It’s not every day you meet someone who’s 98. And it’s even rarer to meet two 98-year-olds who happen to be twins, live across the hall from each other, and still laugh like youngsters.
Kay Rempel and Marie Chipilski of Grunthal recently celebrated their milestone birthday at the Manitoba Legislature, where MLA Konrad Narth honoured them with a heartfelt speech, followed by a standing ovation from fellow politicians. Each woman received a certificate recognizing nearly a century of life, love, and laughter.
The sisters were beaming after the tribute — and not just because of the applause.
“We feel like celebrities with all the attention we’re getting,” said Chipilski, whose quick wit and cheerful outlook match her bright nail polish.
A legacy of love and resilience
Born in 1927, the twins have vivid memories of the Dirty Thirties, when money was tight and clothes were few.
“We were very, very poor,” Chipilski recalled. Rempel remembers having only two outfits each. But is quick to add that they were surrounded by love and kindness.
It’s a perspective they’ve carried with them through the years, shaped by gratitude and rooted in a belief that attitude is everything.
“If you are grumpy in the morning, you’re grumpy all day,” said Rempel. “If the sun shines, why would you make it cloudy?”
Chipilski added, “Some people say, at your age, how can you be so active? And I say, ‘life is what you make it.’”
Across the hall and always close
For the past 21 years, the sisters have lived in the same apartment building — just steps away from one another. Chipilski is the one more likely to start the day with a smile, while Rempel enjoys listening to her sister talk. They still walk barefoot, wear nail polish, visit with friends, and laugh often.
“What do I like about Kay?” said Chipilski. “Her cooking.”
And Rempel? “I like to hear her talking.”
While they agree time passes more quickly now than ever before, if they could turn back the clock, they’d rewind about 35 years. Still, the present is filled with joy.
As Chipilski put it with a chuckle, “We’re not that old yet.”
With hearts full of thankfulness, the twin sisters from Grunthal continue to walk through life side by side — barefoot, smiling, and ready for whatever comes next.
-With files from Carly Koop.