Gratitude for exceptional care is being turned into a lasting legacy with the launch of the new Gratitude Endowment Fund for the Lundar Personal Care Home Staff.
The fund was established by Helga G. J. Sigurdson and Linda F. Sigurdson Collette in honour of their mother and Amma Sigridur Gudny Holm, who was the second resident to ever call the Lundar Personal Care Home home. This is the first endowment fund of its kind and is dedicated to supporting staff, recognizing the exceptional care they provide every day.
“To us, this place has always been more than a building,” said Linda Sigurdson Collette. “It has been a constant in our lives, and the staff have been nothing short of exceptional. This fund is our way of saying thank you and creating something that lasts forever.”
The family’s connection to the personal care home spans generations. Linda’s father, Johann Straumfjord Sigurdson (Joe), was instrumental in the development of the Lundar Senior Citizen Home in 1966 and served as vice-president of the local board, helping to envision a free-standing 20-bed personal care home. The Lundar Personal Care Home officially opened in 1982. Helga Sigurdson was a founding member and long-time president of the Lundar Personal Care Home Guild, serving for 25 years before retiring in 2019 at the age of 99.
The Gratitude Endowment Fund was launched with an initial gift of $700 on March 7, 2026. The number seven holds special meaning for Helga — she was born on the seventh day of the seventh month at the seventh evening hour and was one of seven children. The family hopes this symbolic beginning will inspire others in the community to participate and grow the fund.
Community members, former residents’ families and anyone who has experienced care at the Lundar Personal Care Home are invited to contribute — whether to say thank you, honour a loved one or invest in the people who make the home what it is.
“Endowment funds create a legacy for the future,” said Averill Stephenson, executive director of the Interlake Eastern Health Foundation. “This fund recognizes the incredible staff who support residents every day. The principal is invested and only the interest is used, ensuring this gratitude continues for generations.”
Donations to the Gratitude Endowment Fund can be made at any time, and gifts of all sizes are welcome.
For more information or to contribute, contact the Interlake Eastern Health Foundation at 204-485-5139, iehf@ierha.ca or visit iehf.ca.
