Living to be 100 years old isn't as rare as it used to be. But it's still a surprise to find two women born just two days apart living at the same nursing home.

Grace Monahan and Pauline Pupi were born on July 27 and 29, 1908, respectively, and live at Villa St. Joseph in Baden, Beaver County.

Mrs. Monahan was born in Monessen and moved to Aliquippa, where she lived for 60 years. She married Joseph Monahan Sr., and they had six children: Gary and Edward, both of Center; Rita of Edgeworth; Grace (deceased); Joseph Jr. of Troy, Mich.; and Mary Lou of Orlando, Fla.

Mr. Monahan died in 1977, and Mrs. Monahan lived in Monaca for two years before moving to Villa St. Joseph in 2004. She enjoys playing bingo and socializing with residents and staff. She has 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Pupi is originally from Monaca and moved to Villa St. Joseph in 2003. She and her husband, Louis, had seven children: Louis, Michael and Lenora, all of Monaca; Roberta of Cincinnati; Gilda of Florida; Paul of Chippewa; and Juliann of Midland.

Mrs. Pupi loved to cook Italian dishes, especially pasta and wedding soup. Her husband died in 1967. At Villa St. Joseph, she enjoys attending musical presentations, outdoor picnics and Mass. She has 27 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Catherine Strauch's family had planned a big party Saturday to celebrate her 100th birthday. It was so much fun that it stretched over two days, with more than 70 guests from as far away as Montana.

Catherine Platcha was born on Aug. 8, 1908, near Everson, Fayette County, and moved to West Virginia at age 8. In 1930, she married Joseph Strauch and settled in Idamay, W.Va., where he worked in the coal mines. Mrs. Strauch worked in the coal company office and part time as a postal clerk. They were married for 61 years and had four children: Joe of Dormont, John of Montana, Barbara Restano of Penn Hills and Margaret Hoover of Michigan.

A longtime member of St. Peters Church in Farmington, W.Va., Mrs. Strauch volunteered for many church events and groups. She also traveled to many states, including Hawaii, and to Italy, Slovakia and Poland, where her father's family came from. She now lives at Sunrise Senior Living in Scott and has 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, many of whom were on hand for her two-day party at the Radisson in Green Tree.

Send biographical information and your phone number to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Century Club, Attn: Kevin Kirkland, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. Fax: 412-263-1313. E-mail: kkirkland@post-gazette.com.