Mary Collura Tanzola will be celebrating her 101st birthday. The daughter of Salvatore and Anna Greco Collura, she was born in Nesquehoning on Sept. 9, 1916.

Mary attended local elementary schools and graduated an honor student from Nesquehoning High School in 1934. Mary continued her education at St. Agnes School of Nursing in Philadelphia, graduating in 1938 as a registered nurse.Following graduation she was employed by St. Agnes Hospital and worked in the operating room, the maternity ward, and finally as a private duty nurse. She was later employed by Western Electric Company in Allentown from 1956 until her retirement in 1978.Mary was one of six siblings: Jasper, of Tamaqua (deceased); Jane Koomar, of Nesquehoning; Joseph, of Nesquehoning (deceased); Anna Fiorentino, of Newark, Delaware; and Salvatore, of Titusville, Florida.She has two children, Sister Rosanne Tanzola of Newark, and William Tanzola of Treichlers; two grandchildren, William Jr. of Macungie, and Nancy of Downingtown; and one great-grandchild, Jackson of Macungie.While living in Nesquehoning, Mary was a Girl Scout troop leader, a participating member of the VFW, the ladies ancillary of the New Columbus Fire Company and the Golden Agers, where she sang in the chorus.She was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and St. Francis of Assisi Church, and participated in the former choir and the Sodality of the Blessed Mother.Mary lived in New Columbus until she moved to Maple Shade Meadows assisted living facility in 2009, and there she flourished.In 2015, after a brief hospitalization, she became a resident of The Summit at Blue Mountain Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.A party was held Sept. 8 at The Summit in Mary's honor.