Lulu Krell’s great-great-granddaughter got dressed up for the occasion, relatives flew in from as far away as New Zealand, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Queen Elizabeth both sent congratulatory letters.
Still, modest Cochrane resident Lulu Krell didn’t quite get what all the fuss was about.
“I don’t always feel like a party,” said Krell with a smile, on the eve of her milestone 100th birthday. “But I guess it is something.”
Krell has lived at Big Hill Lodge for the last 10 years, and last Saturday, five generations of her family gathered at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church for a dinner in her honour.
The tables were decorated with purple goblets – Krell’s favourite colour – and Italian chicken (Krell’s favourite meal) was warmed up in the kitchen.
Daughter Shirley Christiansen said she was thrilled to be able to give back to her mom with such a fun-filled family affair.
“She’s just one of the most kind, giving people,” said Christiansen. “She has been a caregiver for family and friends. We just wanted to celebrate.”
When Krell was born in Saskatchewan on Nov. 21, 1916, her home province had just given women the right to vote and passed a referendum to prohibit the sale of alcohol. David Borden was Canada’s prime minister, Woodrow Wilson had been re-elected President of the United States, and Germany was about to unleash its first airplane air-raid on Britain during the First World War.
A great deal has changed since Krell’s childhood, but great granddaughter Darci Bertram said one thing that has remained the same is her great grandma’s youthful spirit.
“She was at my wedding last year,” remembered Bertram. “She was up taking pictures and dancing.”
Krell said she’s been lucky to have “really been quite healthy” for most of her years, and attributes her long life to growing up on a farm, where she spent much of her youth outdoors riding horseback. She also enjoys spending time with family – including her two great-great-granddaughters, who are one and two months old respectively.
Krell’s relatives love to spend time with her, too, and said there are many lessons to be learned from great grandma.
“She doesn’t really take anything too seriously,” Bertram said.
“She never seems to complain about anything,” added Christiansen.
Krell said there’s not much need for complaining or taking things too seriously – her motto for living a good life is a simple one.
“One day at a time.”
