Resident Dot Swenson received a great surprise for her 95th birthday, after coming outside her house to find a group of friends singing Happy Birthday and holding birthday gifts.
More than a dozen ladies from Minto United Church’s United Church Women (UCW) gathered in front of Swenson’s house on May 29 to celebrate their friend’s birthday. With coronavirus restrictions in place, the group wasn’t able to celebrate the birthday inside the church.
“Our president suggested we come sing happy birthday … ,” member Marg MacDonald said while standing on the sidewalk waiting for the event to start. “So this was the best way to go. (Swenson will) be so floored.”
President Jan Howard came with cupcakes, along with a bouquet the group had won in a radio contest. Another UCW member, Kathleen Froese, came with a sign that wished Swenson a happy birthday.
“She’s going to shoot us,” MacDonald chuckled. “None of us are spring chickens. We’ve really missed getting together. We really have.”
Swenson’s husband, Don, knew about the surprise birthday, added MacDonald, but Swenson herself did not.
At 11 a.m., the group marched up the Swensons’ driveway and stood near the front door. Swenson walked out the front door a few seconds later and broke into a big grin as the group began to sing Happy Birthday. She then walked down her steps to accept the flowers, cupcakes, birthday sign and other gifts.
“I’m going to have a piece of cake,” Swenson exclaimed when her friends asked how she would celebrate. She added that the flowers were great, noting her daughter and sister had also sent her bouquets.
“Thank you so much — and six feet away,” she remarked. “This is such a surprise … . I’m just overwhelmed with the support. It’s absolutely wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.”
“I had a job of keeping it a secret,” joked Don, who later noted the couple has been married for 70 years.
The Swensons planned to celebrate Dot’s birthday with their son later in the day, while a small group of friends also planned to come.
“I got a box of chocolates from Vancouver. I’ve never had anything like that before. It came with an ice pack,” said Dot. “Isn’t that something special?”
Before the UCW dispersed, one member remarked that this get-together was just what the group needed.
“This is a good way to reconnect with our group,” said Froese. “We haven’t seen each other since March.”
