The Hellesoe family at Lotopa celebrated the 90th birthday of their beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great, great grandmother at their home last night.

Pele Bella Anunson-Hellesoe was born on 12th August 1927.

She was raised in Manase, Savai’i, began her school life in Safotu but came to Apia where she completed her schooling and eventually lived at Lotopa.

She was married to the late Vui Niel Hellesoe and they had seven children.

From them, she has 26 grandchildren, 65 great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren.

Her eldest daughter, Celine Hellesoe-Keil described her mother as a “straight shooter.”

“Mom is the kind of person that when she sees something on someone - even if she doesn’t know the person - but if she sees something on people that she likes or don’t like, she will tell them straight,” she said.

“Mom worked most of her life even after she married our father."

 “Back in the days she was an employee at this place called Burns Philp and later ran her own grocery shop at Lotopa."

“The only time I see mom at home was when she was sick or became pregnant with my siblings or when she lived far away from her work place.”

Mrs. Keil said her mother is a “loving, caring woman” who put her family first.

“She never spanked any of us when we were young because she didn’t believe in spanking even though she tells us when we got children of our own to spank them.”

Mrs. Keil went on to say that their mother was proud of her nationality as a Samoan, Chinese and American.

The birthday celebration was well attended by her family and guests.