She beat the Spanish flu, and now 107-year-old New Jersey woman beat COVID-19 – USA TODAY

Anna Del Priore, left, dancing at Brighton Gardens, an assisted living facility in New Jersey. At age 107, Del Priore has now beat the coronavirus and Spanish Flu.(Photo: Courtesy of Brighton Gardens of Middletown)

ASBURY PARK, N.J. Back in May, Darlene Jasmine got the phone call no one wants to receive: Her grandmother had come down with COVID-19.

At age 107.

I thought, Oh my God, this is it, Jasmine said. This is the thing thats going to take her down.

Didnt happen. Anna Del Priore who is one month shy of turning 108, was born the year the Titanic sank andsurvived a case of the Spanish Flu a century ago beat the coronavirus. Not only that, shes still on her feet, walking and evendancingto the delight of the staff at Brighton Gardens, an assisted living facility in New Jersey.

People dont believe me, said Laura Halle, who is Del Priores health care coordinator at Brighton Gardens. Its really been amazing to watch her journey.

Del Priore was born in Brooklyn to deaf parents who taught sign language. She was a seamstress, and her late husband, Frank, was a professional tango dancer.

She always danced, always loved music, said Jasmine, 66. As soon as she hears music, her foot starts tapping.

At around 6 years old, Anna contracted the Spanish flu during the influenza pandemic of 1918, Brighton Gardens administrators confirmed. As with COVID-19, the Spanish flu attacked the respiratory system, although at a far deadlier rate.

Anna Del Priore dancing with her husband Frank in an undated photo.(Photo: Courtesy of the Del Priore family)

Maybe that has something to do with her recovering? said Jasmine, who noted that Annas younger sister, 105-year-old Helen Guzzone of Queens, New York,also survived both illnesses.

After Anna fell ill with COVID-19, Jasmine said, She had a fever, didnt eat much, but she didnt need a respirator. They didnt have to send her to the hospital.

NowDel Priore has resumed her normal activities, including swimming and sewing.

I feel good, Del Priore said. I thank God Im alive.

Jasmine called it a miracle but added that a lifetime of healthy choices probably helped.

Anna Del Priore(Photo: Courtesy of Brighton Gardens of Middletown)

Shes constantly moving, Jasmine said. We always walked in Brooklyn to the grocery store, to the bakery. Every night she would make a homemade meal from scratch. All Mediterranean food olive oil, vegetables, fruits, nuts. Its like the old peasant food that now they charge you so much for.

Del Priore has no plans to slow down.

You keep living, she said. Dancing makes you feel good. I want to keep my health.

Anna Del Priore on her 107th birthday last September.(Photo: Courtesy of Brighton Gardens of Middletown)

According to a gerontology site that tracks such things, two 108-year-old Americans are confirmed to have survived the coronavirus and seven other Americans age107 or older have done so. Around the world, the oldest confirmed person to beat the illness was a 113-year-old woman in Spain.

Suffice it to say, Anna Del Priore is not counting the days.

Shes a month shy of 108 and she gets up, combs her hair, walks and dances, said Halle, her health care coordinator. For the rest of my life, Ill be able to say I met and loved someone whos made it this far and stayed healthy.

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She beat the Spanish flu, and now 107-year-old New Jersey woman beat COVID-19 - USA TODAY