Anne Mugleston celebrates her 100th birthday Friday surrounded by family outside The Wellington seniors' residence where she lives.--NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
The unexpected surprise of a 100th birthday celebration in the middle of the COVID pandemic was emotional for Anne Mugleston on Friday.
“It’s overwhelming. More than I expected, ever,” she said with a smile.
A convoy of vehicles drove through the parking lot at The Wellington where Mugleston has lived since the seniors’ residence opened. Her daughter, Vickey Pacholek, says she was one of the first residents to move in.
There were balloons and colourful signs attached to cars all honking their horns and stopping briefly to exchange a few words with the birthday lady.
Mugleston used to be the seamstress at Hutchinson and Sharps on Third Street downtown where she made the necessary alterations to uniforms for city bus drivers and police for many years, said Pacholek.
She was born in Grand Ran Farley, not far from Veigreville, and was raised on a farm.
She had four children – two surviving, 10 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, Pacholek said. She was very active in Holy Family Parish and loved lawn bowling.
Pacholek says on Friday afternoon they simply brought her mother outside into the sunshine and let the whole event be a complete surprise for her.
Wellington staff, wearing personal protective equipment, hovered nearby to take delivery of balloons, flowers, gifts and ensure Mugleston was doing well.
As the convoy of vehicles came to an end Mugleston reached for a tissue to wipe her eyes but kept smiling.
