OA-Spring 2023

Janice Hartman Gillig sent a great picture of her family celebrating her husband’s 90th birthday. They are all doing well, and they have grandchildren in elementary, high school and college. Joan Reiter Carlsen was sending me text messages from Minnesota in January and relayed the message that Val Wilson Enghauser (in Naples, Florida) survived Hurricane Ian with minimal damage. One granddaughter is graduating from Notre Dame this spring, and another graduating from USC with an architectural degree. Other notables from her Johnnie, a sports editor for a county weekly, Charlie at Creighton and Annie, graduating from high school and going to TCU. Remind her of the 2023 National Football Championship (Georgia 65- TCU 7) Couldn’t resist this, Joan! Jane Frayser Edmonds sent me an informative article about the SSM Health Oklahoma Foundation highlighting her husband, Dave’s, recovery from COVID-19, having pre-existing conditions with COPD, diabetes and kidney disease. Jane’s granddaughter was working in Chicago as a COVID Intensive Care nurse and relocated to Oklahoma City. She credits his treatment and timely steps with this healthcare system that saved her grandfather’s life. Jane, too, was COVID-positive but recovered at home while communicating with Dave on her I-Pad. “Grateful Patients, Grateful Families”! Patricia “Patti” O’Dowd Scholl as you may remember, completed her college degree at Calumet College of St. Joseph in Indiana. She was in the first graduating class of one in 1961. Calumet College had just initiated a 4-year degree program. To bring you up to date, the two presidents, President Amy McCormack and our President Dottie King, invited Patti to toss the coin at the first game of Sprint Football against each other in Sept. 2022. What fun to hear about all the new sports programs at The Woods! Jean “Jeannie” McGregor Lauth shared her news in a Christmas letter stating that they were finally coming out of hibernation since 2020 to attend the Notre Dame vs. Clemson football game….a real thriller. They are now planning a trip to see Notre Dame in Ireland later this year. Jeannie is doing well and looks the same as when she graduated in 1961, with a little gray hair. It always saddens me to report on our deceased classmates, but I only wish I could share the heartwarming messages I receive from their spouses and family members. They come from letters, emails, text messages and phone calls. Here is a try: Gail Fitzpatrick Meritt from Evanston, Illinois, died on May 23, 2022, after a difficult but valiant struggle against the ravages of ALS barely six months after a diagnosis. Her husband, Dennis, expressed it as “my best friend of more than sixty years went to her great reward when the Holy Spirit came for her and ended her suffering.” Susan Modrall Zarnowiecki from Cincinnati, Ohio, died at home on June 29, 2022, after a series of falls. Susan retired from her private clinical psychology practice in 2000 and traveled, enjoying her four children and eight grandchildren. Jim reminisced they “knew each other for 56 years but only married for 53 years”. Mary Kathleen Hilger Barnes died at home on January 2, 2023, with her youngest son in Belfast, Northern Ireland. “Mum was comfortable, and her passing was peaceful” says Justin. He requested her friends would be most welcome to the Northern Island wake. “Mum will be wearing her favorite plum outfit and Giorgio Armani scarf that she loved to wear for special occasions. We all know Mum was full of joy, and as such, I would encourage you to wear joyful clothing”. Her sister, Nora Rebecca Hilger McGowan ‘’66 , suggested giving Kathleen’s SMWC ring as a

102-year-old Doris needed assisted living care. What an adjustment – especially at the evening dinner table. We somehow began to get this crazy idea to convert the 1500 square-foot basement area into a short-term rental (like an AirB&B.) Haven’t opened yet but will do so by March. A new adventure! We are also planning a Road Scholar Scandinavian cruise for three weeks in June. ’61 Alice Steers Lingenfelter 4726 Carlene Way SW Lilburn, GA 30047-4704 (404) 314-7907 alice.lingenfelter@gmail.com Another year with more changes in our lives. Some of those were unexpected but we had to change our habits, our goals and even had to make new friends at our age. It is heartwarming to hear of our classmates keeping track of each other and continuing their careers with volunteerism. Mayo Clinic just issued a special supplement newsletter called “Caregiving” February 2023 which seems appropriate for us these days. Sharon Wruble Miller would have liked to share trips and explorations, but health issues had to be on the top of the list instead. She, with two falls causing concussions, has recovered nicely, but her husband, Dick, had several serious issues, including an infection surrounding an aortic valve. Thankfully they are both back in good health. They are great grandparents and enjoy Facetime visits, soon to be “in person” visits. Anne Kaczmarczyk Evans travels weekly to the polka dances in central and eastern Pennsylvania and continues her volunteer activities at the Mahanoy Area Historical Society. She stepped out of her usual area to Savannah, Georgia, with a nursing college classmate and drove to Florida. She informed me she has “a great new ear”. Welcome to the group…..sounds like her legs are doing great! Maryanne O’Connor Donahue is still encouraging “singing” in Massachusetts even though there are long steps to the choir loft. Her biggest thrill was traveling with her daughter, Anne to Scotland where her grandson received his Masters in Letters from St. Andrew’s University in November 2022. Her sad news was she lost her husband in February 2021. She stays busy with five grandchildren, visiting with sister Emma Jo O’Connor Smith ’63 and keeping up with Sally O’Connell , a classmate from Immaculata in Washington, DC. Sally O’Connell had news that she finally gave up her flip phone and now has an iPhone 12. How we laughed about her life, as I call it, on the “winter prairie”! Living alone has some pros and cons, but her neighbors check her mailbox to see if the newspaper is missing (the Washington Post, of course). Her brother is still living in D.C. and keeps in touch. Valerie Dziubek Kuck continues to promote more women and individuals who are under-represented in chemistry with her chairmanship in the American Chemical Society in California. They are trying to encourage elementary students who are under represented in the sciences and give high school students from economically disadvantaged families an opportunity to work with research professors while getting paid. A future trip with her son sailing from Amsterdam to Zurich should be wonderful. Diane Deters Krug was fortunate to be able to travel after the “dark days of Covid” with a river cruise in Europe in the spring and then a cruise from New England to Canada in the fall. She traveled with her son to London for the Christmas lights. Her future includes a virtual class at Harvard on “The Origins and Solutions to Present Educational/School Systems” and maybe starting an MBA program at The Woods. Wow...we are all for it, Diane!

legacy gift to the College. Nancy Hura Scheiman from Parma Heights, Ohio, died on January 5, 2023. Her daughter, Mary Ellen Doran, reached out to me just after she received the request for Onyx news. Mary said, “She always spoke very highly of her time in school and her connections with people there since she left. You are a great group of women.” Her husband had passed before her and they had four children and four grandchildren. In closing, our 65th Reunion in May 2022 was very special to me for I was honored as the 2022 Frances Murphy Rumely Award recipient. It was a humbling experience for the College had researched my entire life and presented a video that was so impressive I didn’t recognize myself. Thank you all for this most special honor. Our classmates who were present included Nancy “Nan” Albers Bechert , Barbara Bluntzer, SP, Ellen “Nell” Steers Dana, Janet Gilligan, SP, Mary Jo Stewart McPherson, Mary Moloney SP and Patricia “Patti” O’Dowd Scholl and my daughter. Leigh Lingenfelter Westergren ’92 . Our alumni association should receive great credit for the outstanding celebration for all the classes, especially since they were toasting two “Golden Jubilarian” classes (1970 & 1972) due to the pandemic. I hope you all will make a special effort to come to our next Reunion. “Our benevolent God smiled on our efforts to be happy in this life as well as the next.” My prayers for you all. ’62 Gail Sitzman Westhoven 401 Highland Ave Neptune, NJ 07753-5680 (732) 774-6885 (732) 859-4335 egwesthoven@mac.com Another year and for many, a chance to travel again. Fifteen members of our class traveled to our 60th Reunion in May and shared their thoughts. Elizabeth “Beth” O’Connell wrote “Reunion Weekend was special for fifteen of us. We met at the statue of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and prayed for each member of the Class of 1962. We sang the Ring Song, which is marked from the Class of 1962.” Beth was instrumental in having recognition of ‘62’s authorship of the Ring Song printed in the Reunion programs. Painful walking has her looking forward to knee replacement in March. At Reunion, a special memorial service was conducted by several ’62 attendees at Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s statue for Barbara “Muffet” Curran, who died on January 29, 2022. Muffet was a well-loved and vibrant member of our class. Patricia Curran Denato and Judy Reich Hoyt shared their memories of Muffet. A note from a niece related the death of Camilla Carbon on November 3, 2022. Please keep Muffet and Camilla in your prayers. Marian “Meech” Meacham Gillen was pleased to be back on campus. Meech is living with her son in Tennessee in a basement apartment. She enjoys all the scenic views on his large property. Meech has added crocheting to her repertoire of hobbies. Louise O’Neill Keefe and hubby Bob took several trips in 2022 with friends - a fun summer bus trip out west, a visit to St. Augustine, Florida, and a Christmas light tour. She and Bob delight in spending time with their 11 grandchildren. Louise volunteers at church and with her Retired Educator group. Carol Sipe Harter has been a homebody since driving to Reunion weekend. On campus, Carol was the much-appreciated chauffeur deluxe for many of the non-walkers in the class of ’62. Back in Atlanta, Georgia. Carol continues to enjoy painting and looks forward to the resumption of the chorus in February.

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