One summer afternoon when she was young, Anna Capuano strolled along the Seaside Park boardwalk in Bridgeport with two friends. One friend had a pack of cigarettes, so the two others lit up and puffed away. They invited Capuano to do the same, but she refused. “All I had to do was smell that smoke, and I said, No thanks,” said Capuano.

A lifelong decision to avoid tobacco no doubt contributed to the fact that Capuano celebrated her 100th birthday on April 2. Capuano’s other advice for people who want to live long and stay healthy? Work hard, work long and keep yourself active and engaged. Capuano’s life has included raising 14 children and working much of that time at jobs that included cleaning houses, owning a pizza parlor and running a package store.