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A 'Friendsgiving' lasts 50 years, 4 generations

Five Raleigh families have gathered together for Thanksgiving longer than Crabtree Valley Mall has existed.

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By
Adam Owens
, WRAL anchor/reporter
RALEIGH, N.C. — Nothing says Thanksgiving quite like turkey, sides and dessert. It can taste even better when you enjoy it with friends and family.

Five Raleigh families have gathered together for Thanksgiving longer than Crabtree Valley Mall has existed.

Mary Ann Ellstrom remembers her first Thanksgiving in Raleigh after moving from Minnesota.

“I did not like it,” she said. “It wasn’t Thanksgiving.”

It felt lonely without family. But she was not alone; neighbors were also far from home.

So the friends gathered together to give thanks.

In the late 1960s, the group was small, maybe 20 people.

Now, there are about 80 seats at the table.

“We had no idea we would be doing this for 50 years,” Ellstrom said.

The neighbors – the Ellstrom, Neuman, Jones, Rutherford and Thompson families – still gather every year.

“We have four generations now,” said Sally Neuman, one of the founding members said.

“The friendship has never stopped,” she said. “They are like my sisters. They are my family.”

The blessing, the group says, is that they’ve stayed friends for 50 years.

There are young faces around the table. The family is growing. Those who started the tradition hope they come together for 50 more years.

“I don’t know what the next generation will do,” Ellstrom said. “I would hope they continue and carry on our tradition. Time will tell.”

Three of the original members have passed away. On Thursday, they were fondly remembered.

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