An Ohio woman was surprised by a high school marching band on her 100th birthday Tuesday.
In jest Margaret LoCicero said she wanted a marching band to perform for her centennial and it turns out that’s exactly what she got.
Dozens of Boardman High School band members arrived at the assisted living facility where she lives near Youngstown, in northeast Ohio thanks to the staff at Mercy Health’s Marian.
Margaret LoCicer from Ohio was surprised by a high school marching band on her 100th birthday Tuesday
She blew out the candles on her birthday cake as her friends, family and staff gathered round when a stranger introduced himself.
‘We have a few things in common,’ said Tom Ruggieri. ‘You worked in the Boardman schools. I work in the Boardman schools.’
‘You know what I do?’ he asked. ‘I direct the band.’
The hallway then filled with dozens of Spartan Marching Band members who arrived at the party to play Happy Birthday and a few other songs for LoCicero, Fox 8 reported.
In jest Margaret LoCicero said she wanted a marching band to perform for her centennial and it turns out that’s exactly what she got
The hallway then filled with dozens of Spartan Marching Band members who arrived at the party to play Happy Birthday
She described the surprise as ‘wonderful,’ and said ‘I was just so impressed.’
Asked her secret of a long life, Cicero replied: ‘Follow the yellow brick road, whatever it is to you.’
LoCicero was born on January 23, 1918, in Youngstown, several years after her parents emigrated from Italy.
She described the surprise as ‘wonderful,’ and said ‘I was just so impressed’
The band played Happy Birthday and several other songs to celebrate her centennial
She graduated from East High School in 1936, and in 1941 married Peter Anthony Cordova LoCicero. The couple had four children – Joseph, Mary Margaret, William and Patrick.
LoCicero’s children said they have learned a lot of valuable life lessons from their mother, who now is a grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of nine.
‘My mom always taught us the cup is half full,’ Joseph said. ‘Her philosophy is, ‘Life is simple, it’s just not easy.’