Centarians Celebrate Birthdays Over 100 Years

By Dean Wright, The Bristol Press

October 11, 2021

Four residents at Ingraham Manor celebrated their birthdays in excess of 100 years old Saturday with friends, family, manor staff and area drivers honking as they drove by on North Main Street.

Janet DeFonzo celebrated 107 years, Eleanor Carpenter 103, Mildred Bell 103 and Josephine Corso 101.

“We’re excited. We did this last year and we had such a great turnout,” said Noreen Schmidt, manager of community relations. “It gives them something to celebrate and they get to be with their families.”

“I’m just happy to see them smiling and be together with their families, especially during covid,” said Gordon Avery, director of nursing.

DeFonzo was born in 1914 and married Peter Ventrella in 1935. The pair raised two children, Donna and Victor. She worked at New Departure Manufacturing, where she retired, and is a grandmother to five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. After Ventrella passed, she married Rocco DeFronzo in 1985.

Carpenter was born in 1917. She lived in Bristol all her life save for a few months in 1942 and 1943 when her husband was stationed in West Virginia before going overseas. When he went to Europe to serve in World War II, she came back to Bristol. She married Bill Carpenter on Christmas Eve in 1942. They raised three children, Bill, Bob and Nancy. Eleanor has four grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren

Corso was born in 1920 and moved to Connecticut after World War II. She had four children with her husband Raffaele Corso. She is the grandmother of many and great-grandmother as well. She is skilled in sewing, crochet and was recognized as a homemaker as well as active with many women’s groups.

Bell was born in 1917. She married Joseph Bell Sept.2, 1939. They lived in Southington and had four children, June, Carole, Janet and William. Bell has nine grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. She continued to host holidays with families and maintain her home until 102.

Bristol Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu, along with City Council members Scott Rosado and Greg Hahn, stopped by to share a proclamation recognizing the four Ingraham Manor residents.

“It was heartwarming to see so many people drive by and celebrate these four ladies,” said the mayor. “All four were born during the Woodrow Wilson presidency. They built strong families, worked in various sectors and more. One lady survived covid. We so enjoyed chatting with them and their families.”