Hard work comes naturally to Marie Eckert. In her house, Monday was wash day, Tuesday was for ironing, and on Saturday, her kitchen was filled with the scents of homemade crullers, pies and other baked goods. Even when she was in her 90s, she was the first one up to shovel snow.

On Saturday, Mrs. Eckert will have a party to celebrate her 100th birthday at Friendship Village of South Hills in Upper St. Clair. Maybe for that one special day, she'll take it easy.

She was born on June 27, 1909, in the Hill District, one of five children of August and Wilhelmina Lingerski. On Aug. 19, 1937, she married Urban Eckert. They lived in Carrick and had five children: Marie Kostyal of Mt. Lebanon, Rich of Bethel Park, Nancy Senn of Castle Shannon, Eileen McElhone of Mt. Lebanon and Tom of Bethel Park.

When Mr. Eckert remodeled their house, Mrs. Eckert was his apprentice, running for tools, holding boards and cleaning up behind him. Mr. Eckert died in 1989 after 51 years of marriage.

Her children and 17 grandchildren say she wasn't all work and no play. Every Sunday in the summertime, they loaded coolers and grills into the car for a day at a state park. Saturday nights were for root beer floats, and any time was right for a "Nana" hug. In the winter, she crocheted colorful afghans for each child and grandchild, and her homemade fudge and Kris Kringle cookies were Christmas traditions. Mrs. Eckert now has 13 great-grandchildren.