The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.2000, Síða 18

Vol. 56 #1
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
16
that we endured the sorrow of losing a little
son. At the same time Ramsay lost a little
daughter. He came to my husband and asked
him to let him bury his little girl beside our
son. We thought this was a beautiful idea.
Another little girl died a short time later and
was buried in the same place. These three
children rest on the property of Sveinn
Thorvaldsson. He had a fence built around
this little graveyard—I thought that was a nice
gesture."
Many homes
"You two established homes in more
places than this?"
"Yes, we were six years in Girnli, moved
from there to the Icelandic River where my
husband opened a sawmill in partnership with
Sigtryggur Jonasson. From there we moved to
Selkirk, then to Glenboro , there my husband
had a store for twenty years. I had a large and
lovely home there; it came in handy that it
was large because many school children were
with me at that time.
In 1906 we moved to Winnipeg, and have
remained here since."
Best birthday gift
When we reached this point of the inter-
view, Miss Herman offered us coffee.
"Did many guests come here on your
birthday?" I asked after we were seated at the
table.
"There was nothing formal," said Miss
Herman. "We advised relatives and friends
that our friend would be celebrating her 90th
birthday, and would be at home."
"Yes, there were many friends who came
to wish me a happy birthday. I am sincerely
thankful for their good will and friendship."
Said Fru GuOny.
"Tell Mrs. Jonsson about the best birth-
day present." Said Miss Herman smiling.
"A few days after my birthday, my
daughter's son, Elswood Johnson phoned, and
told me the good news that he was now an Afi
- that his daughter Virginia had just given
birth to a daughter. So now I am a great great
grandmother." Said Fru GuSny smiling.
"Don't you think that is a good birthday
present?"
FriOjon and GuSny FriOriksson had five
children; two boys died young, but three sur-
vived. Their oldest child Aurora is a widow of
Tomas J. Johnson, former Minister of Justice
in Manitoba, and lives in the United States.
Kari lives in Toronto and Haraldur here in the
city.
“Sunpatch on the Moor”
Rev. Fridrik Bergman wrote an article
about FriSjon Fridriksson in the 1908
Almanak. He mentions Fru GuSny and says
among other things:
"The home of this couple has been an
exemplary home in the opinion of all those
western Icelanders that know them. This cou-
ple has demonstrated many desirable qualities
including tact and neatness, and their home
has always been like a "sunpatch on the
moor."
There is still a "sunpatch on the moor"
where Fru GuSny is. I thank her for the pleas-
ant interview and wish her a happy birthday.
Ejodraeknisfelag Islendinga \ Vesturheimi
PRESIDENT: SIGRID JOHNSON
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