GUDRUN (RUNA) GISLINA VOPNI -

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GUDRUN (RUNA) GISLINA VOPNI 1913 - 2008 In the early morning hours on Sunday, December 28, with her family by her side, Runa passed away peacefully at East Gate Lodge Personal Care Home in Beausejour, Manitoba. Runa was one-half of the well known Icelandic twins (the other half being her identical twin sister Ingibjorg (Inga) Burgess) who have been lovingly recognized by the Icelandic community both in Canada and Iceland as having been the oldest living twins of Icelandic descent in the world. Both of the twins have always been very proud of their Icelandic heritage and through the years were involved in several of the community organizations including the early years of Folklorama, the Jon Sigurdson Chapter of the IODE and others. Runa will be missed by all those whose lives she touched. Runa was predeceased by her loving parents: father Hallur Jonsson Hallsson and mother Olof Olafson, and by the love of her life, her husband Raymond Byron Vopni on September 15, 1983. Other family members who went far too early to the Lord include, her brothers: Haraldur (Harold) Bjorgvin Hallson, John Oscar Hallson (and his first wife Anna), Eirikur (Eddie) Hallson (and his wife Myrtle), Magnus Saebjorn (Mike) Hallson (and his wife Emily); her sister Jensina Jensen (and her husband Donald); and brothers-in-law George Burgess (huband of twin sister Inga) and Thomas Sanderson Scaife (first husband of sister Olof (Lolly). In addition, Runa was predeceased by her step-sisters Jonina and Sigfidur as well as her half-brothers Eirikur and Gudjon. Runa leaves to mourn her passing and cherish her loving memory her children, Olivia Nichol, Margaret Johnson and Shirley (Ronald) Borkowsky. Also left are Amma's precious grandchildren, Leaja Nichol, Eric (Lyndsey) Johnson, Olaf (Jennifer) Johnson and Briana (Jamison Campbell) Johnson, Angela (Chris) Meyer, Keith (Stacey Brown) Borkowsky, JoAnne (Chris) Novakowski and her five great-grandchildren, Melissa, Jessica, Logan, Davin and Kaehla. She will also be severely missed by her twin sister Inga, sister Olof (Walter) Buchnel, sisters-in-law Leola (wife of Harold) and Runa (second wife of John) as well as countless nieces and nephews and their families. The family would like to thank Dr. Schmidt and all of the care givers and staff of the Rose Unit at East Gate Lodge Personal Care Home in Beausejour for the exceptional care given to Runa during her stay. Everyone was incredibly warm, caring and attentive to her every need and the needs of our family. Bless you all. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Lutheran Church (580 Victor Street, Winnipeg), Logberg Heimskringla (Icelandic Weekly, 100-283 Portage Ave.,Winnipeg), or the Canadian Diabetes Association (200 - 310 Broadway, Winnipeg). A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. in Neil Bardal Inc., 3030 Notre Dame Avenue across from Brookside Cemetery. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 05, 2009