Antonia Amore

Antonia Amore, also known as "Sister Mary Cecile" (17 February 1905 – 18 February 2016) was an Italian-American supercentenarian whose age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). She was one of the oldest nuns in the world when she died.

Biography
Amore was born on 17 February 1905 in Pietracatella, Molise Region, Italy. Her father went to America when she was two months old. About six years later, he sent for his wife and daughter. The family lived in Bridgeport and grew with the births of her sister, Louise, and two brothers, Patrick and Michael.

Amore studied at Barnum Elementary School in Bridgeport. From the time she was a little girl, Amore wanted to take music lessons but financial difficulties occurred when she was in the eighth grade and was obliged to leave school and go to work to help her family. At the age of 14, she began to do “bench” work at a company in Bridgeport. She was paid for piecework and was so proud when she bought home $10 earned in one week when she usually earned $7.

Amore became very sick and could not work for about six months. Her mother prayed hard and when her daughter recovered, took her to a piano store. Antoinette picked out a new piano that cost $700. In her biography she wrote: “My poor mother was paying a few dollars a week for a piano long after I entered the convent.” She took lessons at 50 cents each from a Sister at St. John Nepomucene Convent. In three years, practicing three hours a day, she accomplished five years’ work.

As a candidate, she helped out at St. Ann in Baltimore and St. Patrick in Cumberland, she was received as a novice on Aug. 17, 1926, and, to the delight of her mother, was given the name Mary Cecile.

In 2000, Cecile became a resident of Villa Notre Dame in Wilton and in 2010, she moved over to Lourdes Health Care Center.

Antonia Amore passed away in Wilton, Connecticut on 18 February 2016 at the age of 111 years, 1 day.