99 and still making pizza: Winnipeg woman sets sights on a century
Many people look forward to retirement and leaving the rat race behind, but not Antoinetta Lomonaco. She retired from her full-time job and then started the next chapter of her life working at her family's restaurant. Now about to turn 100 years old, she's still going strong.
It's a Tuesday morning and Lomonaco is reporting for her shift at the Sorrento's Restaurant at the Caboto Centre. Her job – making pizza, and she has a lot of experience doing it.
Lomonaco is turning 100 on Dec. 11, and she still works three shifts a week at the family restaurant.
Her son, Gerry Lomonaco, the owner of Sorrento's, said his mother retired at around 65 years old.
"Basically the next day she came and started hanging out with us at the restaurant and working with us," said Gerry.
Now 35 years later, she remains side-by-side with her family, working hard on every single pizza she touches.
Speaking to CTV News in Italian, Lomonaco said she believes the sauce and the dough are the most important part to any pizza. Her goal is to make every single one perfect.
"Before for she was like Chef (Gordon) Ramsay and now not as much," Gerry said jokingly. "No, she was always really good. She was pretty calm and patient overall."
The spry 100-year-old doesn't have to be encouraged to come work at the restaurant. In fact, it's quite the opposite.
"She gets up in the morning and her first question is, 'Who's going to come and pick me up to go to the Caboto Centre?'" Maria Bruni, Lomonaco's daughter, told CTV News. "If she could, she would be here every day."
Bruni said working at the restaurant has been great for her mother, giving her opportunities to walk around and be active. It's great for the rest of the family too.
"Not too many people get that luxury of going to work somewhere and having your whole family there and that's what she liked the most about it," Gerry said.
Antoinetta Lomonaco (centre) sits with her family. (Source: Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg)
As for Lomonaco's secret to 100 years of healthy living? Bruni says her mother has always had a hearty breakfast in the morning and a good meal in the evening.
"And she also has to make sure she has a glass of wine with her meal. That's a sure thing," Bruni said with a chuckle.
Lomonaco said instead her secret is being happy and staying around family.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Wildfire near Jasper National Park prompts evacuation order and highway closures
Multiple wildfires in Jasper National Park flared up with a vengeance late Monday night, forcing all park visitors along with the 4,700 residents of the Jasper townsite to flee west with little notice over mountain roads through darkness, soot, and ash.
Kamala Harris likely to follow path blazed by Biden on Canada-U.S. relationship
Observers expect Kamala Harris to follow U.S. President Joe Biden’s roadmap for America’s relationship with Canada as she moves to secure the Democratic party's presidential nomination.
Someone died from untreated AIDS every minute last year: UN
Nearly 40 million people were living with the HIV virus that causes AIDS last year, over nine million weren't getting any treatment, and the result was that every minute someone died of AIDS-related causes, the UN said in a new report launched Monday.
Do you need a lawyer when making a will in Canada?
Many people believe that creating a will requires the services of a lawyer, but this isn't always the case. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew explains a lawyer's role when crafting your last will and testament.
Artist swaps British Museum coin with fake
A Brazilian conceptual artist swapped a historic British coin for a fake in the British Museum to highlight the large number of foreign objects it holds.
NEW 'The Simpsons' are once again getting credit for predicting American politics
In an episode of 'The Simpsons' from 2000, Lisa Simpson becomes U.S. president and wears an outfit strikingly similar to the one America’s first female Vice-President Kamala Harris wore to the 2021 inauguration
Israel-Hamas war: Netanyahu signals ceasefire deal could be shaping up as deaths top 39,000
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has signalled that a ceasefire deal that would free dozens of hostages from captivity in Gaza could be taking shape.
Thinking of shoplifting? It's not worth the cost: paralegal expert
Shoplifting and retail theft have become a $5 billion annual problem and the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) is concerned about thefts becoming more brazen and violent with weapons being used.
Athletes show off stylish and expensive team clothing for the 2024 Olympic Games
Canadian athletes attempting to reach the podium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will also be looking fashionable for the entire world to see.