89-year-old Riders super fan in isolation ‘floored’ with birthday wishes

After being isolated for more than three weeks, lifelong Saskatchewan Roughriders fan Ethel Mongovius wasn’t sure how her 89th birthday would go.

But through the power of social media, her birthday on Monday was a day that “floored” her.

Her daughter, Arlene Mongovius, tweeted out a message Monday morning about Ethel being “a little lonely” on her birthday, asking for messages from the Twitter world.

My Nana has been in alone self-isolation since mid-March and is a little lonely. Today is her 89th birthday. Would you please take a moment to share a birthday wish and some encouraging words – I will make sure she sees them. Thx! #CFLFamily #RiderPride #CFL #StaySafeAtHome pic.twitter.com/3mHPnkZs2J

— Rider fan (@GreyCupBound) April 6, 2020

What happened next caught Ethel totally off guard.

“The phone was ringing constantly, and my iPad was just (going off). There was hundreds and hundreds (of people with birthday wishes),” she explained Tuesday.

Even at the age of 89, Mongovius said she continues to head to Riders games. She said she’s been a long-time season-ticket holder with the team, also heading to the Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg each year.

Along with Arlene’s tweet, she also had a photo of her mother dressed in her favourite player’s jersey, Matt Dominguez, and her homemade hat.

The trading card company Upper Deck took notice of the ask by Arlene, and gave Ethel something she will never forget: A customized “super fan” card with the photo Arlene tweeted out.

“I have no idea how I got a card from Upper Deck,” Ethel said. “That just about floored me. How that happened, I have no idea.”

That wasn’t the end of the surprises for Ethel on Monday. She said she also received a phone call from former NDP MLA Pat Atkinson.

As for what’s next for the now-89-year-old “super fan,” she said she is continuing to isolate after someone in her condo building had contact with COVID-19. She said she has been filling time with her electronics, giving her access to family members across North America.

“Well, I have (my) iPad, so even my grandkids down in San Francisco and Grand Forks in North Dakota, they can get ahold of me,” she said.

For the upcoming 2020 CFL season, Mongovius is confident she’ll get to see her Riders back on the field soon, and she says she’ll be there in the stands to cheer them on if at all possible.

“I bought my season ticket already, I also got a ticket down to Halifax, bought the tickets down there for the game the Riders are supposed to be playing in July,” she said.

“I’ll be there.”

Mongovius said she’ll continue to get by “one day at a time,” and has a message for those who extended birthday wishes for her Monday.

“I just want to thank absolutely everybody, everywhere that posted happy birthdays and good wishes to me,” she said. “Thanks a million!”