Hampton Bays Elementary School celebrated the 99th birthday of their beloved teacher’s aide Sarah Cunliffe with cake and desserts on Jan. 31. Cunliffe was all smiles as she was greeted with birthday wishes from students and fellow staff members.

Cunliffe has worked at the school for the past 20 years and has said that her longevity has everything to do with being able to work with children every day.

Working with children has been a large part of Cunliffe’s life. She began her career at the age of 16 by assisting the nuns at Sacred Hearts Church in Southampton, the town where she grew up. Later in life, she became the director of religious education at St. Rosalie’s Church in Hampton Bays, a position she served in for 35 years. She fondly remembers teaching communion and confirmation classes to Lars Clemensen, Hampton Bays’ superintendent of schools. After retiring from her director’s position, Cunliffe said she needed to get back to work. She applied to Hampton Bays Elementary School and has been working there ever since, assisting in classrooms and in the cafeteria during lunch.

Cunliffe resides in Hampton Bays, where she raised her three children, Jackie, Joseph and Theresa.