Onyx Anneau Spring 2021

of needlepoint and a quilt, so the time has been somewhat productive. Mary Anne and her husband Alan skipped going to Cape May, New Jersey last summer and really missed seeing Margaret “Margie” Hanson Sleght . Mary Anne commented that she “misses all our people, going to Reunion took us right back and it seemed like no time had passed. It was so great!” Kathleen “Kathy” Shine Wright noted that 2020 was certainly different from any other year she had experienced. The entire family did travel to upstate New York for a week in a beautiful cottage on Keuka Lake. The retreat house where Kathy volunteers was closed until the beginning of the year, but thankfully, she is back each Wednesday now as the seniors from several of the Catholic high schools in Indianapolis area have their retreats. Her Bible study group has continued to meet (socially distancing) since last fall. Mary Fran Roberts Bennett and her husband Richard had a wonderful trip to Egypt at the end of January 2020, and since then have quarantined. Their daughter, Nicole, is on the front lines at IU Health and their son Robert is working from home in Seattle. Zoom calls keep them connected and everyone is well. Mary Kay Campbell Watson and husband Al sold their Maryland home in July and are now full time Florida residents. They are working on getting their vaccines. They were able to spend the holidays with the families of Donna Eichmuller Liszewski and her sister Susan Eichmuller Hamilton ’66, ’90G . They have returned to the Board of Trustees. Mary Kay continues to support the AARP as a tax preparer, although in a socially distant format this season. Patricia “Pat” Bihl-Miranda took advantage of the down time to have both knees replaced. Not being able to garden sealed the decision. She said the process was relatively easy and recommends it for anyone considering the procedures. The only downside was the amount of time needed for physical therapy. Her three children had a challenging time keeping their businesses going while dealing with the opening/closing of schools and daycare. Unfortunately, all her husband Fernando’s overseas trips were cancelled. Karen Erazmus McNeal and husband David are both still teaching college classes as their “retirement” careers with everything has been virtual or strictly on-line. In August, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their family by renewing their vows in church where they were married. In January 2020, they were able to take a nice cruise, but after that all their cruises were cancelled. Their daughter, Karleen McNeal ’92 and son- in-law Erlandas, as physicians, were both involved in caring for COVID-19 patients. Luckily, the family stayed safe. Catherine “Cathie” Rodefer died of congestive heart failure in Salisbury, Maryland, on Feb. 21. Cathie was always among the first to encourage classmates to attend each Reunion. She taught chemistry from middle school through college, served as director of continuing education at The

Woods for eight years and traveled the country for Johns Hopkins University’s Success for All program for curriculum reform. She visited at least 30 countries, 26 islands, and 18 national parks. The islands included Puerto Rico, where Cathie greatly enjoyed the hospitality of Norma Valle Ferrer , her Woods roommate. Norma Valle Ferrer , Judith “Judy” Curtin , and Joan Wylie Hall all spoke with Cathie in the month before her death. She was as enthusiastic as always about The Woods, already looking ahead to the next Reunion. On each visit to campus, Cathie spent time with her beloved Sisters of Providence, among them Ruth Eileen Dwyer, SP, ’60 , Alexa Suelzer, SP, ’39 , and William Eyke, SP, for as long as they lived. Cathie is survived by her brother, Dale Rodefer; her sister-in-law, Susan Rodefer; and by hundreds of Woods friends. To help us keep in touch, please let me know if you change your e-mail address or move. Several of the addresses I have are invalid, so if you have not received any of my emails in a while, please check to see if I have your correct contact information. My e-mail address is karen.mcneal@ comcast.net. Think about the fun we’ve had together making and sharing memories and consider celebrating together again as we turn 75 in 2022. Greetings to all our SMWC classmates! We survived 2020 and are hoping 2021 would have us turning the corner. Many of us have struggled in the absence of time with family and friends. I have to admit I have reminded a few friends with the words, “Welcome to my world!” With one daughter in California and the other in Sydney we had not seen either since February 2020. After three cancelled trips to Sydney since the onset of COVID-19, we are here to meet our second grandson, Harry Max! He is adorable. David and I are well, as are our girls, Michele, Lee and David in California. Maureen and Jamie are new parents to Harry. I celebrated my 47- year anniversary of my first arrival in Australia in February. I have no regrets with that decision. Marilyn Foley Stephen reports she and Scott are moving from Madison, Wisconsin, back to Michigan in March to be closer to family, which includes three little boys ages 6, 4 and 2. They have loved Madison, but the pandemic reminded them that family always comes first. Marilyn is hoping to see everyone at our next reunion. Jean Marcellus Ferrone is grateful her son lives within an hour’s drive, although they haven’t seen them much! They have three grandsons — Riley is finishing his sophomore year at Illinois State. Jack will graduate in May and is headed to Mississippi State and Devin is finishing his junior year in high school. We are ready to travel again. We hope to see everyone soon! Martha Crane reports there are two engagements and a wedding this year. Her son ’70 Karen Kelly Kiss 3 Highview Court Wandana Heights Victoria, Australia 3216 kkiss@iinet.net.au

Alfonso will be married in August in Seattle. Luis is engaged but has no date set yet. Martha enjoyed Christmas with Simon. Elena and family are well in Spain. Martha is ready to travel. She thanks God for family, friends and her good health. She is still hiking. Mary Beth Rennels Strassel believes she and Ray are blessed their family are now living in their area. Pre-COVID-19, Jeanie Reime Heller and Mary Beth roomed together at the SMWC guesthouse to plan our 50th Reunion. Joining them were Barbara “Barb” Brugnaux , Maureen Deaver Purcell , Kathryn “Kathy” Kinley Roller , Mary Ellen Clark Kogge , and Nancy Voll Pietrangeli . It was fun to see everyone before everything closed. Life is good and technology keeps her in touch with Carolyn Gallogly , Julie Leek Sullivan , and Mary Pat Slevin Haley . In these strange times, “words of wisdom” from Carmen Hansen Rivera “Living during times of COVID-19, the big news is no news! Hope everyone is well, free of COVID! Mary Teresa “Tris” Terhorst Atkinson and her husband, John, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary! They got their COVID shots. They have loved living in Cleveland for more than 25 years... except for when winter hit. They have both retired and only work part-time to keep busy. Soon they will again visit with their four grandsons. Stay well and happy everyone. Maureen Deaver Purcell reports her daughter Anne who worked in Chicago moved back to Indianapolis. She was in the Chicago Tribune about young people who have moved home because of the pandemic. Sarah lives in England with their two granddaughters. They are double-vaccinated, well-read and writing daily. She would like to say “we cannot wait” but we must wait. Fingers crossed for more Zooms and pray for hugs. Pam Preisser Olin has had a rough year. Her husband, Rick had a heart attack in February. Since, they have had six ambulance rides, seven hospitalizations, a pacemaker and other cardiac procedures. They celebrated a wonderful 50th anniversary with 22 family members... and 16 of them together for Christmas/New Years! In the absence of Reunion, it was great to see classmates on Zoom. MaryBeth Rennells we better plan another one! Mary Elizabeth “Marybeth” Usher has been pretty stationary for the last year. Like Belen she has been vaccinated. She retired and has thoroughly enjoyed retirement and has not looked back. She has also found it fun reconnecting with classmates on Facebook and email. She has found our Facebook SMW ’66-’70 page. The Zoom sessions Marybeth arranged were amazing. Kathryn Kinley Roller has had a personal experience, regrettably with COVID, unfortunately. While they, like all of us, tried to avoid it, both Bob and Kathy both came down with it at Christmas time. She is fine now, but Bob is still recovering. Instead, they celebrated “Christmas 2.0” at their house on Jan. 31! Ruth Dilger Kelly felt in these times the need to connect. One each missed Confirmation,

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