WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Surrounded by family on Thursday and with balloons adorning her wheelchair, Williamstown Commons resident Eva Maruco celebrated her 106th birthday.

 

"You're a popular lady today," her niece leaned in to tell her.

 

"I wonder why," Maruco answered.

 

There was little wonder why the North Adams native's life was worth celebrating as her family members shared reminiscences at the midday gathering.

 

Maruco, born Eva Decoteau, was the mother of three boys along with her husband, Peter, who died in 1994.

 

Her middle son, Philip, made the trip from Kansas City with his wife to celebrate the milestone birthday.

 

"She was always active in the community," Philip said of his mom. "She was a member of  Le Cercle Francais and the Rosary Society and an officer in each.

 

"She made the best lemon scones. She was a great baker and a great, good cook. She made good spaghetti and meatballs for being a French person."

 

Philip Maruco said his mom grew up in North Adams' West End and married Peter relatively late in life, on Oct. 3, 1953.

 

In addition to raising her family, Eva Maruco worked at the former Excelsior Print and Wall-Streeter Shoe companies.

 

Her sons, Fran, Philip and Peter, have given her five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

 

After retirement, she continued to live in the family home until about three years ago, when she moved to Williamstown Commons.

 

"The last two or three years, we had a nurse visit in the morning and at night, but other than that, she was on her own," Philip said.

 

Thursday's party was the latest in a line of big birthday celebrations that included a party at Williamstown's ‘6 House for her 85th birthday more than two decades ago and a gathering at the Williams Inn for her 100th in 2018.

 

When asked recently about the secret to reaching 106, Eva Maruco had a simple response.

 

"Just keep going," she reiterated on Thursday afternoon.