Onyx Anneau Spring 2021

prayers. Joan Kroll Sadlowski had a stroke and is slowly improving according to her husband, Ron. Mary Ellen Schneider Backer retired after 38 years in the brokerage business. Five of her eight grandchildren are in college. Once COVID is controlled, she hopes to go to Cancun. She volunteers at a local museum, is on its board and the board of Crisis Connection, an association helping abused women. Theresa “Tracy” Alig Dowling says that with many activities on hold, including travel, she hopes to move them to the front burner. She misses her husband but fortunately has her daughter, son and grandson nearby. Tracy exclaims what most of us feel! “I’ll be 80 this year! How did that happen?” Judith “Judy” Scoggin McManmon escaped the virus and felt having time to read was wonderful. Another saving grace was water aerobics, five days a week. A bright spot was her daughter’s second marriage in September, and the family traveled safely to celebrate. Her husband had two surgeries during isolation but is fine. Margaret McElroy has been busy as a member of the Works of Mercy Committee initiated by her parish three months into COVID-19. Its purpose is to serve elderly and homebound parishioners through such actions as praying, sending cards and notes, conversing via phone, and visiting when possible. Barbara “Barb” Clemento Savino had several classmates in the summer gather at her patio for coffee. Everyone brought her own drink. Anne “Dee” O’Donnell brought muffins. She added it was great to be outside and see Mary Eppig Kelling , Patricia “Pat” Clancy , and Elise Schirmer George . Barb only sees her family for brief visits wearing masks. Anne “Dee” O’Donnell survived COVID in a few small bubbles at home and escaped to the lake in Michigan during the summer. While decluttering, she ran across all the Auroras from our time at The Woods and reread them. She notes, “I’m reminded that we have such talented classmates!” Suzanne “Suzie” Weiers McKay during COVID decided to write her memoir and tell interesting things about growing up. She finished it, had it bound, and gave it to her four grandsons at Christmastime. They asked questions about things she talked about in the memoir. She added, “What a feeling of accomplishment.” Judith “Judy” Briley Richelsen had three graduations in her family and the first grandchild, of twelve, was married. The family had been hoping for a “real” wedding and not a virtual one. Katharine “Katy” Gibson was out of touch for a while but has kept in contact with Elaine Reis . Katy and Walt recently moved into a continuing-care community. She spends time on Zoom for book clubs and classes and is grateful her son and family live in the next town, so they can still visit outdoors. Rosemary Krider Schmid has avoided the virus thanks to her son, a NASA flight surgeon who “haunts” her about following safe practices. She loves to travel so is awaiting the green light. She also would like to start a class Facebook page and is hoping for feedback.

Mary Campbell’s Ignatian Volunteer Corps, book club, friends from work, and choir all met via Zoom. During the virus, she had more time for quiet and reflection, and she made a dent in cleaning her attic. She did some YouTube exercise classes and remains thankful for family, friends, and being retired! Linda Hahus in September had a “Zoom Reunion” with 23 of her “Band,” marking the 60th anniversary of their entrance into the Sisters of Providence, after Linda’s freshman year at The Woods. Usually they meet every five years but Zoom brought others in who have not been in contact for years. Janice “Jan” Gapen Dean spoke with two classmates recently on a Zoom call, Patricia “Pat” Hughes Hartlage, MD , and Julie Johnson Gaughan . Julie is in assisted living after breaking her leg; Pat lives in Georgia and is active and “vibrant.” She adds that Nancy Van Uum Langworthy was hospitalized with COVID but is now home. Kathleen “Boo” Finneran Valle has begun organizing family ancestry information given by her mother years ago. Her sons also asked her to write her life’s memoir and she has begun to outline. She has lost a few friends to COVID, but thankfully, her family has been spared. Finally, George and I spent Thanksgiving alone, at first, but I was recuperating from knee replacement, making the decision easier. We spent Christmas in Chicago, celebrating by social distancing, with our daughter, son and their families. Our five college-age grandchildren studied virtually this year, a challenge that they met quite well. May our notes next time be filled with great health news, lots of new activities, and joyous reunions! It is with sadness that I share the news of the deaths of our classmates: Leonora “Lorrie” Groff Wrona (June 2019); Susan Ross Dahlstrom (June 2020); Carroll Moegling Swope (July 2020); and Joan “Joni” Slobig, SP (August 2020). Susan “Suzz” Maxheim Carter was able to visit her sister Elizabeth “Leas” Maxheim Kamieniecki ’69 in Scottsdale before COVID got too bad. Suzz also managed to get back surgery and has kept busy caring for husband Peter. With any free time, she enjoys Paint by Numbers. Suzz adds, “using a magnifying glass.” Your Classmates, Suzz, offer sympathy on the death of your son, John Miles Carter (June 2019). Frances “Fran” Froehlich is still involved with Poor People United in Boston so as we might expect she shares her concern for the growing numbers of hungry and homeless people. She spends most of the time “hunkered down” and hoping for a better 2021. ’64 Anne Longtine 6613 Quail Ridge Lane Fort Wayne IN 46804-2875 (260) 432-3470 home (260) 450-1228 cell annelongtine2012@gmail.com

survived 2020 with no virus. She promises to get the vaccine as soon as it is available and looks forward to a healthy 2021. Lydia Treadwell Blecksmith writes that she and her husband are fine but “bored out of our minds” as the virus continues. They are sticking to the stay-at-home order and their girls and families are following the same routine. She adds that her sister Louise Treadwell Conlon and her husband are well also. Michelene “Mickey” Barraco McCormick is well and fortunately, no one in her family has contracted the virus. She hopes to get the vaccine as soon as possible and adds that social distancing has been hard on her grandchildren who were not used to inactivity. Holidays were especially hard. Susan “Sue” Wise , while driving to Dallas for a production of “Come from Away,” learned of its cancellation; then “Harvey,” the play she had been rehearsing, was suspended, as was another play, in which she had a bit part. Sue’s new routine, reading all night and sleeping all morning. Patricia Clancy was outdoors spring and summer working in her vegetable garden and areas where she planted Illinois natives under the trees. In the winter she got rid of outdated items, old papers and updated her computer. Her son lives with her and helped with shopping during COVID. Mary Jo Carney Johnson’s son Jim drove from Denver for birthday celebrations and she is looking forward to a visit with her first granddaughter. She walks every day, Zooms with friends and book clubs, works on grants for St. Clare Centre in Meru, Kenya where she visited and taught. Kathleen “Kathy” Ennis Pantinkin fell and broke her femur and had emergency surgery. With physical therapy, she now walks normally. Then in October, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and had surgery. Fortunately, she fully recovered, needing no chemo. Kathy is grateful for so much support, especially her best friend Nano Cloghessy Dubish who was there “every step of the way.” Nano Cloghessy Dubish writes that she misses tutoring the little children and the theatre. She is still doing lots of outdoor activities, hiking, walking in the parks, and pickleball at the YMCA. A few of their family had the virus but so far, nothing serious. Elise Shirmer George’s daughter Emily was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and is undergoing chemo. Elise also had some health problems and was admitted to the hospital with a kidney working only at 20%. A stent was inserted. She also needed carpel tunnel surgery. She asks for prayers. Margaret “Peggy” Buber Mello n wrote a very inspiring letter during COVID that I shared with our class members in a January email. One part is memorable still: “Listening has become our new apostolate. After reading our pope’s new book, I discovered that listening to others can actually be an apostolate! After being married 56 years, we have to admit that it is often harder to listen to each other than it is to a stranger. Yet, there we were together 24 hours a day during COVID! ” Peggy writes that another classmate is in need of our

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