Aleda Bukovinsky turned 100 years old on Oct. 31. In celebration, a birthday dinner attended by 175 guests and hosted by her children took place Nov. 12 at the Maronite Center in Youngstown. During the celebration, Aleda was bestowed and presented with a “Papal Apostolic Blessing” on the occasion of her 100th birthday. Out of town guests included Chorbishop Donald J. Sawyer of Austin, Texas; Joe Saadi of Reading, Pa.; Ida Johns of Shelby Township, Michigan; Janet Carver of Fernandina Beach, Florida; her grandson serving in the Navy, DCC and Mrs. John Bukovinsky and family of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Cuddy and family of Pittsburgh.

Aleda was born to Lebanese immigrant parents Saada Thomas and Michael Beshara on Oct. 31, 1923, at their Youngstown home. She was raised with her parents, maternal grandmother and four brothers: Joe, Harry, Richard and Sam, and a sister, Rema (all deceased).

She attended Shehy Street Elementary School, Lincoln Middle School and graduated in June 1942 from East High School, all on the city’s East Side.

She is an active lifelong member of Saint Maron Church, Youngstown, and a founding member of The Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in North Jackson.

After graduating high school in 1942, Aleda contributed to the World War II effort as a worker in several steel and manufacturing plants dedicated to war production. After the war, she worked at the Youngstown General Electric Lamp Plant on Hughes Street and eventually left the workforce to raise her family. In 1971, Aleda rejoined the workforce at General Motors — Fisher Body Metal Fabricating Plant in Lordstown and retired after 18 years of service in 1989.

Aleda is an avid poker player and enjoyed playing cards over the years with several groups, stating that overall, she came out a winner. She walked every morning for several years at the Southern Park Mall, where she met many friends.

Throughout the years, Aleda prepared the turkey with stuffing for all extended family on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter holiday gatherings. Her cooking expertise also includes several Lebanese dishes.

Aleda was the birthday cake baker for her extended family over the years, and she still makes her special recipe anise pizzelles and distributes them to family and friends at Christmas.

Aleda married Joseph “Buck” Bukovinsky on Feb. 7, 1950, and they enjoyed 54 years of marriage until his death in 2004. Together they raised three children: Jo Ann (Lawrence) Stephan of Lakeland Florida; Harry R. (Kathy) Bukovinsky of Boardman; and John M. Bukovinsky with whom she shares a home in Boardman. Aleda also has four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, who cherish and love their “Mama.”

Aleda attributes her longevity to several years of walking each morning in the Southern Park mall, until she was in her late 90s.