World’s oldest nun, Sister Francis Dominici Piscatella, celebrates 113th birthday on Long Island
By Krista McNally
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AMITYVILLE, Long Island (WABC) — Born in 1913, Sister Francis Dominici Piscatella is the world’s oldest nun, according to Guinness World Records.
On Sunday she celebrated her 113th birthday.
“I have given up counting my years,” said Piscatella.
Piscatella joined the order of the Sisters of St. Dominic in Amityville in 1931 at the age of 17.
“I was a teacher and a Dominican sister, I had to show them that the fact I had half an arm couldn’t in any way impede me in any way, there was nothing I couldn’t do that a person with two hands could do,” Piscatella said.
An accident in her childhood left part of her arm amputated, but she was determined to succeed as a nun. She would not only keep up with the sisters, she would go on to teach countless others.
The Sister has spent nine decades serving the church — she taught high school students and was a professor at Molloy College for 52 years.
“She’s very sweet, has a lot of great life advice,” said her great-great-niece Alexa Grimley.
On Sunday, her family threw her a big birthday bash, to celebrate the milestone.
“It’s very kind of everybody who came and made this a lovely day,” Piscatella said.
A proclamation was given from Pope Leo at the party — he is the tenth pope to serve in Piscatella’s lifetime.
She says faith, family, and good fortune have given her a beautiful life.
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