She will be 90 on Saturday and her twins will be sixty – same day.

Phyllis Toombs, born in Nanaimo,  moved to Vancouver when she was nine. She lived with her parents on a quiet street in “Kits” – near other relatives at 5th and Maple. A nice area of town.

In 1944 in a strange story that I don’t think we will have time for she met a dashing young man at a dance and spent many hours getting to know him. His name, Bill Collen. Young Bill was in his first years at UBC – his parents – Carl “CD” and Beatrice Collen owned a department store in the Okanagan. Phyllis after getting engaged promised to her in-laws that both she and Bill would wait a bit before getting married. Three years passed and Bill graduated and went home. They married and took up residence in Oliver in a small house on an street now called School Avenue.

The new Mrs. Collen still owns that house to this day. She worked at the local post office and helped her new husband in the evenings and weekends when Bill worked at the department store on Main Street. A first child, Elaine was born in 1952 – in another three years another birth with a surprise package to all concerned. They would need a bigger house. Edward and Margaret were born in 1955. Phyllis says what a surprise that was to her, her husband and the rest of the family. She now has grandchildren and great-grand children. And to prove she is a modern women at nearly 90 she has a computer and “Skypes” with younger family members and plays cards on the machine.

On Saturday townsfolk are invited to meet this feisty woman who will be hosting a tea at the Elks Hall. ‘Phyl’ lives now in a new home – a relic of days gone by – the house her husband was raised in at Kootenay St. and Fairview Rd.

She has fixed it up and despite it’s small look it is huge inside and very comfortable for her and guests. She is happy and looking forward to meeting many friends on Saturday.

Mrs. Collen is enjoying the “best years of her life”.

Happy Birthday Phyllis.