[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12710]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              IN HONOR OF VIOLA DEL GRECO'S 100TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PATRICK J. TIBERI

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 22, 2014

  Mr. TIBERI. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate Viola Del Greco 
upon her 100th birthday.
  Yesterday she joined a growing segment of America: the Centenarians. 
According to the 2010 Census, over 53,000 Americans are 100 years old 
or older. Their combined contributions to our nation have coincided 
with the rise of what has been called ``The American Century.''
  Mrs. Del Greco has lived by any measure what can be described as a 
successful life. Married to her late husband for 72 years, matriarch, 
business owner and faithful church goer, she has modeled for her family 
and community how to appropriately balance the demands of life. Faith, 
family, friends, and neighborhood all require time, energy and 
attention. Those that give each the proper care can look back and see 
the handiwork of a lifetime and rejoice in the result. Viola Del Greco 
must rejoice at what she sees.
  As a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she understands the 
importance of family. The family unit serves as the most fundamental 
human institution and a basic foundation for our society. The family 
acts as an incubator in which all the virtues and principles we hold 
dear are passed on to our children.
  Her faithful membership at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church 
speaks to her core values and strength of character. Her role as 
business partner with her husband at Del Cleaners bonded them as a team 
and as part of the community. Her children, grandchildren and great-
grandchildren have watched her example and honor her life.
  Mark Twain was right when he observed, ``Only he who has seen better 
days and lives to see better days again knows their full value.''
  Mrs. Del Greco understands the value of each day.