Anna Ferris, one of the world's oldest people, dies in Goshen

Her longevity secret: Help others, laugh, marry well — and 'don’t just sit there’ Goshen - Anna Henrietta Cappellini Ferris died peacefully in her sleep on May 7, 2011. At age 111, she was the 56th oldest person in the world, the 13th-oldest person in the United States, and the second-oldest person in New York with a verified date of birth, according to tables maintained by the New England Centenarian Study of Boston University Medical Center. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she told a writer for Elant at Goshen, where she lived: “You don’t just sit there and do nothing. You help people, they feel happy, and then they do something good.” Her granddaughter Barbara Hardin told Senior Spirit Newsletter that Anna lived as long as she did because Anna’s husband took such good care of her, relieving her of all stress. She said she cherished her grandmother’s memories of the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and of the little boy selling newspapers at the end of the road shouting the headline. Anna’s sense of humor also helped. A Brazilian television station interviewed her in Goshen for a show in that country similar to “60 Minutes.” She joked with the reporter, saying, “You should fix your hair.” During the interview, she exclaimed: “God bless me: I’m 110 years old?” She even attracted the notice of the cast of Broadway’s “Beauty and the Beast,” which she attended on her 107th birthday. The actors invited her backstage, took pictures, and signed autographs for her. In 2005 she moved in with her grandson Joe Begendorf of Washingtonville, who had always been athletic. He asked Anna to join him at the Orange County Senior Games, and she agreed. “She’s up for anything,” Joe told the Elant writer. She won five gold medals — four for sports and one for being the oldest participant at 108. “I can’t believe it,” she said. “Oh my, I threw a football. Did I hit anyone?” A tough beginning Anna was born on Feb. 11, 1900, in the Little Italy community of Lower Manhattan to immigrant parents Davide and Caterina Torre Cappellini. She was just four years old when she lost her mother, and her father died when she was 11. Her brother worked to support his siblings while Anna’s older sister raised the family. Her youngest sister died at age 17 during the Great Influenza. She overcame these hardships to graduate from high school, and afterward went to work at a yarn factory near home. Anna knitted and her sister Mary sewed. They made all of their family’s clothes. Following World War I, Anna met her husband-to-be and war veteran, Richard Ferruggiari (they later legally shortened their surname to Ferris), and the couple was married on Oct. 24, 1923, at St. Joachim’s Church in New York City. They moved to Brooklyn and on July 8, 1924. Anna gave birth to a daughter, Beatrice Dorothy, in their home. In 1928, the family moved to Teaneck, N.J., where Anna lived until 1989. Anna had a green thumb, and her large yard was always beautifully landscaped. She worked many hours in her flower and vegetable gardens. Always “young” for her age and fiercely independent, she raked leaves, shoveled snow, and drove her car until she was in her mid-80s. Stories from her childhood In 1989, Anna’s family finally convinced her that it would be best for her to live with her daughter. She remained there until 2005, when her daughter — her only child — died at age 80. She then moved to her grandson’s home in Washingtonville. In 2009, she was hospitalized briefly and recuperated at Elant Nursing Home in Goshen, where she remained until her death. In her later years, Anna enjoyed watching TV and movies, reading, and spending time with her family. She liked to read mysteries and indulged in chocolates and wine. She was also deeply religious. For her 110th birthday, the family took her to her favorite restaurant and had a small party at home. Until she began having memory problems at the age of 107, she loved to tell stories about her childhood. She was, and always will be, very loved and treasured by her family, and she was an inspiration to all that knew her. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; her only child, Beatrice Ferris Begendorf; a brother, Gordensio Cappellini; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Mary and Alfred Ferris, Rose and John Perazzo; and Beatrice Cappellini; a nephew and niece-in-law, Eugene and Virginia Cappellini; and several other in-laws. Left with wonderful memories of Anna are a granddaughter, Barbara Hardin, of Rocky Point, N.C.; three grandsons, Joseph (Barbara) Begendorf of Washingtonville, Michael (Aleta) Begendorf of Oakland, N.J., and Martin Begendorf of Rocky Point, N.C.; two great-granddaughters, Suzanne Tompkins of Morehead City, N.C., and Laurie Begendorf of Washingtonville; three great-grandsons, Daniel Begendorf, Joseph Begendorf and Gregory Begendorf, all of Washingtonville; a step-great-grandson, Jason (Mercedes) Thomas of Springfield, N.J.; two great-great-grandsons, Timothy Tompkins of Newport, N.C., and Trevor Tompkins of Morehead City, N.C.; a great-great-granddaughter, Makayla Sharp of Morehead City, N.C.; a step-great-great-granddaughter, Savannah Thomas of Springfield, N.J. The rest of the family is forever grateful to Laurie Begendorf, who was Anna’s guardian angel on earth, visiting her and lovingly caring for her every day. The family also appreciates and cannot give enough thanks to the staff of Elant Nursing Home of Goshen for the wonderful care they provided Anna during her stay. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.