By MICHAEL HIRSCH

Special to The Press

Kathryn Anelle Pawlesa Layos Guth celebrated her 100th birthday on Jan. 6 surrounded by her loving family at Sacred Heart Senior Living by the Creek in Northampton.

She was the last of six children born to Mary and John Pawlesa on Jan. 6, 1924.

She was 18 months old when her mother died from tuberculosis and she was taken to live with her mother’s aunt, Pazia, and her husband, Anthony Gläs, in Allentown.

Kathryn’s story was provided by her niece MaryAnn Deering.

As a young teen, Kathryn visited her father, John, and siblings Anna, Mary and Mitch in Northampton.

Kathryn recalled her “really good-looking” brother Mitch earned money driving a canal boat and was the first to graduate high school.

Kathryn, the youngest, was the first female family member to graduate from high school.

She appreciated her good fortune because her older sisters only completed eighth grade then went to work as seamstresses in the local clothing mills.

While living in Allentown, Kathryn caught the eye of dark-haired Manny Layos, who was 12 years older than she was, and who was Greek.

Manny drove a truck round trip from his uncle’s business in Bethlehem to pick up fruit and produce in Philadelphia.

Kathryn expressed an interest in his work and a desire to accompany him on one of his trips.

Kathryn recalled seeing another truck cut ahead in line at the loading dock and Manny not confronting the men, knowing the connections they had.

When she needed to use the bathroom, Manny told her this was not a place for a lady.

Later, along a roadside, he opened the truck door and shielded her with his coat.

She knew then he was the one, and subsequently married him.

She became the first of her siblings to have a child in 1946.

Her son, Dale, was born and, sadly, he was only 3 years old when Manny died of kidney disease.

Kathryn courageously raised him alone living in a small apartment above a garage in an alley off Seventh street in Allentown.

Notably she became the first female family member to learn to drive and to own a car.

After Kathryn met her second husband Woody Guth, who had a business degree from Muhlenberg College and worked at Portland Cement Company, she decided three years later to marry him.

Kathryn would tell the story of the two of them driving to Taughannock Falls State Park, N.Y., on the western shore of Lake Cayuga, where they arrived late at night.

They were not able to find Honeymoon Cabin No. 1, so they set up a tent just off the trail.

During the night they heard many different voices pass their tent, and in the morning realized they had set up near the bathrooms.

Woody lost his job, unfortunately, shortly after they were married, and Kathryn dug in and worked two cashier jobs at Lehigh Valley Dairy and at a corner store to put Woody through a Master’s degree program in teaching.

Additionally, she became the first female family member to work on early computers, typing data entry punch cards, and to fly to a vacation locale, Philmont Scout Ranch, Colfax County, New Mexico, for the Boy Scouts.

Later, with Woody’s teaching job, and Kathryn working as a hostess at Walp’s Restaurant, they prospered.

Kathryn retired from working many years at the Allentown Public Library Reference Desk.

Family, education, and religion was the bedrock of her life.

Her faith remained a constant and dominant part of her life as a longtime member of Emmanuel UCC, Allentown.

She now attends services at Sacred Heart Living.

She recently told her niece, Michelle, and grandniece, Makayla, that the secret to her longevity was living by the Ten Commandments.

Her most amazing accomplishment in the family is being the first to reach age 100.

Her family admires her love, hard work, tenacity and curiosity, and continues to be inspired by her.