GUILDERLAND — Josephine Coppola was brought to tears by her birthday surprise.

Coppola, who works as a customer service associate at the Guilderland Hannaford, was busy helping a shopper at 11 a.m. on April 17 when Michele Fleming’s voice came over the supermarket’s public-address system: “All associates, come to the bakery for a very special huddle,” she said.

Fleming, who works in human resources, had set up a festive table with “80” spelled out in diamonds on the tablecloth.

“Michele and I like bling,” said Jolene Kanas, Coppola’s daughter, about the diamonds.

Indeed, Fleming’s shoes were covered in rhinestones.

She handed out paper eyeglasses that said, “Cheers, 80 years.”

An iced sheetcake was delivered from the store’s bakery and placed on the table festooned with balloons.

The store’s dietician, Patricia Wukitsch, arrived for the celebration and said of Coppola. “I love her. She’s such a doll.”

The store’s manager, Tom Jabonowski, joined the growing crowd. He said a “handful” of the store’s 180 employees are seniors, but noted Coppola is the oldest.

Coppola, a petite woman, arrived on the scene and looked genuinely surprised. Fleming hugged her and placed a crown on her head.

The crowd of her co-workers sang “Happy Birthday” as Coppola wiped away tears.

As Coppola cut her cake to serve to her friends, Fleming told The Enterprise that birthday huddles are a tradition at the store. Both she and Jabonowski have worked at Hannaford for 35 years.

When she turned 60, Fleming said, Jabonowski had a picture of her face taken when she was new at the store mounted on sticks for everyone to hold.

“This is a big deal,” Fleming said of Coppola’s birthday.

Kanas said her mother had worked for years as a waitress before taking the customer-service job at Hannaford. “She lives right across the street,” she said.

Kanas also said, “She loves to be around people.”

She described the Hannaford crew as “kind of like a family.”