Metro

Centenarian sisters talk 100 years of sisterhood

The secret to a long life, centenarian Amparo Perez once declared, is “no husband and no children.’

This week, a day before her 105th birthday on Friday, she explained why.

“No aggravation,” she said. “It’s the most important thing, not to have aggravation.”

Perez, a widow who never remarried, flashed a broad smile last week as nurses wheeled her and her sister Evangelina Williams—who turned 107 in April—to a celebration of their long lives at their Bronx nursing home, the Triboro Center.

The smile scarcely left Perez’s face as she scanned the room full of staff, fellow residents, and a massive vanilla cake.

“I’m a big crybaby,” she remarked, wiping a tear from her eye.

Perez moved from Cuba to Florida in her twenties. While she didn’t recall the exact year, she said tumult on the island nation caused her father to close his business. The first of eight siblings to come to the US, Cruz soon began sending money home.

Working as a caretaker for children, she moved to the Big Apple, where she said there were more gigs.

“The important thing for me was to have a job, to send money for my family,” Perez said.

Perez, whose last home was in Chelsea, moved with Williams a few years ago to the 1160 Teller Ave. nursing home, and the pair have been inseparable, according to staff.

“They’re always together. They sit together for meals,” said assistant administrator Ahron Stark. “Their rooms are together. They get to spend every moment of their lives together.”

The two never miss Catholic services, which clerics from nearby St. Augustine-Our Lady of Victory Church deliver every Wednesday. a staffer said.

“I say that the Lord lets you stay,” Perez reflected. “I’m never alone because I believe in God. I think it’s very important to have something to put your shoulder, put your head on.”

Williams observed the festivities mostly in silence. Throughout, she sported sunglasses, which Chichester described as the 107-year-old’s signature look.

“One thing she will always tell you is, put on my sunglasses,” the nurse said. “I think it’s something she used to wear all the time.”