Onyx Anneau Spring 2021

Japan slammed home the extent of this pandemic. She is healthy and staying home! (Sounds like most of our class!) Her activities include yoga, walking and watercolor painting. She hopes the Tokyo Olympics become reality this July and that COVID would “please go away from the earth quickly.” Kathleen “Kathy” Dunne Alexis and Ron continue to do OLLI classes online, bird watching, puzzles, cooking and Netflix movies. Kathy is recovering from hip surgery. One daughter is on leave from American Airlines while the other teaches media (both in-person and online) from Indianapolis. Bill and Carol Burger Schuler are in good health now but had early scares: Carol with mild pneumonia and Bill with a detached retina. I’ll close with a sustaining poem written and shared by Carol: Dear Lord Jesus, On the days when you carry me I lie in your arms – I live in your dreams Your Eternal Hope sustains me I am Your All and Only One, it seems. In return – what is my part? I will try to follow your command As I learned at the start It is with You that I will stand You have my soul, my mind, my heart. Thank you to all who kept us connected by sharing simple events. I’ll keep you informed about Reunion when I receive news. Blessings and love, Mary. barbarahgal@gmail.com ’67 Carolyn “Susie” Shelton Schmidt news from New Albany, Indiana, is like most will be, it has been quite a 2020. She did get the virus in January and was fortunate to have only a mild case. During that, her brother passed away. He was 81 and died of natural causes. To fill her time, she has tried her hand at painting with acrylic paints and doing many crossword puzzles. Alice Margevich Dockus suitemates Barbara “Barb” Marszalek Butvilas , Doris Linne Gross , Sally Wagner Boyd , Barbara “Bobbie” Norton O’Brien have been texting during the COVID restrictions. Her children and grandchildren live close so they are lucky and they have Zoomed with out of State family including her sister, Arlene “Zipp” Margevich Hogan ’74 . Barbara Marszalek Butvilas shares that COVID changed many of us. She contacted several of her classmates, who were dear friends via group text. They have found the tie that binds them, The Woods, is alive and strong in them. They share jokes, vaccine news, prayers and true friendship again. Electronics is not so bad. Marilyn Leerkamp Webb ’99G lives alone with her dog companion, Annie – and she is well, Barbara Gal 9 Ward Ct Lakewood, CO 80228-5026

as is her family. Zoom has brought her together with lots of folks she may never have met without this time of quarantine. The main things that have kept her active are online yoga, attempting new and more difficult quilting projects, and working on new culinary skills. All is good with Barbara “Bobbie” Norton O’Brien . She cancelled a planned trip to Europe in 2020 and is currently taking an online exercise class, walking a lot and texting and Zooming with friends and classmates — good for my physical and mental health. Her great-niece Emma, a fifth member of my family is now at The Woods —Class of 2024. ’68 Marilyn Beckman Ward 8116 Wolf Creek Ct Evansville, IN 47712-7623 812-306-4561 nana68westEv@wowway.com Our hearts were saddened and our prayers go out to the families of Class members Helen Higgins Roe , Kathleen “Kathy” Echle Rice and Barbara Zeller, SP who died in 2019 and 2020. These ladies will be greatly missed. Jim Rice wrote to say that K athleen “Kathy” Echle Rice passed away in September 2020, following heart surgery to replace two valves. “Kathy loved The Woods and her Woods friends,” Jim noted, “always beaming when someone recognized her Woods Ring from across the room.” Leigh Schuster Gallian’s brother Bill died on Veteran’s Day. We are so sorry, Leigh. Cheryl Van Zetten is mourning the loss of her brother, Blair, who passed away from sudden cardiac arrest on Jan. 18, 2021, at age 68. The recent marriage of Ann Stephens Gries to Mike Worralls was uplifting news for all of us Evansville, Indiana gals. Jo Ann Reitz shared progress regarding her sister Diana’s girls. Niece Sarah is working part time at Children’s Hospital in Denver plus training as Nurse Practitioner. Niece Lainie heads to Denver for her “clinicals” in occupational therapy; she also has a chance to further her OT training in Ecuador, South America. Patricia Ryan O’Neill experienced a heart- breaking loss in November. Just as she and Shane began vacation, word came from home that their dog had been attacked by another dog and died. Sweet “Sharona” was irreplaceable. However, we are glad they have welcomed new puppy “Pooky” to help them laugh again. Midge Maroni is close to finishing her new home construction; being in regular contact with her ‘emotional pit crew’ Ellen Morley Matthews and Patricia “PJ” Gubbins Stilz has helped. Midge has made environment-friendly building decisions such as installing a solar-array electric- system. Midge may return to substitute teaching in the fall depending upon the status regarding the pandemic. Ellen Morley Matthews taught a class at an adult services center, Saving Money on Everyday Expenses, and in August 2018 agreed to become business manager for the organization. Ellen

continues to do that work. Ellen is in regular contact with Judith “Judy” Garvey who is keeping very busy with her six grand girls, especially when she helps to provide homeschooling during this pandemic. Christine “Chris” Roenitz started 2020 with lots of volunteering and a Viking cruise down the Amazon River. While on the cruise Chris’s condo received a major face-lift. An avid world traveler, Chris has exceeded her goal of spending at least three days in 100 countries. Chris says that golf and her prayer life have gotten her through some health issues and COVID. Jane O’Brien Argento’s sixth grandchild was born in March 2020, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, where her parents have lived for three years. The pandemic cancelled their trip, disappointing Jane and Phil’s hope to meet Isobel and celebrate Crispin becoming a father. They also long to reunite with their family in Oregon. Patricia “PJ” Gubbins Stilz says “Righting wrongs with written rhymes, It is what I do during these times, A radio show called Twin Spins, In March maybe another begins, There are daily walks at the dog park, With my dog Quinn we so embark.” Kathryn “Kate” Evans Creamer shared that she moved and has a new address. She also has a new grandson, Jimmy Martin, who just turned 5-years-old. Cheryl Van Zetten , we are so sorry for the loss of your brother, Blair. We also sympathize with the damage caused by water leaks and the inconvenience of moving out (eight months!) while it was gutted and repaired! Although COVID interrupted her world travels and wintering in Scottsdale, Arizona, Cheryl plans to catch a plane overseas as soon as the world opens up. After receiving a welcome call from Susan Hajicek Connolly recently, Cheryl says Susan, Midge, Ellene and Chris all hope to attend Reunion in 2023. Marcella “Marci” Hermesdorf, OP , is finishing her last year in the English Department at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois. In March 2020, she learned “online teaching” in ten days and taught two hybrid classes this spring. This last semester, one course has face-to-face teaching--her favorite modality! She volunteers as liturgy planner, lector and Eucharistic minister at her parish. Marci and I agree on our two favorite downtime activities: enjoying book club and binge-watching British TV — especially murder mysteries! Ella Joan Fenoglio confirms that her heart is more efficient and working less hard. She walks 5,000 or 10,000 steps around her neighborhood. Court hearings, environmental meetings and Landmark courses are all online. Her inspiration: seeing adoptive parents giving foster children a forever family. Her travel plans: visiting family in California, her sister Ruthie in Indianapolis and brother Gino in Texas… “And two weeks in Italy!” Mary McBride Knueven and husband Al were spending the winter in Fort Myers, Florida, and reported feeling fine and healthy. However,

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