Vandergrift's Mary Naccarato is a renowned cook, 'Queen' to 4 generations of her family

It’s good to be queen.

Mary Christine Naccarato celebrated her 103rd birthday on Monday, April 26 surrounded by family, friends and one very large cake.

“I got a lotta flowers, a lotta money and I was so happy with who all came,” Naccarato said of the festivities at her daughter’s home in Vandergrift.

Her great-grandaughter, Eliza Oswalt, 21, of Lower Burrell, calls her “Queen.”

Oswalt stopped by to visit Queen on Friday; she can’t believe her great-grandmother remains so feisty.

“Her personality. She’s a firecracker and she’s 103 years old,” Oswalt said when asked what she admires about her great-grandmother.

Born in Colorado, Naccarato moved to Arnold when she was 5. She has been a resident of the Alle-Kiski Valley ever since.

Naccarato’s formal education was cut short after the eighth grade when she was needed to help out with domestic duties at home.

She was 19 when she married John Naccarato in 1937 in Mount St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in New Kensington. The couple moved to Jackson Avenue in Vandergrift that same year.

John worked at the now-defunct Wean United foundry in Vandergrift.

Mary settled into her role as a homemaker, raising the couple’s daughters, Arlene (Naccarato) DePanicis with whom she makes her home, and Carmella (Naccarato) Smith.

“Carmella calls me every day to talk,” Naccarato said.

Smith said her mother was always helping others.

“She’s always been a devoted mother to all of her family. She always cooked. We never had takeout meals. She always had something for guests to eat,” said Smith, 81, of Vandergrift. “My favorite meal she cooked was pasta — her homemade meat or ricotta raviolis. They weren’t little wee things, either.”

Naccarato moved in with DePanicis in 2015.

“She’s very blessed with all of her grandchildren,” DePanicis said. “She brags about them a whole bunch.”

Naccarato has six grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

Naccarato enjoyed baking for her family. She was known for her tarralli (Italian cookies) and frizzalene (toasted bread sticks).

Cooking Easter Pizzas was a much anticipated holiday tradition for Mary.

Following her mother’s recipe, Naccarato’s friends and family looked forward to her annual pizzas baked with yeast-bread and stuffed with mozzarella, ricotta, ham, boiled eggs, pepperoni and capicola.

“It’s amazing how she has such a fantastic personality and how she lives very happily and makes the most of everyday,” Oswalt said.

With some assistance, Naccarato is mobile and tends to her own basic grooming needs.

She said she feels “70.”

Her youthful complexion is often a topic of conversation.

“I use Dove soap,” she said.

Close friend Genevieve Hoffman, 91, of Parks Township met Mary during Mass about a decade ago.

“She’s so sweet, easy to talk to, always upbeat and a ray of sunshine,” Hoffman said. “I tell her everyday. ‘Mary, I wish I had your memory.’”

At 103, she said her quality of sleep is “great.” She still has a good appetite, and has a penchant for Chinese.

Oswalt said she admires her great-grandmother’s positive outlook.

“It’s amazing how she has such a fantastic personality and how she lives very happily and makes the most of everyday.”

Longtime Vandergrift resident Marilee Kessler said everyone knew where Mary lived.

“She was usually on her porch as we were out for our walk,” Kessler said. “She would wave and always ask how we were. Mary is just one of those people that you know is a good lady.”

Naccarato often wears a gold cross around her neck; she is a devout Catholic and a longtime member of Saint Gertrude’s Church in Vandergrift.

“I thank the dear Lord I’m here,” Naccarato said. “I have the nuns coming by to give me Holy Communion.”