Árdís - 01.01.1964, Page 83

Ársrit Bandalags lúterskra kvenna
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as ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have
done it unto me.”
Often as she nursed the sick or dying, she felt herself utterly
spent. At such times she spent much time in prayer to get the
strength to continue, firmly believing the words of our Lord, “Ask,
and it shall be given you.”
Never wealthy or even well-to-do, and often working to the
limit of her strength to meet her expenses, she was never too
poor to share a meal or to offer “kaffi og veitingar.” An outstanding
cook with an eye for beauty, she seasoned every meal with loving
concern for those she served.
She gave freely of her time and generously of her money to
the church. She served as Sunday School superintendent for nearly
twenty years, and was active in the Ladies Aid “Likn” as long as
her health permitted. This group of women did many charitable
works in addition to their work for the Lutheran church. Many
times she served as voluntary janitor.
To her brother’s motherless children, her house was a second
home. Into her ears they poured the joys and troubles they would
have told their mother. Childless herself, she loved them as her
own.
In time she took to her heart a foster child, Marian, who re-
turned the affection given her. She in turn lavished love and care
on her parents when they could no longer care for themselves.
With little formal education, she was nonetheless an educated
woman, who read widely in both English and Icelandic.
Ella Wells was born Abigael Thordardottir in Hattardal, Alfta-
fjord, Northern Isafjordur on Sept. 4, 1879. With her parents she
emigrated from Iceland to Canada, living for some years at Baldur,
Manitoba. Soon after the turn of the century she moved west to
Blaine, Washington in company with her sister Matthildur, who
spent many years in Vancouver, B.C., and her brother Magnus
Thordarson, who became a leading citizen of Blaine. On Christmas
Eve, 1902, she married Charles Wells. Most of her married life was
spent in Blaine though she lived for a short time in Cloverdale, B.C.
and in Everett, Washington. She went to her heavenly home
May 9, 1963. (Mrs. Erling K. Olafson) Kristine Olafson
Westport, Washington.