Site Logo

PHOTOS: Coldstream centenarian dances up storm on her 103rd birthday

Published 10:30 am Thursday, February 26, 2026

By Roger Knox

Coldstream’s Simone Huhtala (right) enjoys a spin around the dance floor with Sandy Young on the occasion of her 103rd party. Close to 100 friends and family gathered at Vernon’s Schubert Centre Friday, Feb. 20, for the party. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
1/5

Coldstream’s Simone Huhtala (right) enjoys a spin around the dance floor with Sandy Young on the occasion of her 103rd party. Close to 100 friends and family gathered at Vernon’s Schubert Centre Friday, Feb. 20, for the party. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

Coldstream’s Simone Huhtala (right) enjoys a spin around the dance floor with Sandy Young on the occasion of her 103rd party. Close to 100 friends and family gathered at Vernon’s Schubert Centre Friday, Feb. 20, for the party. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Salmon Arm’s June Stewart (front) was among the nearly 100 well-wishers on hand at Vernon’s Schubert Centre Friday, Feb. 20, honouring Simone Huhtala (wearing tiara) on her 103rd birthday. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Simone Huhtala (left) gets a picture taken with Deep, the man responsible for baking her birthday cake for her 103rd party, held Friday, Feb. 20, at Vernon’s Schubert Centre. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Birthday gal Simone Huhtala (front, third from left) is joined by family for a photo at her 103rd birthday celebration Friday, Feb. 20, at the Schubert Centre in Vernon. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)
Coldstream’s Simone Huhtala (centre) was toasted with cards, gifts, and cake on the occasion of her 103rd birthday Friday, Feb. 20, at Vernon’s Schubert Centre. (Roger Knox - Morning Star)

There was almost an equal amount of family, friends, and well-wishers as there were candles on her birthday cake.

You know, if Simone Huhtala had 103 candles on her cake, which she didn’t.

But there was Huhtala, eyeing up the pastry delight baked for her Friday, Feb. 20, for the occasion of her 103rd birthday with a two-hour party in the afternoon at Vernon’s Schubert Centre.

And there was the birthday girl, cutting a rug on the dance floor to the music of longtime Vernon entertainer Bob King, getting hugs and handshakes from the guests, opening cards and gifts, and even enjoying a delicious corn dog.

We introduced you to Huhtala, who lives in Coldstream, on her 100th birthday in 2023. A day made even more special as her older sister, Bernadette Desy, was in attendance. She had come from her home in Washington state, less than two weeks after she turned 101.

Desy would pass away Feb. 7, 2024, just shy of a year after Simone’s 100th.

Huhtala has been a member of Vernon’s Schubert Centre for nearly two decades.

Her actual birthday is Feb. 24.

You Might Like