Special occasions need to be embraced more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the celebrations might not take on the same public magnitude because of gathering restrictions, even the slightest acknowledgement of events such as Ilona Pikner’s 102nd birthday brighten people’s days.
The longtime Chemainus resident marked the milestone on March 2, without a lot of fanfare but with family members and staff at the Chemainus Health Care Centre trumpeting her longevity.
“If it wasn’t for COVID, we would have wheeled her down to Kin Beach and looked at Thetis Island,” said daughter Linda Sharpe of Victoria.
Her mom was born and grew up in Hungary. She met Richard Pikner toward the end of the Second World War and they were married in Salzburg, Austria.
They made their way to Chile where Sharpe was born before coming to Chemainus in 1959 and remaining in the community ever since. Richard worked in the Crofton pulp mill and they’d been married nearly 39 years when he died in 1985 so she’s been on her own for a long time but has made the most of her life.
The family home was actually right near Kin Beach and then Ilona moved to Pine Street after Richard died. She only left her own home in 2019 and has been residing at the Chemainus Health Care Centre for less than two years.
“At 95, she was still driving to Nanaimo and Duncan,” marvelled Sharpe. “She was 100 in March (2019) and she went into the Health Care Centre in July.”
Sharpe is the oldest of Ilona’s two daughters at 71. Juta Worster, Sharpe’s sister, is 69.
Between them, they have three children who comprise Ilona’s six grandchildren – Mike Sharpe, Matt Sharpe and Krista Cormier on Linda’s side and Jocelyn Worster, Danielle Worster and Christina Weston on Juta’s side.
Ilona has eight grandchildren. They all live either in Victoria or on the Lower Mainland.
Linda had a nice door visit at least under COVID protocols at the Health Care Centre with her mom leading up to the big day of her 102nd birthday.
Linda said her mom’s health has been good over the years. “She’s been very, very fortunate that way.”
Always taking an interest in things really helped her mom, Linda added.
“She loves to laugh. You give her a story, a joke, she laughs. She painted, gardened, an excellent baker, a cook. There are a lot of things that excite her. She’s rarely negative.”
