101-Year-Old Survives Coronavirus: 'This Too Shall Pass'

SAYVILLE, NY — Rose Leigh-Manuel was born in 1919. She survived the Great Depression, World War II, and now she can add coronavirus to that list.

The resident of Sayville's Good Samaritan Nursing and Rehabilitation Care Center battled a COVID-19 infection for two weeks and is now recovered. She dealt with fever, weakness and chills but is now back in her room, enjoying good cheer and her favorite snack, vanilla Oreos, a representative for Catholic Health Services, which runs the nursing center, said.

When asked her secret to reaching the age of 101, Leigh-Manuel had an answer:

“It’s a combination of living right, having a good attitude and always keeping in mind that ‘this too shall pass.’”

Manuel was supported by her family, although remotely as part of coronavirus safety protocols, which have limited visitors to help keep the vulnerable populations of nursing home residents safe. She calls her extended family her "pride and joy" and they include four children, 17 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren.