Onyx Anneau Spring 2021

C L A S S N O T E S Judith Larkin says by the time you read this she will be vaccinated. She lost her Gordon Setter, Micah and has Maisy left. She is in the process of getting a Gordon Setter or a Clumber Spaniel. She is praying for an in-person Reunion. It is heartbreaking to share we lost dear classmates. Gene “Genie” Hogan died of breast cancer Oct. 27, 2020. Rita Osowski Tatum passed away Sept. 6, 2020. May Saint Mother Theodore gather her daughters into her arms. ’73 Barbara Cooney Anderson 13 Naramore Dr Batavia, NY 14020-2725 canders3@rochester.rr.com Greetings from the Class of 1973! We did not get a great response this year — not sure if it was due to the time of year, COVID or if people just forgot, but thanks to all who did respond! Colleen Wade Grady wrote that all was as good as it could be in Arizona. They’re trying to stay well and praying everyone is OK, too. Her granddaughter is a senior in high school. Her daughter and son-in-law live in Carlsbad, California. Son and daughter-in-law are still in Arizona. Colleen is praying for a better 2021 and looking forward to turning 70! Anne Kelly Hanada says all is good in Duluth, Georgia. They got their first grandson, Bradley, in May. His mom is an ICU nurse and dad is a fireman, so Anne and her husband help with childcare. It’s a gift during COVID! She stays busy with SVDP thrift store and is looking forward to a mini reunion with Collette Dick Burke , Cynthia “Cindy” McHugh Sivore , Mary Domke McGrath and Therese Lysaught ’73 in April. Jane Melevin says 2020 put things to a screeching halt. Husband Quin’s daughters are working — one at Target and the other at Edwards Hospital in Naperville, Illinois. They pray for their safety. The Resale Shop where Jane has volunteered for several years was closed until January. She believes 2021 is going to be amazing with celebrations and travel! Judith “Judy” Rodino Harris said 2020 was a very strange year with a lot of confusion and frustration. Travel/vacation plans were cancelled, and the loss of family and friends was great. The good news was they were able to spend time with grandson, Benjamin, and FaceTime weekly! They are still COVID free. And wish everyone well in 2021! Judith “Judy” Mrozowski Halbreich says The Woods Alumni magazine featured the conclusion of her book “The Audacity to Be Divine — A Soul’s Journey Towards Illumination,” published in June and available on Amazon. Judy’s nonprofit is called Home of Champions, a leadership program for foster youth who get to college on their own merit. It’s in New Paltz, New York, and is the former boxing training camp for world heavyweight champions Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali and Ingmar Johanston. Patricia “Pat” Schomer Laas was awaiting the birth of their second grandchild in December. She

says this was a surprise pandemic gift. Pat and Mike are staying healthy. She hits the tennis courts about three times a week and does cycling and yoga to keep busy. Mike is selling his business, so they were looking forward to spending more time together. She sends love to all her fellow Woodsies. Christina “Chris” Collins-Pacifici says she is glad to see the homage to French heritage with the name Onyx Anneau. Chris lives in Bloomington, Indiana. She has been studying Italian since her husband, Caesar, has family in Rome. She has also picked up the guitar again. She had a chance to see Carmen Payne Cameron-Wolfe in Terre Haute before the pandemic. She also saw Patricia “Patty” Kaperak Talen and Ann Prox at their 50th high school reunion. Ann Prox wrote she had a nice vacation in February before COVID. Ann’s father passed away in October 2019 and she spent time getting his affairs in order. After working together for 35 years, his death was a big loss. She and Catherine “Cathy” Purcell Card have kept in touch by phone. She was glad to get back in the pool three times a week in June. As for me, we became grandparents during this pandemic year. Son Curt and Emilie welcomed Liliana Elyse in May, and Ryan and Carissa welcomed Zaiden Joseph in September. We lost my mother in September of natural causes, a month short of her 92nd birthday! As many of you already know, we lost classmate Deborah “Debbie” Rolfes Thaler to pancreatic cancer in May. ’74 Lee Ann Schiller Knapp 7116 Darby Rd Bethesda, MD 20817 lasknapp@gmail.com Such sad, sad news. Two of our classmates have died and it is impossible to summarize their lives and loves and contributions to the world in this small space… The Class of ’74 has planted memorial trees in each of their names through the American Forests Organization. Catherine “Cathy” Avelis Ford died in November 2020 after an 8-year battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband Joe, their daughter Sara, and three granddaughters. Cathy earned an M.Ed. degree from ISU and taught school for five years before beginning her 32-year “dream job” as courtroom deputy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court under Frank J. Otte. Kathleen La Mere Fritz , who fought MS for more than 30 years, died in July 2019. She is survived by husband Tim and son Edward. Kathy, a CPA with an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, had a 25+ year career at Ameritech and SBC and served in the U.S. Army as part of the Tactical Intelligence Unit at Ft. Lewis, Washington, and for 10+ years in the Army Reserve. When she wrote, Deborah “Debbie” Patton Gildea (deb.gildea@gmail.com) was still reeling from the news about Cathy and said her heart was broken. She, Patricia “Pat” Lyman Darnell , and Cathy had remained constant friends. Patricia “Pat” Lyman Darnell (pittyd41@ gmail.com) was sad but felt lucky that she, Debbie,

and Cathy met for lunch the month before Cathy died…“it was a glorious day and we laughed and laughed.” Pat’s three daughters are now grown – one a paralegal, one in sales and one at Purdue. From Collegeville, Pennsylvania, Marie Stein Giancatarino (marielgcat@gmail.com) sent her condolences to all and remembered that she and Cathy “were in The Sound of Music at The Woods when we were around 10.” Marie hopes all classmates stay well during this crazy time. After hearing about Cathy, Maureen Durkin McDonnell (mcdonnell55@sbcglobal.net) sent hugs to all, as did Dawn Tomaszewski, SP (dtomaszewski@spsmw.org). Arlene “Zipp” Margevich Hogan , Deborah “Debbie” Coughlin Morrin (dmorrin@kaseorioncfo.com), Sr. Dawn, Trudy Ayer Mickey and Marjann Shawler Palmer (marjannshawler@gmail.com) also sent condolences and fond memories of Kathleen “Kathy” La Mere Fritz . Colleen Dominik Schultz (colleenschultz6@ icloud.com) is staying home and staying safe, looking forward to being able to travel and see her grandkids in Maryland and Texas. She also hopes everyone is well. It has been a slow year for Susan Mayer Faucett (susan.faucett@yahoo.com), although she and Bruce are doing well. They have been homeschooling their grandson — a sixth grader — during the pandemic. Paula Allegra (pallegra@stuartkane.com) is happy to be working during the pandemic and looking forward to a better year. She is craving some type of normalcy and wants to get out and see the world! Our sympathy on the loss of her brother-in-law to COVID-19. Gilda Gomez Collins (gdc1992@yahoo.com) and her family are doing great. They are being very careful and still enjoying their favorite outdoor activities — including tennis, golf, pickleball and boating. She sends best wishes to all and hopes everyone stays healthy. Congrats to Caroline Myss (carolinemyss@ gmail.com) on the release of another book in September 2020: Intimate Conversations with the Divine: Prayer, Guidance and Grace. Due to COVID-19, she has been unable to continue teaching abroad, so is concentrating on online education. Friends and family have kept her sane through the pandemic. In February 2020, Carol Elledge Eads (caroljeads@gmail.com) visited Cheryl Erazmus Freeman in Phoenix with Mary Clare Fox Dibb , Diana Vasquez Kesheimer and Lynn Moore Delehanty . She also visited with Linda Weigand Tanoos last summer. When home, Carol babysits her 6-year-old great nephew. She wants everyone to stay safe! Cheryl Erazmus Freeman (soomantha@gmail. com) enjoyed the SMWC ladies visit to Arizona --- lots of wine and laughs. Sons Dan and Adam and their families also visited for a week pre-pandemic. Cheryl and Dave had a quiet (unusual!) summer in Wisconsin. Congrats to Cheryl, the newest SMWC Alumni Board Member! The pandemic has given Mary Clare Fox Dibb

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