Bernice Craig of Sarver celebrated her 97th birthday Sunday with a party of family and friends at the home of her daughter, Daryl Allegretti in Sarver.

The former Bernice Gaiser was born Sept. 2, 1912, in Boggsville, Armstrong County. She married Richard Craig on Aug. 16, 1935. He is deceased.

She has three children, Robert Craig of Oil City, Daryl Allegretti of Sarver and Margaret Garrett of Kaufman, Texas. She also has six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Mrs. Craig is a former employee of Allegheny Valley Hospital in Natrona Heights, where she worked as a special duty nurse. She later worked as a school nurse, serving in the Armstrong County School District for one year and in the Freeport School District for 30 years until her retirement in 1975.

She is a member of the Slate Lick United Presbyterian Church in Slate Lick, Armstrong County, and a life member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Freeport. She is a former member of her church's quilting group and used to garden. Mrs. Craig enjoys bird watching, reading Westerns and completing crossword puzzles.