Gabrielita Vigil Ortega, 96, doesn't remember her parents ever giving birthday parties for her and her three sisters when they were growing up, even though their birthdays were all during the months of March and April. As Gabrielita says, "We were all so busy just helping my parents work the land that I guess there wasn't time for parties."

But come this Saturday, the four sisters will make up for lost time when their children throw a big birthday party for them, with more than 200 family members coming from New Mexico, Arizona and Virginia for the event.

This huge family reunion will celebrate the birthdays of Eremita Vigil y Vigil, who turned 105 on March 16; Leonardita "Lala" Vigil, who turned 100 on Saturday; Gabrielita Vigil Ortega, who turned 96, also on March 16; and Celina Vigil Rivera, who will be 86 on Friday.

"All of us children got together and decided that, given their ages, we should have a party for them while they're still with us," says Leo Ortega, Gabrielita's eldest son.

The four Vigil sisters were part of a family of nine born to José Simón Vigil and Beatrice Lopéz Vigil of Cundiyó. The five boys in the family, most of whom lived into their 80s, have all died. No one in the family knows for sure why the four sisters have lived such long lives, but Gabrielita thinks it had to do with their diet. As she says, "We all grew up eating the beans and chile that we grew, the tortillas that we made and the elk that my father hunted."

None of the women ever smoked or drank alcohol, which may have played a part in their long lives, but more importantly, the closeness of their family and their strong Catholic faith certainly have contributed to their well-being.

The Vigil family settled in the small community of Cundiyó more than 300 years ago, and none of the siblings of José and Beatrice strayed far from this remote pocket in Northern New Mexico. Gabrielita has lived in Chimayó since she married her late husband, weaver Anastasio Ortega, more than 70 years ago. Eremita lives in La Puebla, Lala in Española and Celina in Nambé. With the exception of Lala, who never married, the sisters all had large families, and they continue to celebrate the important church-related family occasions together like baptisms, first holy communions, weddings and funerals.

Eremita, Gabrielita and Celina all live on their own in family compounds with their older children living close by. Lala is in a nursing home now, but according to her nieces and nephews, she lived alone up until five years ago. Now that she's in a nursing home, members of this large family visit her regularly to make sure she gets proper care, and they take her to all the family gatherings.

The other three sisters remain very independent. Gabrielita still makes tortillas for the family. Celina raises chickens, and Eremita still walks on her own.

As Alice, Eremita's eldest daughter, says, "The doctors are amazed at how well my mother is doing at 105. She uses a walker to get around, but other than that she's in good health."

Saturday's celebration for the Vigil sisters will start with a Mass of thanksgiving at 10 a.m. at the Holy Family Church in Chimayó, followed by the party at the Poe Tay Hall in Nambé. Five generations of the Vigil family will be on hand for the festivities, including the sisters' eldest children, now in their mid-70s, their children and grandchildren and even the latest member of the family, Brian, Gabrielita's 7-month-old great-great-grandson.

Ana Pacheco is the founder and publisher of La Herencia, a culture and history magazine (www.herencia.com, 505-474-2800). Her weekly tribute to our community elders appears every Tuesday.