by Jim Dino

The oldest local residents of Italian descent will be honored when the Unico Club of Hazleton holds the eighth annual Bell' Italia Festivale on Saturday and Sunday at Hazle Township Community Park. Mary Gabriele, who is 106 years old, is the oldest. She was born in Media Run to Nicholas and Tomasina Lauro on March 19, 1909.

In 1916, the family moved to Hazleton Heights, where she lived with nine siblings, all of whom are now deceased. When she was 14, she began work at the Duplan Silk Mill and completed her education during evenings at St. Gabriel's High School.

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Source: http://republicanherald.com/