Elizabeth Greene, a resident of Whitehall Manor, celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends Saturday. A special birthday event was held at Whitehall Manor, acknowledging the milestone of achieving the century mark and continuing to enjoy life.

Known as Lis to family and as Betty to friends, Greene lived for almost 90 years on Gilly Avenue in Salisbury Township, in two houses her parents occupied and then at a house her late husband, William Greene, built in 1949. They were married in 1939. Her husband died in 1980.

It was not until his death that she learned to drive. She was 64 and continued to do so until the age of 90.

Residing at Whitehall Manor since September 2014, Greene, knowing spring has arrived, can be found in warm places - either on the manor’s roof deck or by the pond, where she enjoys feeding the swans and ducks.

The second oldest of five sisters and a brother, Greene had to leave St. Ursula’s School in eighth grade, helping to support her family during the Great Depression. Her first job was as a domestic servant for a Fountain Hill family, later working at various garment families - Mattie’s, Lehigh Dress and others.

Later in life, she tailored many clothes for her two daughters and herself, becoming a skilled quilter in her retirement years.

Enjoying fishing and boating on Lake Wallenpaupack in the Poconos, where they had a cabin, Greene was known for baking delicious fruit pies and chiffon cakes. When not in the kitchen, she enjoyed gardening.

Although she regrets not having a formal education beyond eighth grade, Greene said she was inspired by her father and became an avid reader, until her loss of vision two years ago.

Her family seems to have the longevity genes. Her sister passed away last fall at 101.

Greene has no special formula on longevity, she said, adding strong family bonds, hard work and enjoying life are stepping stones in moving ahead.