by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 05/97) - A Dene elder believed to be the oldest person in the NWT has passed away in Yellowknife.

Elise Abel, who celebrated her 107th birthday on July 5, died in her sleep around 2 a.m. Thursday morning at the Aven Senior Centre in Yellowknife.

"She is a symbol of incredible strength, strength of the Dene people," said Wade Were, executive director of Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors.

Abel was born in Rocher River near Fort Resolution in 1890.

Father Giles Mousseau, a chancellor for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mackenzie, said they were able to verify her age because missionaries in Fort Chipewyan kept detailed records of the time.

Abel married at 17 and had 10 children with her first husband, Basil Aze.

Aze passed away in 1939. Abel remarried Joseph Abel in the 1950s. He died in 1988.

In May of 1988, Abel moved into the Aven Senior Centre, where she remained until her death.

"I know the staff are going to sorely miss her," said Were. He added that it is easy to appreciate how a woman of her age, with most of her family passed away, would develop a close personal connection with the staff.

Funeral services were not finalized by press time but organizers are hoping to have services tomorrow at St. Patrick high school gymnasium.