Norma Matthews and Edith Antonecchi, twin sisters from Massachusetts, recently celebrated their 100th birthday together.
The sisters have always been close, doing everything together since the day they were born. They have been through the ups and downs of life together, and have always been there for each other. Despite their strong bond, they also have a sense of humor and admit to having had sibling rivalries growing up.
Growing up, the sisters were raised by a single mother in Revere, Massachusetts. They didn’t have it easy, but they made their own fun. After high school, Edy went on to become a nurse, while Norma worked as a hairdresser. They both got married within three months of each other, and for the next 51 years, they made sure to never live more than two cities apart, or at most, just one bus ride away.
Unfortunately, they have had to endure the loss of their loved ones. Norma lost one of her daughters when she was two years old, and Edy lost her husband Leo to a car accident in 1994. Norma’s husband Charles passed away from Alzheimer’s.
After the death of their husbands, the sisters made the decision to move to Florida together. They now live in a mobile home park, and with the help of friends and kind neighbors, they get around to the church, grocery store, and senior citizen events.
Their neighbor, Margaret Shaffer, describes Norma as the chatty one, while Edy is more quiet. They both light up the room wherever they go. The sisters have a strong telepathic connection, and Edy can feel when Norma is sick, and Norma can tell when Edy is thinking of calling her.
For their 100th birthday, 50 people flew into St. Petersburg to celebrate with them. The sisters couldn’t be without each other, and they plan to continue to be together in the future as well. Norma says, “I’d do anything for Edy. She’s my everything.”