November 1, 2012
Story by Scott Seymour; Photos by Christine Berget
It’s a birthday – and a conversation – Bessie Sikora will never forget.
On her 100th birthday, the Radway Continuing Care Centre resident had an opportunity to have a face-to-face chat with her daughter, Edna Tunney, who happened to be in Bangkok, Thailand, on a business trip. The Internet video call, conducted on a computer at the facility, was arranged by Alberta Health Services (AHS) staff.
“I thank you a million times,” Sikora said to Tunney as they blew kisses and waved to each other. “A million times, I thank you.”
The video call was Tunney’s idea and was co-ordinated by Jennifer Felitsyn, an AHS recreation therapist at the Radway facility.
“It was such a touching moment. It was a privilege for our team to be able to make this happen for Bessie and her daughter,” says Felitsyn.
“We really try to facilitate unique and meaningful experiences through daily programs – the milestones, though, are extra-special – for our residents and their families.”
Sikora’s birthday was also celebrated with a special tea spent with friends who visited from a seniors lodge in Vilna, where she lived before moving to Radway last year. A letter from Queen Elizabeth II also offered congratulations.
“It was such a special day,” said Felitsyn. “Bessie got up early, had her breakfast of choice – pancakes – her hair was set, had her birthday balloon tied to her walker and she walked to the computer for her Internet call. She was so excited to be able to see Edna.”
Sikora was born in Hamlin, in the Vegreville/Willingdon area, south of the North Saskatchewan River. Homesteading in the Spedden/Cache Lake area east of Smoky Lake, she and her husband Andrey, who died in 1987, had seven children (six of whom are still alive).
“Mom was very responsible and she helped Dad a lot with the farmwork,” says Tunney.
“She did everything that was required of a pioneer – working the land, helping with seeding and harvesting, making hay, attending to all the livestock, including sheep, horses, cows, pigs and fowl. She is an extremely hard-working woman.”
Tunney estimates her mother now has more than 60 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She says Sikora still likes to reminisce about the work she did on the farm, including her meticulous gardening, her famous homemade perogies and bread, her hand-sewn clothing for the girls in the family and how she made sure their two-room, wood-floored log house was clean as a whistle at all times, especially during Christmas and Easter.
Tunney, who returns to Canada in early November, is thankful for the efforts of the Radway staff to help her connect with her mother on her special day.
“It was awesome. I am so grateful to the staff at the Radway Continuing Care Centre for taking the steps to make this happen,” said Tunney. “Every moment is precious now. Every day Mom is with us is a gift and every day is a birthday celebration for her.”
