The proverbial phrase, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” is often used to encourage optimism in the face of adversity or misfortune. For 84-year-old Marcia Buzzelli, overcoming obstacles began at an early age, setbacks that would only stiffen her resolve with a can-do attitude. And as for those lemons? She’d prefer making her family’s legendary Ricotta pie recipe. Brava, Signora!

Marcia Marie Buzzelli was born Jan. 12, 1940, in Niagara Falls. Her parents, John and Frances (nee Scrivano), were both second-generation Italian-Americans whose families immigrated to Western New York around the late 1800s.