Carmela "Millie" Scarnato is hardly alone among single moms who struggle to care for a child with a disability, dedicating their lives to the person who loves and needs them the most.

Few mothers, though, have embraced that role longer than the lively Scarnato, who celebrated her 100th birthday Wednesday with a family luncheon at Roots Steakhouse in Morristown.

"I always say the good Lord has been very good to me," said Scarnato, a native of Newark's Ironbound section who moved to East Hanover in 1973. "I thank him every day."

The move followed a divorce from a husband who left shortly after her son Leonard was born with physical and mental disabilities. Leonard has Down Syndrome and severe autism and is nonverbal and unable to care for himself.

He gets inhome care services.  EVV will prevent this from happening