Friends and family of Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Oliver-Dolan, of Tamaqua, celebrated her 95th birthday last month during a celebration party held June 21, 2014 in the Knights of Columbus social hall in Coaldale.
Betty was born June 21, 1919 in Tamaqua. For those of you that like numbers… 95 years is equal to 1,139 months or 4,952 weeks or 34,668 days or 832,035 hours or 49,922,116 minutes.
Her parents were Alex and Evelyn Oliver. She had two sisters (Carolyn and Ann) and a Brother (John).
Betty married John Francis Dolan of Lansford in November 1945. He died in April 1995.
She served as President of the C.W.E.A. of St. Jerome’s in Tamaqua and was a very active member of the Tamaqua Women’s Club and Hometown Garden Club. In addition, Betty graduated Valedictorian of her St. Jerome High School class in 1937 and also served as May Queen.
Betty worked on the lines and later in the lab at Atlas Powder Co. during WWII.  During the 1970’s and 1980’s, Betty worked in the Tamaqua Borough Office. In the 1970’s Betty owned and operated the “Hat Shop” in Tamaqua.
She praised her love of friends and family for her longevity.
Her daughter is Susan “Sue” Elizabeth Dolan (with whom she lives), who is employed as a para in Tamaqua Elementary School.
Her son is Terrence J. Dolan (residing in Bethlehem, PA), who is employed as a school psychologist at Warren Hills, N.J.
Her grandchildren are Erin Kathleen Dolan (living in Lehigh Valley), Moira Dolan (student at Drexel, currently studying in Greece), Alex Dolan (student at University of Washington, recently returned from studying in Jordan), and the late Erica Keri Dolan, (who passed away August 4, 2012 during a motor vehicle accident.
Great-grandchildren are Zakk Meyers (4 year old), Leyna (6 years old), and Blake (5 years old).
She said she was raised and still resides in the same house on North Lehigh Street in Tamaqua.
Dolan said her grandson Zakk, of whom she helps care for, represents the 7th generation to be living in the home.
In addition to spending time with family, her other hobbies consist of crypto quotes, crosswords, word searches, facebook, and I-pad word games. Betty also enjoys watching wrestling on television as well as Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.