Residents of the Elderly Home of Mapuifagalele were treated to a surprise birthday party celebration for a resident that included a live band performance.

The surprise birthday bash was organised for Faith Lepisi Lesātele by her children who gathered on Thursday to mark her 70th birthday.

A resident of Mapuifagalele since 2017, the surprise party began at 2.45pm when all the residents of the elderly home dressed and joined in the singing, the dancing and the celebrations.

But there was more store for the birthday party celebrant as her family and the No Cash Club also made a financial contribution of $1000 to the elderly home together with $2000 worth of food supplies and an assortment of elderly people’s necessities.

Grace Roebeck, who is the daughter-in-law of Mrs Lesātele, told the Samoa Observer that the assorted food and goods they donated included noodles and bags of rice as well as adult diapers.

The No Cash Club also hired local Afega Laumua o Tumua band to sing and perform for two hours to mark the occasion. The band performed a variety of old favorites including lo’u sei oriana and other popular local songs which the elderly residents danced to with delight.

The mother-superior of the elderly home, Sister Maria Francis, later said that they cannot put a finger on the financial value of their donation as seeing their mother and grandmother was priceless. 

Mrs. Lesātele was previously a nurse and Mrs Roebeck said that hearing the stories of her work in the hospital during her time was remarkable. 

“She’s always present at mass every morning and well it’s extraordinary, you’ll always see her praying and sometimes when I’d ask well who are you talking to? She would say, oh well Jesus!”

Mrs Roebeck said that the party and program was a total surprise and that the family had turned up with the band and the decorations and had just done what turned out to be an amazing event for Mrs.Lesātele and the residents at Mapuifagalele.