Santina Marie Benech is celebrating her 90th birthday. She was born July 14, 1924, to Dominic and Caroline Jacobe. Her parents were Italian immigrants.

She has lived her whole life in Tamaqua. She graduated from Tamaqua High School in 1943. On Sept. 22, 1945, she married her childhood sweetheart, Alfred Benech, when he returned from World War II.They were married for 65 years before his death in 2011.A lifelong member of St. Jerome's Catholic Church, Santina has three daughters: Carol, wife of Bob Sparks of Slatington; Theresa, wife of Curt Keefer of Lehighton; and Allyn Benech of South Whitehall. She had four grandchildren: Curtis III, Nicole, Nickolas and Zackary; and four great-grandchildren: Curtis IV, Sierra, Jimmy and Bailey.She also has two siblings, the late Antoinette Abel, and Anselmina Basheda of Washington, D.C.Santina worked part time throughout her life in the garment industry. Her family says she devoted her life to her family and was the best cook of Italian and Slovak foods.A birthday celebration was held recently including an open house with family and friends.