Feliminia Rotundo is one of the hardest-working women in America — and she believes too many people are retiring too young.
“I don’t think people should be sitting idle, doing nothing. That’s a waste of time,” declared Felimina, who is 100 years old!
She’s been working in the same Buffalo, N.Y., laundromat 11 hours a day, six days a week since the mid-1970s!
When she started at the College Laundry Shoppe, she was pulling in a paltry 25 cents per load, and while she isn’t breaking the bank these days, she still gives it everything she’s got.
“You have to grow up during the Depression to know what it’s like to have hard times,” she pointed out.
“What are you going to do? You survive. That’s what makes you grow up to work hard and make some money. It makes you independent and able to say you made it through the hard times.”
Felimina oughta know. She got her first job fixing shoes in a Pennsylvania factory at 15 — and didn’t slow down for the next 85 years!
“Talk about slave labor! I was making about $10 a week, but I worked my 40 hours and never complained,” she said. “I was glad to have a job.”
Somewhere along the line, Felimina found time to raise two children!
“My mom has always enjoyed working, especially talking to new people and meeting new customers,” said her proud son Gary Rotundo, 74.
“She attributes her longevity to hard work. She says it gives her a purpose, a reason to always wake up in the morning and a reason to always hustle.”
Felimina has kept that hustle going from her 5 a.m. wakeup until the last shirt is folded at 7 p.m., six days a week.
“I don’t believe in retirement,” said the spunky centenarian.
“If I retired at 65, what would I have done all these years? I would’ve gone crazy! I work because I want to be around people. I’ll keep going until I can’t walk anymore!”
That’s great news for everybody but her weary son.
“I’m 74, and I can’t retire because SHE’s still working!” Gary joked.
