Happy birthday, Mary Ceccoli

COEUR d’ALENE — Even with 100 years of memories, Mary Ceccoli’s recall is remarkably sharp.

She can recall that she grew up on Hancock Street in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and how she and her friends would walk home from Coughlin High School for lunch.

She’ll also never forget how her mom pulled together $1 a week to pay for dancing lessons at the Y, which was no easy feat.

“It was hard for her,” Ceccoli said. “She was on relief and had seven children. She really had it tough.”

Those lessons, however, laid the groundwork for Ceccoli’s career as a dancer for United Service Organizations.

Ceccoli became a USO dancer alongside a friend of hers at just 16 years old, right before the start of World War II.

“We asked our teacher if it was wise for us to go,” Ceccoli recalled. “Our teacher told our mother, ‘The war is going to break out soon, the students aren’t studying. She’s better off going, she’ll learn more.'"

Ceccoli and her friend were hired immediately in New York and arrived in London in 1943 after touring with the USO dancers stateside for several months.

Ceccoli and her fellow dancers primarily performed for soldiers who were hospitalized.

“You’d see the GIs with their legs cut off ... it was heartbreaking,” Ceccoli said.

Despite the hardship, Ceccoli remembers the hope she and her fellow dancers provided for the wounded soldiers.

Ceccoli recalled one hospital visit during which a wounded soldier wanted to dance with her friend, Celine.

“He said ‘Celine, I don’t have my legs but when I get my legs, I’ll dance with you,’” Ceccoli said.

After London, Ceccoli spent six to eight months in Italy with USO before opting out of a Japan tour and returning home for good.

“I’d decided I’d had enough of it. It was just heartbreaking,” Ceccoli said. “I’ve seen good things and bad things.”

A lifetime later, Ceccoli still carries vivid memories of witnessing WWII and its aftermath firsthand — including a visit to Auschwitz the day after it was liberated.

“To think I saw it the day after. ... (seeing the) bones, it was just terrible,” Ceccoli said. “A lot of people wouldn’t believe it.”

Ceccoli began the post-war chapter of her life after returning home and marrying in 1947. She and her husband had two children and devoted their time to Victory Pig Pizza, a well-known restaurant opened in 1942 by her in-laws.

“It was very popular at the time, it’s actually still popular,” Ceccoli said.

Ceccoli moved to Coeur d’Alene about five years ago to live with her daughter, which has been another new chapter in itself.

Ceccoli now spends her time outdoors on family camping excursions and enjoying life’s little moments with her first great-grandbaby, 8-month-old Vincent.

“It’s so lovely. I enjoy everything here,” Ceccoli said.

Ceccoli officially reached the 100-year milestone today and credits her longevity to healthy lifestyle choices.

“I never smoked,” Ceccoli said with a laugh. “They gave me one cigarette to try when I was 16 and I said, ‘No way, I can’t stand it.’ But I did drink wine.”

    Mary Ceccoli and her first great-grandbaby, 8-month-old Vincent.
  

    Mary Ceccoli at 16 years old in her USO uniform.
  

    Mary Ceccoli (left) alongside her friend and fellow USO dancer in the 1940s.