Mrs. Solveig "Sylvia" Gunnbjørg Hajum

Born in the small farming community of Skåge I Namdalen in Norway in 1930, Solveig was the fourth of ten children born to Gudlaug and Sigurd Barlien. Solveig’s siblings included a first-born sister who perished in a house fire at the age of 3, Johan, Hjørdis, Gunnår, Åse, Bjørn, Greta, Sonja, and Hans Olav.

Solveig helped to raise her siblings and lived a rural life on the banks of the Namsen river until she left home at the age of 16, moving to Sweden where she worked as a hotel maid.

Eventually Solveig found her way back to Norway, but this time in Oslo. With her maid experience, she responded to a position as a house maid for a well to do family in the Tåsen neighbourhood in Oslo. The young man who lived at the home with his father and stepmother, Svein, took a shinning to the new maid and eventually the two began to date. Times were not great in post war Norway so the two decided to make a new life in Canada. Svein landed in Canada in 1953 and Solveig followed in 1955. The two were married and eventually started a family.

Solveig raised her sons Perry, Ronald, and Dean through the 60s and eventually went to work at Woodwards in downtown Vancouver in the 70s and 80s. She loved the job, was great with people, and sparked many long-term friendships. She spent time doing the things she loved; going dancing with Svein and their friends, hosting family dinners, spending quality time with her grandchildren, and finding that “me” time at various bingo halls scattered throughout East Van.

After living on 10th avenue in Vancouver for over 30 years, and no kids living at home, Solveig and Svein moved to Burnaby near Metrotown. As Woodwards wound down their operations in the 90s, Solveig moved on to working a lotto booth at Metrotown and eventually in West Vancouver. In West Van, her love of meeting new people and working with the public brought her immense joy. Her commitment to her family, especially grandchildren, and her friends, were a continued theme in her life.

Svein passed away in May of 2000, but Solveig was determined to live the best life she could. She became more involved as a volunteer with her Lutheran church, the Scandinavian Centre, and Normanna Rest home. As usual, everywhere she went she forged new friendships with people.

Eventually Solveig opted for an assisted living arrangement and found enjoyment in the activities and community. Over time Solveig found herself living at the place she always said she would when it came time to enter a care home, Normanna. Her years at Normanna were spent under great care of the staff but the pandemic would eventually take its toll on her as it did many others within the care home system. Solveig passed peacefully on April 5th 2023.

Solveig is survived by her three sons, Perry, Ronald, and Dean, daughter in-law Nella, her grandchildren, Tyler (Sakura), Alyssa (Ethan), Jack, and Maximilian, and great grandchildren, Kai and Jaden, sisters Greta and Sonja, her brother Hans Olav, and a multitude of family living in Norway and New Zealand.

Solveig will be sorely missed, always loved, and hold a special place in our hearts. Until we meet again.