Seventeen years ago, Yvonne Samson moved into Paul Spring Retirement Community, one of its original residents.
“She is very interesting and is totally independent,” said Barbara Sullivan, director of business development.
Born July 2, 1905, in the village of her grandfather, in the province of Quebec, Canada, she immigrated to Lewiston, Maine with her family when she was 13 years old.
Residents, family members and friends joined Samson last Sunday for a special celebration. She was surprised by some long-time friends and neighbors that she knew from Pittsfield, Mass. Margaret Nash came for the party, as did David and Robert Condron. Robert Condron came up from Florida with his new wife and it was clear that Samson was very touched.
Samson had varied interests during her lifetime. After finishing school, she became a pianist for theaters showing silent movies. She also became a volunteer for the Red Cross for many decades. Her hobbies include quilting, genealogy, painting, ceramics, oil painting and knitting.
When she moved to the Fairfax area, she began knitting bonnets and blankets for the babies at DeWitt hospital at Fort Belvoir 35 years ago. Recently she was honored for her volunteer contributions by the U.S. Army Hospital at DeWitt.