Frances Simonelli was born March 15, 1911, in Tampa, Fla. At age 4, she moved to Manhattan with her parents. She married Carmine Simonelli in 1930 and had two children, Dorothy and Robert. They lived in New Jersey and Long Island City. Frances was widowed in 1949. In 1961 she moved to Flushing, and she worked for Woolworth's for nine years. In 1970, she moved to Huntington to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Oliver Cutajar. Frances enjoys playing cards and is a lifelong Yankees fan. She has seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Family attributes Frances' longevity to drinking a glass of red wine and taking a garlic pill every day. Frances exercises by climbing stairs. She celebrated her birthday at the North Hempstead Country Club with family and friends.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, of Bay Shore, was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. His mother has made it her mission to aid active-duty service members, veterans, first responders and Gold Star families. NewsdayTV's Virginia Huie reports. Credit: Randee Daddona; Photo credit: Cathy Heighter

'His sacrifice made a difference': Gold Star mother honors son's memory Army Pfc. Raheen Tyson Heighter, 22, of Bay Shore, was the first serviceman from Long Island killed in the Iraq War.

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