Harrisburg, Pa. - It's often said there is no substitute for experience. Lucy Minghella should know. She's been stocking up on it for a long time - ever since 1905.

For most of her 104 years, Lucy's never been afraid of work. She's cooked, watched other people's kids and cleaned; including a one-year stint at the Penn Harris hotel.

"I was the best cleaner. I don't think I was, but they thought that," she said.

It was that distinction that gave Lucy the job as chambermaid for Eleanor Roosevelt during a stay in Harrisburg.

"I don't know whether it was 106 or 206 she was in," Minghella said. "She left a tip. Her tip was five dollars."

Lucy's memory is a steel trap, but what's most clear is her recollection of the lean times.

"When I was coming up, it was a little rough, couldn't get the real good jobs," she said.

But the money she got she socked away; eventually saving enough to buy a farmhouse in Dalmatia, in Northumberland County.

"We will eat fried potatoes till we got what we want," she said. "And after we get a little money we have good things; a nice dinner, roast chicken on Sunday, a piece of roast beef."

Lucy's outlived two sons and two daughters but has 17 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, 12 great-great grandchildren and three great-great-great grandchildren; one of whom is 100 years younger than Lucy to the day. And while she doesn't live in the country anymore, she's still on her own.

"I can do my own housework, do a little washing and cleaning," she said.

Still independent as ever too, and always willing to shell out the advice that comes with that 100-plus years of experience we were talking about.

"Eat right, take it easy and go along," she advises. "Don't worry too much. Don't do too much worrying. Just go along with it a little bit each and every day."

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