A milestone birthday

Longtime East Meadow resident Elvira Mirabel celebrated her milestone 90th birthday in November. Mirabel, known to friends and family as Vera, was born on Thanksgiving Day in 1923.

She is one of five siblings. Her oldest sister, Yolanda, also of East Meadow, died in 2002. Her brother, Vito, lives in California, her youngest sister, Joan, lives in Pennsylvania, and her sister, Mafalda, was forced to move from Island Park to Florida after her home was damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

Mirabel worked at the Nassau University Medical Center coffee shop for 28 years. She recently spent time at the NUMC in early 2013 recovering from emergency hernia surgery. “Although it’s been many years since she worked there, when we go to clinic appointments, workers still recognize her,” said Mirabel’s daughter, Joyce.  “They instantly smile remembering how Mrs. Mirabel brightened up their day when she took their order at the hospital’s coffee shop.”

An avid bowler, Mirabel has spent many hours at the East Meadow bowling alley on Front Street. Though she didn’t have a high average, said Joyce, she enjoys bowling with family and friends, who gave her the nickname “Purple Flash.”

Mirabel has been widowed since 1974 and raised her then teenage children Frank, Denis and Joyce by herself. Joyce has two grandchildren, Michael and Nicholas, who she said love visiting their Nana, and were happy to help plan a surprise 90th celebration for her. “Vera enjoyed the night playing bingo, singing and laughing,” said Joyce, “with family and friends that she loved seeing so much.”