Dutchess County's Oldest Resident Rings In Her 112th Birthday

Oldest Dutchess County Resident Celebrates Milestone Birthday

Back in March 2026, Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino was invited to a special celebration.

According to a Facebook post Serino was invited to celebrate lifelong Dutchess County resident Bessie Riley's early birthday celebration.

Bessie was celebrating her 112th birthday a few months early, as her official birthday is May 28th. On social media Serino wrote "Bessie’s remarkable life is a testament to love, resilience, and the enduring spirit of our community." Adding:

We send our early birthday wishes to Bessie and join Dutchess County in congratulating her on reaching this amazing milestone!

News 10 ABC in Albany reports that Riley is the oldest known resident in Dutchess County and last week she celebrated the big 1-1-2.

Bessie Riley, Lifelong Dutchess County Resident, Turns 112

As Riley celebrated her 112th birthday, WTEN dove deep into her life in Dutchess County.

WTEN reports that Riley attended a segregated "one-room schoolhouse" as a child in the 1920. Later she worked as a "dining room attendant at Hudson River Psychiatric Center" for 17 years, retiring in 1975.

Riley started a family in Dutchess County, getting married and having 4 children.

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Here's a fun fact. According to WTEN Riley isn't the only one in her family to "live over 10 decades." WTEN reports that Bessie's sister lived to be 105.

We need to know their secret!

Who is the Oldest Person in New York State?

While Bessie is representing for Dutchess County, we were interested in who holds the titled of oldest living resident in New York State.

After some digging, we learned that Sister Francis Dominici holds said title. She's 113 years old and lives at the Queen of the Rosary Motherhouse on Long Island.

Sister Dominici is also on the record books. Guinness World Records has her on the books as the oldest living religious sister in the world!