Onyx Anneau Spring 2021

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!

years of Bones. She abandoned the TV to read The Silent Patient and joined an online group to study the Old Testament prophets. She comments that Daniel was a remarkable man. Margaret “PK” Kelly Deputy is going nowhere. Fortunately, she has a hobby that she loves: cross- stitching. PK did not share, but some of us are in the know. PK is turning into quite the photographer, using her back porch to get marvelous pictures of the lake’s sunrises and sunsets. Barbara “Babs” Reder, SP has moved to Providence Hall at The Woods where she is Minister of Care for Providence Health Care. She is really enjoying visiting with the sisters and others on campus when not under quarantine! Rachel Eberle Ambrose had her short family trip back to Indiana turn into a month when COVID made traveling home a problem. She has been “Zooming” to stay connected with various discussion groups. She won tickets to “Hamilton” and took off for San Francisco and front row seats. Beverly “Bev” Snyder Thompson provided news of grandsons and not being able to share their magic moments: one, a college baseball pitcher and the other is missing his college graduation ceremony. She had son Brett and daughter Jill with her for Christmas and then traveled to New Orleans with Jill. Margaret Ann Mathews O’Neill and Patrick are a little bored not being able to travel. Now they have time to travel and cannot go anywhere. Big outings are to the store. Zoom visits with the grandchildren are now real treasures. Constance “Connie” Kramer, SP is using our COVID pandemic to slow down by being more reflective but also to hone her technology skills, using webinars on Zoom. Her spiritual direction and grief ministry continue to grow but retreats for homeless women have been put on hold for safety reasons. Lois Fenlon Brinkman is grateful to be able to continue to do a bit of spiritual direction at retreats and on her back porch! A scaled down outdoor wedding for a granddaughter was the highlight of the summer. A trip to northern Michigan with Michael provided “enough beauty to sooth the heart.” Marcia Zeeck Spranger loves her weekly Zoom visits with Marianne Lautner Jones , Gloria “Gigi” Wegman Coen , and Stella “Sally” Cratty Bryant . Marcia shared a haiku written by one of her Braille students. Two recent falls and arthritis have slowed her down a bit, but then she moves into high gear and overdoes it, and never misses taking their dogs for a morning walk. Marianne Lautner Jones said her hair is going gray and long; projects are started and then abandoned until motivation recurs. She crochets prayer shawls and cooks more creatively. Family and friends are voices on the phone and faces on Zoom. But she and Tom have loved ones and friends to care about. Gloria “Gigi” Wegman Coen shared the trip to Russia that she and Jerry would have done but got cancelled. They enjoyed a “socially distanced” get together with Gigi’s family at Thanksgiving. Gigi is now able to attend Mass and even lector but is sad

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

’64 Anne Longtine

6613 Quail Ridge Lane Fort Wayne IN 46804-2875 (260) 432-3470 home (260) 450-1228 cell annelongtine2012@gmail.com

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. Tamar “Tami” Bassett Greenwell misses being with her family but keeps busy volunteering at a thrift store and a hospice. She fills the rest of the time with crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and “oodles of reading.” She is grateful for the beauty of nature in Homer, Alaska. Gretchen Stipher Cain and Jim have sold their home of 42 years and moved into a condominium. Daughter Mary Clare and family bought their home and are living in the home she was born and raised. Gretchen calls this “a real fairy tale.” Therese “Terri” Grein Bivona is busy taking online advanced art classes in colored pencil art photorealism. She and Mark are doing more walking outdoors but also watching lots of documentaries. Terri’s second carpal tunnel surgery has relieved lots of pain. Carolyn Bossman Conniff found new ways to enjoy life: Now she has discovered making candy, followed by making quick breads, followed by making “jump rings” and using them to make different kinds of chains. Now her creativity is used to sew masks for herself and friends! Mary Ann Kelly Hellmann keeps busy cleaning out closets and drawers, doing lots of reading and getting caught up on TV series. Susan “Sue” Fanizani ’20, our Woods graduate from Africa who lives with them, is studying for her MCAT. Mary Ann treasures the time to call friends and family. Terese “Terry” Robinson Herrera has loved binge watching The Queen’s Gambit and all the

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