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100 years young

By Sylvias Chonberg

A family reunion was held the weekend of July 27 to celebrate the 100th year of Elsa Thorsteinson Piper. Elsa was born on January 7, 1903 in the house which still stands on the Thorsteinson farm in Point Roberts.

Her parents were Helgi and Dogbjort Thorsteinson. Over 100 relatives gathered for the weekend and enjoyed beach walks, clam digging, tours of the farm and riding Icelandic horses. On Saturday afternoon a concert was presented at the church honoring the Icelandic settlers and Elsa.

Featured soloists were Natasha Neufelt and Simone Shern-Pope. The family gathered Saturday evening at the home of Sylvia Schonberg for a seafood dinner catered by Steve O�Neill. Speeches and special music followed.

On Sunday the family attended Trinity Lutheran Church which Elsa�s parents helped establish in the early 1900s. A nephew, Dr. Daniel Simundson, was guest pastor and a family choir presented an anthem. Other family members provided special music during the service.

The church service was followed by a potluck dinner in the Trinity Lutheran Community Church�s Parish Hall. Sunday afternoon found many of the family enjoying swimming and building sand castles on the beach. Elsa wishes to thank everyone who helped make her birthday celebration such a special event.

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