Local resident turns 102-years-old this weekend

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - It's a birthday party of the century plus two as Mariana Neblina celebrated her 102nd birthday on Saturday.

Neblina's family gathered at her house Saturday afternoon to commemorate her 102 years around the sun.

Neblina was born in 1922 and grew up in a small town in Sonora, Mexico.

KYMA spoke to her last year, when she was celebrating her 101st birthday, and she said the one thing that has been most important in her long life is family.

Neblina's family shared some fond memories.

"When I got married, we wanted a very small wedding. And my husband Dannny, said, 'No, we're not going to invite. We're just going to invite our important people.' And I said 'My important people are my grandparents and my parents. So they were the only real grown up to our wedding. That was pretty important."

Olivia Castro, Neblina's granddaughter

"She used to always have turtles. Some little desert turtles that would always come in the backyard. She would have a special little enclosure for that. It was pretty cool, growing up, to see all these different turtles everywhere."

Wednesday Castro, Neblina's great-granddaughter

"The greatest memory, or a fond memory is her creating the character in my wife. Modeled after herself," said Richard Ledesma, Neblina's son-in-law.