. And I want to be her. I may be a young 44-year-old, but this is how I picture the rest of my days. 

The hum of morning settles softly over Cresskill, New Jersey, and inside a little shop filled with glimmers of gold and light, a woman stands behind a glass case, polishing a ring with hands that have known a century of work and wonder. Her name is Ann Angeletti, and at 101 years old, she’s still showing up—six days a week—to her beloved Curiosity Jewelers. “If I retire, I would die,” she said with a laugh that carries the wisdom of a long-lived heart. “So I cannot stay home.”

She Drove By, And Saw the Store Was For Rent

RELATED: WWII Veteran Celebrates His 101st Birthday and 75 Years of Marriage to His Loving Wife

And you believe her. You really do. Because when you watch her, bent over a jeweler’s bench, eyes bright and hands steady, you realize she isn’t working to fill time. She’s working because it fills her with life. Ann’s story began long before the jewelry cases and diamond lights.

She was just a girl in Brooklyn, helping out at her family’s grocery store. During World War II, when her husband went off to fight, she stepped into the Navy Yard to do her part, rolling up her sleeves, proving that grit runs deep in her veins. Years later, she spotted a little storefront for rent.

“I was driving by,” she recalled. “The store was for rent, and I called the owner and asked him, ‘How much is the rent?’ and he said, ‘$85 a month.’” 

She is Working at 101 and Loving It

That’s how Curiosity Jewelers was born. A leap of faith. A woman’s quiet defiance against the notion that dreams expire with age.

Step inside her shop today, and you’ll find more than fine jewelry; you’ll find connection. The kind that lingers. She’s known to pour a cup of coffee for anyone who walks through the door. “It doesn’t matter if they buy,” she says with a shrug and a smile. “It’s about loving others and making the most of the day.” 

And maybe that’s the truest sparkle of her shop, the warmth that radiates from her heart, not just the gold in her cases.

She Uses Her Strength, Wit, and Spark

When asked how she’s made it this far—with strength, wit, and a spark still dancing in her eyes—Ann doesn’t hesitate. “You must get up, you must shower, you must eat, you must take care of yourself. You must exercise,” she said. “If you don’t like what you’re doing, then change.” 

Simple. Sacred. Steadfast. It’s not just advice; it’s the rhythm of her life—a melody of movement and purpose that has carried her through the decades.

At 101, Ann still makes the trip into New York City’s diamond district. She still greets her daughter and granddaughter behind the counter. She still shows up, shining with a kind of hope you can’t buy or bottle.

There is Beauty in Staying Curious

Maybe that’s her real legacy, not just the necklaces or gold bands, but the reminder that a woman’s purpose doesn’t have an expiration date. She’s proof that there’s beauty in staying curious, that work can be worship, and that joy is often found in simply showing up.

And maybe, if you’re quiet enough, you can almost hear her whisper as she opens the shop door each morning—“It’s about loving others and making the most of the day.” A life well-lived isn’t about slowing down. It’s about still having something left to give.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Minnesota High School Celebrates 100 Years With Former and Current Students of All Ages

Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

WATCH: She’s 101, Still Working Six Days a Week—and Says She Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way

LISTEN: Her Cat Went Missing 13 Years Ago, Now She is Back Home | 75-Year-Old Man Has Been Lifeguarding Since 1968

h/t: People

Featured Image Credit: YouTube/Eyewitness News ABC7NY

Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social media consultant, and full-time writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos can solve just about any situation. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.