Kristín Þorleifsdóttir, 100 years old

Kristín Þorleifsdóttir, 100 years old

„Faith in the Almighty. You don't do this on your own,“ replied Kristín Þorleifsdóttir, Didda, when asked how she had reached such an advanced age. Didda, a true Hafnarfjörður native through and through, born here on 24 February 1925, is 100 years old. She grew up at 3 Nönnustíg, one of five children of Sigurlín Jóhannesdóttir and Þorleifur Guðmundsson. Four reached adulthood.

„Congratulations,“ said Mayor Valdimar Víðisson as he shook Didda's hand at her 100th birthday party, presenting her with flowers on behalf of the townspeople. The celebration was held at Hásölum. Relatives and friends celebrated with her. It was a great party. Margrét Pálma with a choir, Una Torfa, and the birthday girl herself all gave a speech.

Married during the Second World War

Kristín married Haukur Magnússon during the Second World War, and he died in 1987, 38 years ago. They had five children, four of whom live in Hafnarfjörður. There are nearly fifty descendants.

Didda has lived on Hjallabraut since 1990 and worked for her sister, Sigrún, Dúna, at Burkna after her children had grown up. Over the years, she has taken on many jobs.

A generous supporter of the Hawks

Didda is a Haukakona and she appears in the 5th episode of the series Missir, which is currently being shown on Sjónvarp Símans.

Yes, a heartfelt congratulations on your centenary, Didd. We Hafnfirðingar clap and celebrate this fantastic milestone of yours.

Let's hear more about Didda and her life story in a text her children put together.

Kristín Þorleifsdóttir – the first 100 years

Kristín Þorleifsdóttir (Didda) was born in Hafnarfjörður on 24 February 1925 and is a Hafnarfjörður and Gaflar resident through and through.

Kristín grew up at 3 Nönnu Street. Her parents were Þorleifur Guðmundsson, a foreman for the City of Hafnarfjörður, and Sigurlín Jóhannesdóttir, a housewife. Kristín's siblings were Guðmundur (Mummi), Margrét (Mæja), Sigrún (Dúna, of the Burkna Flower Shop) and Gyða, who died in childhood.

Kristín married Haukur Magnússon from Reynidal in Mýrdal on 11 March 1944. He was a police officer at the time but worked as a master carpenter for most of his career. He died in 1987. The couple built a house at Tunguvegur 3, which also housed Haukur's carpentry workshop. They had five children: Bjarni Hólm, Gyða, Auður, Þráinn and Hulda Mjöll. All of them live in Hafnarfjörður, except for Hulda, who lived in Reykjavík for most of her life but now lives in Mosfellsbær. They have 15 grandchildren and their total number of descendants is around fifty. Haukur was passionate about hunting and the great outdoors, and travelling around the country was a major part of the family's life. Opposite the house on Tunguvegur lived Didda's sister, Mæja, along with Sigurður Jónsson and their children. The cousins were very close, as were the families of Dúna and Gísli Jón Egilsson on Merkurgata.

Didda with her namesake, Kristín Þorleifsdóttir.

Alongside looking after the farm and children, Didda sometimes worked outside the home, for example in herring salting. When the need arose, she often took up a combination of paintbrushes and fish gaffs in Haukur's workshop. She even kept production going when Haukur worked in Sweden for a time in the late 1960s, when the economy was in a downturn due to a lack of fish. Afterwards, Haukur and Didda, along with their youngest children, spent a whole summer in Varberg, Sweden. This gave them the opportunity to travel around Scandinavia.

When the children were grown up, Didda started working for her sister Dúna in the flower shop, Burkna, where she worked in sales and accounts.

In 1990, Didda moved into her own flat at 33 Hjallabraut and has lived there ever since. There, she has enjoyed the friendship of many, taking part in social activities and serving on the residents' association committee. Didda was active in the Hrund Women's Society, an association for the wives of tradesmen in Hafnarfjörður. She has also been passionate about the Cancer Society, having faced cancer herself with remarkable composure when she was in her early sixties. Didda is extremely artistic and has enjoyed knitting, crocheting, designing jewellery, and creating glass art.

Didda is a passionate supporter of Haukar. She often attended their handball team's home games with a good group of friends right up until the pandemic. She still follows all the club's games on television.

Didda has a keen interest in current affairs and politics. She is the heart and soul of the extended family and cares deeply for all her family. She enjoys their company whenever she can, but also keeps in touch by phone and on social media. Didda has a steel-like memory and often recites poems, verses and hymns that are appropriate to the occasion and circumstances. She learnt her poetry from her grandmother and namesake, who is and has been her role model.

Kristín's mother, Sigurlín, was born at Gilsárteigur, not far from Egilsstaðir, but moved to Hafnarfjörður when she was five years old. Þorleifur was from Arnarfjörður but moved with his parents, Guðmundur Ásgeirsson and Kristín Þorleifsdóttir, to Hafnarfjörður when he was eleven years old. Þorleifur and his siblings were often known as 'the ones from the Hill', which is at the top of the slope on both sides of the Reykjavik Road. From that sibling line have come numerous descendants, many of whom live in the Firði. Didda has kept mementos and memories relating to her family in Arnarfjörður. Her grandmother, Kristín, was a grandchild of Margrét Sigurðardóttir, the sister of Jón (the President) Sigurðsson.

Didda appears in the series Missir (5 episodes), which is currently being shown on Sjónvarp Símans.