ELIDA MARIE BOND (SUNDIN)

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ELIDA MARIE BOND (nee SUNDIN) June 24, 1907 - February 28, 2008 Elida Marie Bond, 100, of Highland, CA went to be with her Lord on Thursday, February 28, 2008. Elida was born June 24, 1907 in Winnipeg to Swedish parents, Per Gustav and Anna Christina Sundin, who homesteaded 160 acres near Inwood. Upon our Aunt Elida's passing, her son Gordon of Springfield, MO and daughter Carole Marvin of Highland, CA requested that we, her nephews and nieces in Winnipeg, submit an announcement. We gladly do so, in the expectation that the name Sundin will still register with many friends and neighbours. Such recall will bring a smile at thoughts of many good times - with tales of farm adventures, sprinkled with pithy Swedish sayings, entertaining the young and the old. As a young woman Aunt Elida lived with her sister Anna and Jack. Aunt Elida had to share her bed with young little guys Don and Ken. One night Don and I were somewhat playful and restless at bedtime. She soon calmed us down with this - now get to sleep, and whoever goes to sleep first, tell the other. Also as a young woman Elida worked in the pastry department at Eaton's. There on the third floor she operated the donut machine and handled sales. What memories, we have as kids, we'd go down on Saturdays and get a box of misshapen donuts for a nickel (five cents). Elida married Charles Bond in 1934 in Winnipeg. In 1941 they moved to Thunder Bay, in 1942 to Toronto and in 1951 to San Bernardino, opened Bond Auto Parts in 1956 and operated it as a family business until Charles' death in 1979. Elida was predeceased in death by her husband of 44 years, Charles Bond, and five siblings (born in Sweden), Oscar Sundin, Lottie Adams, Anna Gibson, Gus Sundin and Charles Sundin; niece Edna Shane (Sundin); nephew Helmer Sundin. She is survived by her daughter Carole Marvin (Louis), Highland; son Gordon Bond (Dreama), Springfield; six adult grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and in Winnipeg nieces, Doris Knapp (Sundin), Bev Thurner (Gibson) and nephews, Ken and Don Gibson. Aunt Elida was a people person, kind and caring. Her friends and family were treated to a never-ending stream of love, humour and an unusual gift of optimism. She never missed coming to any of our special celebrations - weddings, anniversaries, special birthdays - Aunt Elida always added that special something to every occasion. She also came to Winnipeg to be with us when we lost our parents. June 1997 provided a wonderful large family and friends occasion when Aunt Elida, Gordon and Carole, together with every local family member, assembled for our ever so special Aunt's 90th birthday. A perfect time to repay her for all she had done for us and also an opportunity for some of the younger ones to meet their Great-Aunt from California and one person they will never forget. Not often the Honouree provides the entertainment, but once more Aunt Elida effused humour, love, grace and surprise. T'would be remiss not to mention a few of the Swedish names in her social group we heard so often. Soderberg, Lofvendal, Hammerstrand, Bjorkman, Cliff Anderson and the Schrofs and was known by artist Clarence Tillenius. Our Aunt Elida was a gift from God who shared her faith, who blessed our lives with happiness and filled our world with love.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 08, 2008