The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.1964, Page 14

IN MEMORIAM
The sad news of the passing of fru Dora Lorhallsdottir, the
wife of His Excellency the President of Iceland, has just reached us.
The untimely death of Her Excellency leaves all Icelanders
and the numerous friends of the young Republic of Iceland with
a deep feeling of bereavement. In no small measure does this sense
of loss make itself felt among Canadians of Icelandic descent who
still cherish the memory of the visit to Canada by the President and
his lady three years ago. Canadian Icelanders clearly recall the many
occasions in recent years on which warm and generous hospitality
was 'bestowed upon them at the Presidential Home in Iceland. Fru
Dora Porhallsdottir always took a keen interest in the descendants
of Iceland in North America and along with her husband, she added
new strength to the bonds between Iceland and its sons and daugh-
ters in the west. Ours is an abiding gratitude for her distinguished
service.
Her Excellency was exceptionally well qualified for her high
positiort as “The First Lady of Iceland”. Refinement was a person-
ality trait with her and an unmistakable mark of noble origin. All
her life she had been in a position where she could virtually feel
■the very heartbeat of the Icelandic nation. Her parents were Lor-
hallur Bjarnason, a Bishop of Iceland and his wife fru ValgerSur
Jonsdottir. Thus the home of her youth was the bishopric at Laufas
viS Reykjavik—a home which for a long time was widely recognized
for its unique atmosphere of culture and learning. She married the
man who at an early age became one of Iceland’s leading statesmen
and rose to become President of Iceland. Last summer he was re-
elected President by acclamation—equally a tribute to fru Dora and
Asgeir Asgeirsson.
Our heartfelt condolences go to His Excellency the President,
his family, and the Icelandic nation as a whole.