Correspondent photo / Nancilynn Gatta Steve Soroka of Vienna, born in 1924, and JoAnne Ulery of Niles, born in 1925, display the proclamations they received from the Trumbull County commissioners during a luncheon at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library on Friday. They were two of the 22 Trumbull County centenarians honored for their contributions to the area.

WARREN — It was a time to celebrate and honor the eventful and diverse lives of Trumbull County centenarians during a luncheon Friday at Warren-Trumbull County Public Library.

According to 2024 statistics, only 0.03 % of the United States population is at least 100 years old. Trumbull County had 22 honorees, with six in attendance on Friday. One of the oldest members of the 100-plus club, Helen Prince, who is 107, was represented by her granddaughter and her husband.

Trumbull County Commissioner President Rick Hernandez brought proclamations from the county officials to give to each of the honorees.

“I am blessed and honored to be here with you today and hopefully in a little over 30 years, I will receive my own proclamation into your group,” Hernandez said.

As each person received the framed declaration, which depicted those born in their birth year and a historical fact about that time period, many of the participants gave advice to living a long life or said something interesting about their lives in this area.

Honored guests sat at tables that coincided with their birth year.

Melissa Minor of Warren was the oldest attendee at the luncheon. She sat at the table with the year 1922. The 103-year-old recalled working as a welder during World War II. She was a Rosie the Riveter, which was quite unusual for a young woman of color. Minor is the last of 12 children in her family.

Vesta McVay of Champion mentioned her favorite hobby.

“I have been doing genealogy for 60 years. I found out my family, the Sears from Connecticut moved to Ohio in 1834. I have been designated one of the first families of Ohio,” McVay said.

She still sends birthday cards to family and friends in a datebook that’s been kept since 1930.

Steve Soroka of Vienna, who was born in 1924, gave the advice of how working hard helped him to reach his centenarian years.

“I had a 68-acre farm. It was my wife’s family farm and they were getting older so we moved there to help them out. They were in their 70s at that time. I worked on the farm until I was 95, and then my daughter said she thought it was time for me to stop. I have lived with my daughter and her husband since COVID,” he said.

Soroka worked at a factory for 30 years before moving to the farm.

Exercise is one way to keep fit and healthy. Helen Prince could not attend the luncheon because she suffered a hip fracture earlier this year. Up until that injury, she loved to dance and even at 93, appeared on the dance floor at her granddaughter’s wedding.

Diet is something to consider when wanting to live a healthy, long life. Chocolate could be a key to becoming a centenarian.

Geraldine Neely, 101, and Jo Anne Ulery, a recent centenarian born in August of 1925, are chocolate lovers. Norman Gatta Sr., 101, is also a chocolate fan. Perhaps location is another reason for their longevity. All three live in Niles.

Though they enjoyed their luncheon, Neely and Ulery said they left room for dessert and were going to Katie’s Korner for ice cream after the event. Gatta was unable to attend.

Mike Salcone, who turned 101 in March, wore his World War II Navy hat and said it was a pleasure for him to share this luncheon with the other centenarians.

Ulery also had advice for younger people that helped her become a centenarian.

“I am thankful for being here among all of these beautiful people and always getting along with everybody. I can get along with anybody,” she said.

Diane Siskowic-Jurkovic, administrator of Trumbull County Senior Levy, ended the luncheon with this positive thought.

“Hope to see all of you with us next year when we add a new class of centenarians in 2026,” she said.

Also honored Friday but not in attendance were Dorothy Jewell, who was born in 1917; Evelyn Fisher, 1918; Jefferson Littell, Ruth Kitzel and Mary Infante, 1922; Theresa Verbosky, Virginia Bass and Miriam Hopkins, 1923; Bertha Gatta, Alma Mae Knupp, Norman Gatta, Eleanor Marazi, Robert Homer, 1924; and Joseph Perone and Iona (Lonnie) Blasko, 1925.