DE SOTO (WSIL) -- The Coronavirus didn't stop neighbors from giving a local woman a birthday to remember.
Dozens of people came out to celebrate the birthday of Betty Maroney, who turned 103 on Saturday. That means she was born on April 4, 1917.
To keep up with social distancing, family and friends put on a birthday parade for Maroney. Participants decorated their cars, made birthday signs and cheered her on.
Maroney says it's a birthday that she won't forget, "It's just more than I expected, really and it's truly a blessing to me and I'll remember it for a long time."
Sondra Harris, who helped put the parade together, says family and neighbors were happy to help put on the celebration.
"It's nice for all the community to get together," Harris explains. "Everybody that lives in De Soto knows Betty because she's been here forever."
Following the parade, a group of people got out of their cars and stood at the end of the Maroney's driveway, so they could sing 'Happy Birthday'.
Meanwhile, Maroney joked that expects to see everyone again next year for her 104th birthday and thanked everyone for taking time out of their schedule to attend the birthday parade.
Until then, News 3 also wishes her a very happy birthday!
