ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMOV/Gray News) – Turning 100 years old is a really big deal – legendary in fact.
A local centenarian not only marked another historic birthday, but she’s also famous in the area for her salads.
Franchesca Taullo recently celebrated her 107th birthday in Illinois.
Her granddaughter reached out to KMOV to wish her a happy birthday on the news, but KMOV’s Steve Harris decided to do something even better — paying her a visit and hearing her story.
Taullo currently lives with her 82-year-old daughter, Taneena Camperi, who is also her interpreter.
Taullo was born and raised in Palermo, Sicily, in 1917. Her husband was from Herring, Illinois, which is what brought her to the area in 1958.
“She went to work in a factory… then she went to work at different restaurants,” Camperi said.
One of those restaurants was owned by her family, GianCarlos.
“She was a great cook and made the best salads,” Camperi said.
Franchesca made salads that customers called “God’s salad.” The salad was so famous that it got featured in a newspaper.
“She never wanted to sit down, she always wanted to keep on going,” Camperi said.
The family’s restaurant has been closed for several years, but you can still find reviews online of her famous salads.
We asked Franchesca what it felt like to be 107. She said, “OK.”
A simple question with a simple answer, but her daughter Taneena feels blessed.
“She’s keeps calling, saying ‘God is keeping me here for you,’” Camperi said. “I said, ‘Yeah I need you mama.’”
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