Dominican sister from LI marks 109th birthday 

Sister Francis Piscatella marked her 109th birthday in her East Williston home Wednesday, maintaining her status as the second oldest nun in the United States.

While she has lived through personal tragedy, two pandemics and two World Wars, her sense of humor appeared to be intact when asked about the secret to her longevity.

“I guess God doesn’t want me — yet,” she quipped before a birthday cake at her East Williston apartment, surrounded by three generations of nieces and nephews.

Family members said birthday cards for this age are hard to come by. Her family instead brought a 100th birthday card, and wrote “+9” while she blew out her candles.

This year’s birthday was slightly more special than the last two because relatives were able to join her in person, instead of gathering outside her window or driving by in car parades. This year, she gave them hugs and kisses and posed for pictures with her large extended family.

“It’s nice to have a birthday, especially when you’re 109. I can’t believe it. I’m still here,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed my life and I’m very grateful for the life I’ve had. I’m grateful all these people wanted to come see this old lady.”

She is the second in age nationally to a 111 year-old nun who lives in Kentucky, according to St. Dominic of Amityville and the Gerontology Research group, which tracks centenarians globally.

Piscatella has spent 91 years as a nun in the Sisters of St. Dominic of Amityville. She joined the convent at 18 and became a math instructor, teaching high school and 52 years at Molloy College before retiring when she was 84.

She moved to East Williston after the Molloy College convent shut down and lives with former student and fellow nun, Sister Francis Daniel Kammer.

By all accounts, Piscatella is sharp and relatively agile without any serious medication. She goes to mass nearly every day at the Church of St. Aidan in Williston Park, likes to read and prays daily.

“She taught me life is worth living and to pray every minute,” Kammer said.

Piscatella grew up in Central Islip and suffered tragedy early on — losing her left arm to a train accident when she was 2 and shattering her other arm in a vehicle collision years later.

Her family comes every year to celebrate the milestones, including a 100th birthday party joined by 99 relatives. “She’s an amazing woman. That's all. That's the only way to describe her,” her nephew Phil Piscatella said. “She loves her family. We love her and she's always praying for us.”

Piscatella said she has tried to remain youthful and leans on her experience in life and her faith in God. “I don’t want to get old. I want to be young, but you can’t stay young,” she said. “Frankly I don’t feel 109, but I’m there … But you can’t sit still and move along and eventually I hope God accepts me."

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.