At 100 years old, Betty Coombe can look back on many, many memories.

But as for the very happiest of times, Coombe easily counts seven instances.

“When my children were born,” the Tamaqua centenarian said.

Coombe’s seven children, other family members and friends were on hand June 13 to help her mark her 100th birthday.

The affair, featuring cake, presents and music, was held at the St. Luke’s Miners Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Coaldale, where Coombe resides.

Coombe received dozens of cards, many of which she has on display next to photos of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

“She got a lot of enjoyment out of her grandchildren, too,” said Coombe’s daughter, Lisa Kenlin, of Tamaqua.

Coombe was born in Philadelphia, the only child of the late Frederick and Sophie (Bittner) Michener.

“My mother was from up here but my father worked down there,” Coombe said.

Sophie, of Tamaqua, and Frederick, of Kennett Square, met by writing letters to each other during World War I, Kenlin said.

“His friend was engaged to her friend. Her friend got her writing to him,” she said of Coombe’s parents.

When she was around 3-years-old, Coombe moved to Tamaqua so her parents could care for her grandparents.

“I grew up here,” Coombe said.

She met the love of her life — Ernest Coombe — just a door away from her family’s home on Arlington Street.

“His aunt lived next door to her family, and so she really knew him her whole life,” Kenlin said.

The two married in 1943.

“He worked on the railroad most of his life,” Kenlin said.

“He was a signalman,” Coombe added.

Soon after their marriage, Ernest was sent to fight World War II. He was stationed in the Philippines.

“I wrote him a letter every day,” Betty recalled.

By that point, the couple had two children, Ernest Jr., of Mahanoy City, and Ernesta Coombe, of Tamaqua.

When he returned, the couple had son, Thomas Coombe, and daughter, Susan, wife of Daniel Poncavage, of Tamaqua; son, James (husband of Eileen) Coombe, of New Ringgold; son, Brian (husband of Kathy) Coombe of Lewiston, Maine; and Kenlin.

Coombe raised the children in Tamaqua, but when her youngest — Brian — turned 2, she got a job at the Sears Catalog Store in Tamaqua.

“I did the cash report and I was a clerk,” she said.

She also did phone sales and helped at the counter.

In 1967, the family moved to a small farm in West Penn Township. Around that time, Coombe studied for and received her driver’s license.

As Coombe’s children grew older and started their own families, Kenlin said the farm was a frequent gathering spot.

“We all used to collect at the farm together on a Sunday afternoon,” Kenlin said. “Her grandchildren also brought her much joy.”

Coombe has 13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.

Kenlin recently began going through older family photos, and is in the process of digitally scanning them.

As she does, she shows them to her Coombe on her visits.

“We look at pictures every day,” Kenlin said.

Coombe has no problem recognizing faces, places or names.

“She has a great memory,” Kenlin said.

When she’s not receiving family for visits, Coombe has her nose in a book.

“She’s read hundreds of books in the time that she has been here,” Kenlin said, noting that her mother has been at St. Luke’s for about three years.

Coombe admitted that even at 100, her eyes are fine. She doesn’t need glasses to read — or anything else.

She said she didn’t have any secrets to longevity, but Kenlin said she lived a “clean life.”

“She always had her nose to the grindstone — not in a bad way. We had a lot of fun,” Kenlin said.

Coombe said she “never, never, never” thought she would see her 100th birthday.

For her party, Coombe said she had a “big cake.” It had a strawberry filling — a request made by Coombe.

In fact, Coombe helped with other ideas for the festivities. There was even musical entertainment, she said.

Coombe, whose husband passed away in 2005, is a longtime member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Tamaqua.