Lögberg-Heimskringla - 12.02.1988, Blaðsíða 1

SEDtAfANKI ISl.ANDS
ADAhSKRXFSTOFA
AUSTURSTRAETI 11
REYKJAVIK, ICHLAND
100. ÁRGANGUR
JAN 38 PD
1
Lögberg
Heimskringla
LÖGBERG Stofnað 14. janúar 1888
HELMSKRINGLA Stofnað 9. september 1886
LÖGBERG CENTENNIAL YEAR, FÖSTUDAGUR 12. FEBRÚAR 1988 NÚMER 5
A modern senior citizen facility
During the past two years our read-
ers have been aware of a proposal to
provide a senior citizen facility which
would include personal care. This
has been a project of the Betel Foun-
dation. However a personal care fa-
cility presented to the Manitoba
government was deferred, and rather
than wait, a senior citizen apartment
facility was proceeded with and is
now completed and fully occupied by
tenants fifty-five and over.
This was possible through legisla-
tion governing co-op housing. The
Betel Home Foundation was able to
purchase sufficient land for this fa-
cility and a personal care home to be
built in the future. Thus the first
phase of the objective has been
achieved.
Betelstadur has 74 self-contained
units with additional facilities such
as, office, lounge, multi-purpose
room, kitchen, meeting room,
library room, hairstyling room, and
commissary. It is designed to provide
recreational facilities and indepen-
dant accommodation for elderly peo-
ple in their retirement years, who
feel more comfortable within an
apartment set-up, where the age
group and common interests are
compatible.
The location is at the N.E. corner
of Sargent Ave. and Erin St. which
seems to be popular. This is support-
ed by a waiting list of applicants
desiring immediate and future
accommodation.
The personal care facility will be
commenced immediately. Approval
has been obtained from The
Honourable Mr. Parasiuk Minister of
Health.
Occupancy was commenced Nov.
27th and 90% complete on Dec. 1 lth.
Those were hectic days but every-
thing settled down quickly and the
tenants were able to enjoy Christmas
in their new home.
Christmas dec.orations were put
up, including a Christmas tree in the
lounge donated by Herdis Madden.
Coloured lights went up around the
entrance including a string of
pyramid lights on the roof. Relatives,
sons and daughters including grand-
children were steady visitors during
the festive season. As an added touch
a grand piano arrived, a gift from the
Jon Sigurdson Chapter of the
I.O.D.E., followed by a shuffleboard
and billiard table the compliments of
Alic Thorarinson and Bill Davidson.
A television set has been provided
for the lounge and the furniture is ex-
pected soon. In the meantime per-
sonal lawn chairs fill the need. Now
that we are well into the New Year
and a pending 59th Wedding An-
niversary coming up, let's hope the
new chairs, etc. will soon be here.
New Year's Eve was celebrated
with singing, coffee and dainties, an
impromptu affair organized by the
Social Committee.
The lack of a live-in caretaker will
be rectified when these duties are
taken over by Joe and Jackie Shaw on
March lst. In the meantime, the
ever-obliging Ron Eyolfson has been
on call.
The hairstylist has commenced to
look after tenants, through regular
scheduled appointments on designat-
ed weekdays.
Looking into the future indicates
considerable social activity and
mutual concern for each other as a
large happy family at Betelstadur.
The management extend their
thanks to all the people who help to
make our task less onerous and the
whole complex a pleasant place to
live.
Mundi Myrdal
Dr. and Mrs. Dacosse, Alberta
It was last September that the com-
munity of St. Paul, Alberta met and
held a testimonial dinner for Dr.
Roland Decosse and Mrs. Margaret
Helgason Decosse in recognition of
forty years of outstanding service in
their community.
Margaret is a Hecla Island girl ac-
cording to her brother Stefan Helga-
son of Selkirk, Man. She fondly
recalls her childhood days, and takes
great pride in her Icelandic heritage.
She was at one time very active in
the choir of the First Lutheran
Church in Winnipeg. Her singing
abilities led her to perform at many
functions in Winnipeg and with the
Edmonton Saga Singers.
Although her husband has retired,
she is active in Visual Arts at St. Paul,
and taking part in voluntary work in
the community.
Her husband Dr. Decosse served
their community well, after graduat-
ing in medicine in Winnipeg and
serving his internship at St. Boniface
Hospital. He traced his footsteps to
St. Paul to be recognized with thanks
by the community he served.
He was director of the Alberta
Medical Association for a number of
years, and a member of the Council
of the College of Physicians and Sur-
geons of Alberta. He was a founder
and President of the Northeastern Al-
berta Medical Society.
Dr. Decosse went beyond the
realms of purely medical practise as
was brought forth in the words of
thanks, when he was referred to, not
only as a doctor but a man of great
compassion through his concern for
people as an unsung family counsel-
lor and friend.
They were bestowed with numer-
ous gifts and thanks by their commu-
nity and province.
Editor's note: We are happy to re-
late this story received from Stefan
Helgason of Selkirk, Man. While Dr.
Decosse probably has no Icelandic
blood coursing through his veins, we
are pleased to be able to include him
on the pages of Lögberg-
Heimskringla. We respect all those
who choose wisely and share life
with persons of Icelandic heritage.
Dr. and Mrs. Roland Decosse