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Bethel Park woman celebrates 100th birthday

By Deana Carpenter 2 min read
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Theresa Bombara with son Joe and daughter-in-law Adriene Bombara at her 100th birthday party.

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Adriene Bombara and Theresa Bombara listen to the toast given to her by Tony Pedrazza, co-manager of Bethel Park Retirement Community.

Theresa Bombara of Bethel Park neither looks nor feels her age.

“I feel like I’m not even 30,” Bombara said at her 100th birthday party, held Dec. 17 at her Bethel Park Retirement Community home. She has lived in the independent living facility for two years.

“I don’t feel any different,” she said. “This celebration is really something special. I feel like I’m dreaming.”

Bombara was born Dec. 17, 1913, and was one of six children. She grew up in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood and graduated from Schenley High School in 1933. She went on to marry Felix Bombara, who passed away in 1963. The couple had two children John, who is deceased, and Joe, 74, who lives in Mt. Lebanon with his wife Adriene.

Bombara has six grandchildren: Johnny, Rocco (deceased), Gina Lynn, Mark, Brian and Dania. She also has 11 great-grandchildren.

Joe and Adriene Bombara organized both a family party, which was held on Dec. 14, as well as the party to which all the residents of the Bethel Park Retirement Community were invited.

The celebration held in the community’s dining room featured a huge cake baked by the staff at the community and a a sparkling cider toast. Outgoing Bethel Park Mayor Cliff Morton read a proclamation in honor of Bombara. She also received proclamations from President Barak Obama and Willard Scott of “The Today Show.”

“I just try to do as much as I can,” Bombara said, adding, “I would like to do more than I can.”

“You wouldn’t take her for being 100,” said Al Trautman, who lives at the retirement community and eats with Bombara every day.

“She’s just an inspiration,” said Bethel Park Retirement Community Co-Manager Tony Pedrazza. “She’s definitely a young person in an older body.”

“I thank God she is doing as well as she’s doing,” said Bombara’s son Joe.

Of her longevity, Bombara said she enjoys the occasional glass of red wine, as long as it’s not too sweet. She also loves ice cream – any kind any flavor.

Bombara was always a busy woman. In addition to raising her two children, she worked at Kaufmann’s for 25 years until she was 65, and then worked at Mellon Bank until she was in her late 70s.

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