With family and friends by her side, Stephena Kurtz celebrated her 100th birthday Thursday at the Village in Palmerton with cake and ice cream. Kurtz is a lifelong Palmerton resident and World War II veteran.

Kurtz, born Stephena Plechavy, was born on Aug. 3 1917, and graduated from Palmerton High School. She married Joseph Kurtz, with whom she had three children, Diane, Debbie and Billy.When America joined World War II, Kurtz enlisted in the Women's Army Corps and attended boot camp at Fort Des Moines in Des Moines, Iowa. Kurtz served in San Francisco during the war, driving a Jeep to deliver mail to the ships on the San Francisco Bay. She also worked as a truck driver. Kurtz recalls once transporting a bus of German women to the United States."Imagine 100 women coming into the United States who couldn't speak English. What were they going to do?"Once home, to pay the bills, Kurtz worked in Scotty's sewing factory in Palmerton. She also attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Palmerton, where she is a member. Kurtz also was a member of the Palmerton Memorial Pool, where she took her three children to swim during the summer.Kurtz has five grandchildren, Carolyn, David, Matthew, Megan and Ian, and one great-granddaughter, Elise.Kurtz enjoys attending church services and Bible studies, as well as musical programs and social gatherings. She also very much enjoys whenever the local ice cream truck stops by the Village at Palmerton.