Heath Village resident Madeline Dupertuis celebrates her 100th birthday on December 5, 2018. A long-time resident of Hackettstown, she has lived at Heath Village since 2016.

The daughter of Matilda and Joseph Fuccio, Madeline was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. Thirteen years after she was born, her sister Patricia arrived to complete the family.

Madeline is a graduate of the New Utrecht High School class of 1937. Soon after graduation, she was fortunate to be hired as a secretary/receptionist in an optometrist’s office. She followed this job with a similar one in the wholesale jewelry industry located on West 42nd Street in New York City. It was here that she met and fell in love with Bernard Dupertuis. Bernard was born and raised in Switzerland. He was in America to learn the jewelry business. They were married in 1958.

Soon after they were married, the two of them started their own jewelry business and moved to Passaic, New Jersey.  The business thrived thanks, in large part, to several patents Bernard held related to the manufacturing of jewelry and watches. Their customers included companies such as Tiffany, Cartier and other high-end businesses.

Madeline and Bernard moved to Hackettstown in the 1950s and established a very successful jewelry manufacturing business in their home. Sadly, Bernard passed away in 1989 after 31 years of marriage. The business was sold shortly thereafter.

Madeline attributes her longevity to a good gene pool and good friends who have helped care for her over the years.