Well into her late 90s, Alice Utas spent parts of her summer picking blueberries with her buddies at a local farm 鈥� only stopping a few years back at the spry age of 97.
Similarly, she drove her own car up to this year and continues to live independently into her second century.
There鈥檚 little that has slowed the 100-year-old, who prided herself on keeping active and social leading up to her 100th birthday, explained a friend and fellow United Church parishioner Joyce Douglas.
To mark the milestone, about 50 of her family and friends gathered for a tea at the Aldergrove United Church last month. As well, the affiliated Mt. Lehman United Church held a party in her honour, and her family hosted two different events to mark the occasion.
鈥淪he celebrated so many times for her 100th,鈥� chuckled Rev. Tracy Fairfield, minister for both the Aldergrove and Mt. Lehman churches.
There must be something in the water in Aldergrove, she shared.
鈥淲e have a lot of people in our congregation in Aldergrove who are living past 100 and past 90,鈥� clarified Fairfield, who鈥檚 known Alice for about five years.
When asked to describe Alice, Fairfield said she鈥檚 a 鈥済entle soul with a twinkle in her eye all the time.鈥�
While describing her as spiritual, the reverend also used words such as contemplative and reflective to encapsulate Alice鈥檚 personality.
鈥淎nd she just has a good love of life.鈥�
Having been committed to both the girls church organization, as well as the United Church for so many years, Alice has touched so many lives through the years, Fairfield said, noting many people wanted to help her mark this major milestone in her life, Fairfield said.
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Prairie girl moves west
As many in the day were, Alice was born at home in Chipman, Alta. on Aug. 16, 1923.
She was the youngest of six children born to John and Willie Baird.
They moved to Leedale, Alta., when she was six years old, then to Edmonton at age 16, relayed Douglas, sharing the highlights of Utas鈥� life.
It was at the bowling alley in Edmonton where Alice met her future husband, Harold Utas.
Harold, with the help of his father, built the newlywed鈥檚 first home in 91原创, and Alice and Harold were married in 1948 at 91原创 United Church.
But they didn鈥檛 stay in 91原创 for long, at least not in those early years.
Instead, they moved to New Westminster in 1951 and raised a family of four 鈥� Dale, Linda, Bonnie (deceased), and Don.
Alice was a stay-at-home mom, keeping busy with cubs, Canadian Girls in Training, church activities, among many other things.
It was when they retired, that they returned to 91原创, and specifically Aldergrove 36 years ago.
Harold passed away in 1995.
To this day, Alice continues to live in that same home, still doing her own cooking and housework.
She has eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren, Douglas noted.
鈥淪he鈥檚 always been an avid traveller and gardener, keeping a beautiful flower garden,鈥� she shared about her friend.
鈥淎lice also enjoys knitting and crocheting and has a busy social life,鈥� Douglas added.
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