102-year-old Thelma Surerus and her daughter Patsey take part in a photoshoot with Cassandra Jones. Photo Credit: Noelle Mirabella Photography/Cassandra Jones

By Shane Clausing

102 year old goes viral

102-year-old Ontario woman on pandemic-lengthened Grande Prairie visit goes viral

Jul 17, 2021 | 5:00 AM

A 102-year-old Ontario woman who has been stuck in Grande Prairie for close to two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic has become the talk of the internet.

Thelma Surerus of Roseneath, Ontario, and her family, were recently invited by award-winning photographer Cassandra Jones to take part in a photoshoot at her Grande Prairie studio.

Jones reached out to EverythingGP about Thelma after we posted a story about her celebrating her 102nd birthday in the Sawn City back in February and wondered if she and her family would be interested in taking part in a photoshoot.

Initially, Thelma was hesitant to do the photoshoot, but after having coffee with Jones, the family agreed to take part.

Jones says she was so happy she was given the opportunity to photograph Thelma and five generations of her family.

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“I am so inspired by people that have lived through so much history,” explained Jones. “It’s become a real passion of mine to photograph those people and tell their story because I feel like we have a lot to learn from them.”

The family got together with Jones for the photoshoot that went from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

It was a lengthy shoot and Jones says Thelma needed to have a nap in between sessions.

After the shoot was done, Jones edited the pictures and then posted a couple to social media, which has a large following of fans from people around the world.

The first post Jones made was a picture of Thelma hugging her daughter Patsy. It blew up on the internet and has since been seen by over three million people from around the world.

“I never do (expect a post to get big) when I put stuff out there. You never know what people are going to relate to. I knew it was a really powerful and beautiful moment, but I definitely didn’t expect it to go super viral,” explained Jones.

“Part of it is that it’s honest, real and vulnerable, and I feel like that’s what they gave me when I did that shoot, which is the most precious gift you can receive when you’re an artist. Thelma was so present for every single photograph that I think people can really relate to that and I think that’s why it’s touched so many hearts.”

The post has been seen all around the world, with people as far away as Thailand sharing it on their Facebook pages.

Patsey says it has been incredible to see the response of so many people from around the world.

“I am surprised. That makes you cry. All of the people that responded to us, the things they say about it are uplifting, therapeutic and so wonderful. The five of us (who took part in the shoot) are so grateful.”

Several other posts of Thelma and her family that were posted by Jones have also picked up a significant amount of reaction on her Facebook page.

According to Patsey, her mom Thelma will be leaving Grande Prairie in August. She is fully vaccinated now and will be taken on a private plane back to Roseneath.