Former Ellwood City native Ethel Mae Snare turned 100 on April 27.

Snare, who currently lives in Plano, Texas, celebrated the occasion with friends and family on April 29.

"I don't feel like I'm 100. I feel like I did when I was 50," Snare said. "I walk at least a mile a day. I use a cane indoors, but outside I use a walker. I don't like it but I do it." 

Snare's daughter, Elaine Cuddy, said she has quite a pep in her step, and can be difficult to keep up with.

"Mother has a zest for living life fully. When she was 85, she convinced her grandson to take her for a spin on the back of his motorcycle, and she told him he should have driven faster," Cuddy said

After beginning her day with devotions, Snare enjoys everyday activities such as knitting, crocheting and quilting, and she is active in her church and enjoys Bible studies.

"Being idle is not a word our mother is familiar with. Her life has always been dedicated to serving her family and church," Cuddy said.

Snare said she received 94 birthday cards, and is very grateful to all who remembered her.

"Sometimes I get very homesick for Ellwood City," Snare said. 

Snare was born on April 27, 1922, to the late George and Gladys Wallis in the Ewing Park area of Ellwood City, and had three siblings, Virginia, Robert and Roberta.

Growing up during the Great Depression, Snare continues to be thrifty and self-sufficient.

On Oct. 5, 1944, she married Russell Snare, who was on leave from the Army.

Her parents saved their transportation stamps so the couple could have a honeymoon trip to Cleveland, Ohio, and the hotel room cost $9.

Soon after they returned, Russell was sent to the European Theater of the war.

Like many women during World War II, Snare worked at the Tube Mill and National Standard Steel, cleaning gun barrels, grinding and filing steel to remove the imperfections.  

The Snares had four daughters: Sharen, who passed in March, Patty Kleinschmdt, Linda Scott, and Cuddy.

While her daughters were young, Snare worked as a crossing guard, and took in laundry and seamstress work.

"When we were young, mother made our Easter dresses each year and passed on to us her passion for sewing and quilting." Cuddy said.

Snare is well known for her baking, and always took pride in serving her family homemade bread, pies and desserts.

After Russell passed, Snare moved to Plano, Texas to be closer to her daughter Linda. Snare has nine grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.