Edith "Edie" Recagno Keenan Ceccarelli has lived in northern California her whole life and will be celebrated Sunday, Feb. 4 with a drive-by parade.

America's oldest living person is turning 116. Her hometown is throwing a birthday bash.Red more..........

 

The oldest person in the U.S. is about to celebrate her 116th birthday.

Edith "Edie" Recagno Keenan Ceccarelli lives in northern California, in the small town of Willits and she's the second-oldest person on Earth, according to the Gerontology Research Group.Red more......

She'll mark another year around the sun on Feb. 5. The town of Willits celebrates her birthday annually, and will commemorate her 116 years on Sunday, Feb. 4, with a parade.Red more....

Ceccarelli is a local treasure and celebrity, and her birthday parade is the party of the season in Willits, organizers and city employees told USA TODAY. Town employees will drive in the parade, including a vice mayor, council member and the fire and police departments. The Boy Scouts will be on the route celebrating, as well as a few horses and a locally famous dog-walker. Willits residents and people coming into town for the parade can drive past Ceccarelli's assisted living home in cars decorated with balloons, flags, signs and streamers.Red more...

"Every year at her birthday, we make sure she knows how special she is," lead parade organizer Suzanne told USA TODAY.

Ceccarelli is perhaps most excited for the carrot cake her family ordered for Sunday, said Perla Gonzalez, one of Ceccarelli's caretakers at Willits' Holy Spirit Residential Care Home.

"She got very excited when she learned the cake would be carrot cake," Gonzalez said. "She said, 'Oh really, honey?,' and lit up."Red more....