Laura Getz, a resident of The Village at Palmerton, celebrated her 85th birthday recently. She was born on Dec. 27, 1927.

The youngest of nine children, Laura was raised by her older sister Anna, as both their mother and father passed when Laura was very young.At age 16, Laura moved in with her sister Tilly, who Laura says is responsible for introducing her to her husband, Luther Getz. Tilly was married to Luther's brother Warren. They invited Luther to dinner to meet Laura, and the rest is history, she says with a smile.Luther and Laura were married in March of 1947, and in their 44 years together, raised four children: Cindy Nanovic, Tina Nanovic, Patty Burke and Bill Getz.Luther eventually became a Carbon County commissioner in 1987. He and Laura, who had her sales license, ran the Luther A. Getz real estate office in Albrightsville until Luther's death in 1991.Laura continued working until she retired in 2000, at the age of 73.Currently she enjoys weekend trips with her family, but when she's home at The Village, she attends exercise classes, bingo, and participates in Wii Bowling.