GUILDERLAND CENTER — A guitar and base set the rhythm Tuesday for a festive party at the Guilderland Center Nursing Home, as Dora Tunkel turned 104 and Edith Troutman got ready to celebrate her 102nd birthday this Friday.

Colorful balloons and streamers and masses of flowers filled the room as dozens of people joined together to honor both Tunkel and Troutman on their birthdays. The two parties were combined and held in the dining hall at the nursing home, where both ladies currently reside.

Tunkel, who was born on April 18, 1902, in Germany, owned and operated Bond’s Cleaners on Central Avenue in Albany for over 30 years, along with her late husband, Fritze.
Her son, Harold, described his mother as still being "the boss." He said they are from Schenectady. The Enterprise took Tunkel’s birthday photograph for her 100th birthday in 2002.

Troutman was born on April 21, 1904, in Albany and is of Dutch decent. She was married for over 60 years to her late husband, Herman, during which time they raised two children.