Pop’s 100th Birthday

Today, we celebrated Pop’s 100th birthday!

Pop on his 100th birthday

Pop is William (Bill) Demoskoff, and he’s my husband Michael’s father. He’s lived at Menno Hospital, a seniors’ residential care facility in the lower mainland of British Columbia for the past two years.

Menno reserved the private dining room for us and even set the table and decorated the room; such a nice gesture!

Just before the meal, Michael wheeled Pop into the main dining room for the staff and residents to sing him “Happy Birthday”. Pop was very touched and thanked everyone.

Nine of us were gathered: Michael, myself, our son Nicholas, my mother Jacqueline, Margaret (my husband’s only sibling), her husband Sid, their sons Ted and Sid and Ted’s wife Nasim.

Margaret and Sid prepared homemade borscht (Doukhobor style) and bread, while Michael and I were in charge of the meat and cheese tray and the birthday cake.

Pop with his birthday cake

After lunch, we toasted Pop with Canada Dry Ginger Ale, and then presented him with gifts. There were also congratulatory messages from The Queen, the Governor-General, the local MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly, BC’s provincial government), and the city mayor.

Michael set up our video camera, and we took lots of photographs.

Back: Sid, Yvonne, Michael, Margaret, Ted and Nasim
Front: Nicholas and Pop

After nearly three hours of partying, it was time to say our goodbyes to Pop, and let him have a well-deserved nap and quiet time.

Copyright © 2014, Yvonne Demoskoff.