Class of 1954

Dear Class of 1954,

An email from Catherine Dawson succinctly answered our question about how you lived out 2020: “No cinema, no concerts, no grandkids’ graduations.  More reading, more praying, more sleeping!” Many of you echoed her words, with a few twists.

Anne Carusone Landry looked at the year 2020 with gratitude- grateful for more time with her one and only grandson and his mother, her only daughter.  But apart from that blessing, she washed her curtains twice and painted the wrought iron furniture on her antique oriental carpet, and listed other cleaning and painting and yardwork projects as pandemic activities.

Pat Smith Daley notes what a challenging year it has been, but that she has been supported by a son and daughter living in the area and celebrated her 89th birthday in February at an Irish pub with her daughter and grandson.   She is grateful to still be living in her house but misses daily Mass and coffee with friends afterwards.  A granddaughter was married in Tampa in October and through the wonders of livestream she was able to watch the ceremony. A great sadness was the loss of a son-in-law to lung and bone cancer.

Peggy Inglesby Greenslade, too, is grateful to have three of their four children living within an hour’s drive and for a new great-granddaughter born on January 30, 2021 – a gift following 2020 – bringing their great grandchildren to a total of three.  She and her husband go to Mass in the parish church three times a week, preferring that to watching Mass virtually.  Church attendance along with shopping for seniors at a local grocery store in the 7-8 am timeframe has helped them maneuver through 2020.

Peg Malone Fisher enjoys life in Kure Beach where she walks most days and is grateful for the children and grandchildren who visit often.  The library has remained open so she, like most of us, filled the year with reading.  What Peg misses is her volunteer work at the library and at nursing homes.  She has three weddings which were postponed from last year and is looking forward to them along with the arrival of a fifth great grandchild in March.  She was hoping for a St. Patrick’s Day baby.

Marcia Mazzuchi Shannon found a new meaning for peace in these pandemic months with fewer pressures and the incorporation of technology in our lives:  telephone appointments replacing clinic visits; committee meetings and exercise classes accessed via Zoom; streaming theater and concerts. “In short, there is time to think, to reflect, to place our inner lives in order and all from one place:  Home. What pleases us most are the small acts of kindness:  younger friend’s grocery shopping for us; Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners delivered; a telephone call asking ‘How are you doing?’”  The highlight of 2020 for Marcia and her husband was the celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary on New Year’s Eve.  “Locked down, but undaunted, we loaded several cases of bubbly in a condo shopping cart (John in his dad’s 85-year-old tux and me in my best) and went up and down the floors of our building, knocking on doors and inviting friends to join us in a virtual toast later that evening.  It was the best party we ever gave, capped by a family Zoom celebration.”

Celia Geoghan Scully, after living in Reno, Nevada for nearly 50 years – many of those as a non-fiction writer – moved to a senior living complex in Boise, Idaho, to be closer to her daughter and family.  She was surprised to find a vibrant arts community in Boise.  Since Ceila had begun writing poetry the year before, it was a gift to find poetry workshops, readings and noted guest speakers within a five-mile radius.  A bright spot in 2020 was receiving recognition for two of her poems from Idaho’s two literary organizations.  Celia keeps in touch with Helen Brady Crowley, but has lost touch with other classmates and would love to hear from any, especially that writing poetry. 2020 marked the end of a multi-year research project for Pat Cardamone Guida, in which she documented the life of Levin Still and his wife Sidney/Charity in Caroline County, Md., where both were enslaved. Levin was given his freedom, but Sidney took matters into her own hands and escaped to New Jersey where the family grew and prospered.  Pat continues to do research for the Caroline County Historical Society from her home in Pottstown, PA where she now lives in spacious apartment which is a five-minute walk from a son, his wife and the youngest “Mumsi” child, Victor.  Pat’s other children are scattered about in America and Germany.  She sends love to all the “Trinity ladies and sweet remembrance of those we have lost.   We may be the only true ladies left.  I wince at the mangled womanhood of the net and the telly.”

Sis Heffernan Shay, after ten long months of doctor’s visits, is on the mend and is moving to a senior living facility close to her youngest son Joe.  Her other six children are scattered all over the country and Sis hopes that with the Covid vaccinations she will be able to travel to see them. She keeps in touch with Ann Hayes Cleary who lives in California. 2020 saw a move for back North for Jean Hurley Bernhart who wrote that after 22 years in Florida it was a shock to watch 18 inches of snow pile up on her patio. Jean has a new great granddaughter born in Tyler, TX, and after the second vaccination, she plans to travel to meet her.  Jean plays bridge online, which was a wonderful activity during 2020.  “Finally, all those hours in the smoker at Trinity are paying off.”

Also moving soon is Sr. Benedicta Change who will be leaving the Sisters of Notre Dame residence in Stevenson, MD, for their residence in Cincinnati.

Nancy Crecca Schaefer “moved” during 2020 for five months.  Her children wanted her out “of the big city” so she stayed in Frederick, MD with her son Henry and his wife Beth for three months, then her son-in-law Rich drove down from New Hampshire in his orange pickup truck and took her to Concord where she remained with daughter Susan and Rich for another two months. “I really enjoyed living with them since living alone in an apartment can get very boring.  Now that I have the two shots social life is improving daily.”  Nancy volunteers one day a week at the Christ Child Opportunity shop in D.C. Like Nancy, Eileen Denney McLaughlin lived with her son John during the early days of the pandemic and now resides at Gwynedd Estates in Ambler, PA, where she is able to enjoy frequent visits from her family. Other classmates commented on activities that helped them cope with the pandemic.

Ann Horbett Groshek enjoyed short hikes with friends during the year and did occasional workouts at her gym in spite of having to wear masks, which cut down on the air. Like most of us, reading was an important part of life during 2020. Having had two vaccinations, she plans to attend her granddaughter’s wedding in July.

Judy Ryther Macher continues her “one of a kind necklace business” and recently was asked to be at the Carmelites church basement two weekends in a row, which netted $1200 for the Carmelites. With two vaccinations she is ready to return to a lifestyle which will let her and Helen Crowley Brady enjoy lunch in New York again.

Maureen (Pudgy) Malone Quine lost her husband Bob in July who died at a nursing home five minutes away. She was with Bob at the end but due to covid restrictions had only seen him once since last March.  There was no funeral and Maureen missed “all the rituals that make grieving a little bearable.”  Her family keeps growing with nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren and two more on the way.  Covid restrictions have prevented Maureen from tutoring at the prison and she misses that greatly.

Ellen Daley Prokop’s grandson Matthew was involved in a horrendous car accident which resulted in severe brain damage.  After spending 104 days in two separate hospitals, he was released, followed by months of therapy. He was able to return to college this semester.  “Our walking miracle.”  Shortly after his accident, Ellen fell and wound up with a compression fracture in her spine.  After months of wearing a brace, she is back to “normal – whatever that is.” Her husband Mike celebrated his 90th birthday with a drive-by party arranged by one of their granddaughters – complete with a local fire truck and neighbors waving balloons.

Mary Margaret Collins O’Brien wrote that in addition to being the year of the pandemic, for her it was the year of the “Bionic Woman”.  She acquired a new hip in February and had already had both knees replaced.  One of the highlights of her recuperation following the hip surgery was a thick envelope of get-well letters from her daughter’s third grade class.

Mary Curtin Smith is recovering with physical therapy for a leg which she broke before Thanksgiving.  Mary is grateful that her daughter lives a few doors down the street from her.

Annette:  Also, had 2020 compounded with health issues.  In March I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and was treated with chemo for six months.  My children quarantined themselves and one of them was with me for each treatment. Prior to the final chemo treatment, while visiting with my son Brian and daughter- in- law at the summer home in St Michaels, MD, I experienced severe abdominal pain and had emergency surgery at a hospital in Easton, MD where I spent two weeks in recovery. The chemo had caused a perforation of the small intestine which necessitated the surgical procedure.   A PET scan in December showed that I am free of cancer – a great Christmas gift.  Happily, I can now resume volunteer work with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps and with the Care for Our Common Home team in our parish where we work at the parish level and with other parishes in the diocese in activities in response to the papal encyclical “Laudato Si’”.

Ruthann here!  Major kudos to Annette for taking on this fun but challenging job.  Due to vision issues I no longer drive but with my three morning a week caregiver and much family support from six of the eight in the area and two in NC, I’ve managed to stay in my little house.  I’ve discovered audio books, local reading sources and daily Mass from Toronto.  I was able to get Easter Mass and reveled in the liturgy, flowers and music.  Zoom book club and a prayer group also help my outreach ministry.  I am hiring my techie granddaughter to get me started with Gmail and will continue to send out occasional blasts.  (Pat Daley gets the super sleuth award for dedication in tracking all your “greenies”.) Peace and good health be with you dearest friends.  God is good!

In Memoriam:  

Dorothy Brown, Gloria (Ditto) Ford, Helen May, Mary Ann Paganelli, Hope Savage, Connie Sippel

May they live in the presence of the Trinity eternally.

An email from Catherine Dawson succinctly answered our question about how you lived out 2020:  “No cinema, no concerts, no grandkids’ graduations.  More reading, more praying, more sleeping!” Many of you echoed her words, with a few twists.

Anne Carusone Landry looked at the year 2020 with gratitude. Grateful for more time with her one and only grandson and his mother, her only daughter. Apart from that blessing, she washed her curtains twice, painted the wrought iron furniture on her antique oriental carpet, and listed other cleaning and painting and yardwork projects as pandemic activities. Pat Smith Daley notes what a challenging year it has been, but that she has been supported by a son and daughter living in the area and celebrated her 89^th birthday in February at an Irish pub with her daughter and grandson. She is grateful to still be living in her house but misses daily Mass and coffee with friends afterwards. A granddaughter was married in Tampa in October and through the wonders of livestream she was able to watch the ceremony. A great sadness was the loss of a son-in-law to lung and bone cancer. Margaret “Peggy” Inglesby Greenslade, too, is grateful to have three of their four children living within an hour’s drive and for a new great-granddaughter born on January 30, 2021 – a gift following 2020 – bringing their great grandchildren to a total of three. She and her husband go to Mass in the parish church three times a week, preferring that to watching Mass virtually. Church attendance along with shopping for seniors at a local grocery store has helped them maneuver through 2020. Margaret “Peg” Malone Fisher enjoys life in Kure Beach where she walks most days and is grateful for the children and grandchildren who visit often. The library has remained open so she, like most of us, filled the year with reading.  What Peg misses is her volunteer work at the library and at nursing homes.  She has three weddings which were postponed from last year and is looking forward to them along with the arrival of a fifth great grandchild in March. She was hoping for a St. Patrick’s Day baby.

Marcia Mazzuchi Shannon found a new meaning for peace in these pandemic months with fewer pressures and the incorporation of technology in our lives. Telephone appointments replacing clinic visits, committee meetings and exercise classes accessed via Zoom, and streaming theater and concerts. “In short, there is time to think, to reflect, to place our inner lives in order and all from one place, Home. What pleases us most are the small acts of kindness. Younger friends grocery shopping for us, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners delivered, a telephone call asking ‘How are you doing?’”. The highlight of 2020 for Marcia and her husband was the celebration of their 60 year wedding anniversary on New Year’s Eve. “Locked down, but undaunted, we loaded several cases of bubbly in a condo shopping cart (John in his dad’s 85 year old tux and me in my best) and went up and down the floors of our building, knocking on doors and inviting friends to join us in a virtual toast later that evening. It was the best party we ever gave, capped by a family Zoom celebration.”

Marcia Mazzuchi Shannon and her
husband celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary

Changes marked the year for others. Celia Geoghan Scully, after living in Reno, Nevada for nearly 50 years, many of those as a non-fiction writer, moved to a senior living complex in Boise, Idaho, to be closer to her daughter and family. She was surprised to find a vibrant arts community in Boise. Since Ceila had begun writing poetry the year before, it was a gift to find poetry workshops, readings and noted guest speakers within a five mile radius. A bright spot in 2020 was receiving recognition for two of her poems from Idaho’s two literary organizations. Celia keeps in touch with Helen Brady Crowley, but has lost touch with other classmates and would love to hear from any, especially those writing poetry. You can reach Celia at  dangaplus@gmail.com.

2020 marked the end of a multi-year research project for Patricia “Pat” Cardamone Guida, in which she documented the life of Levin Still and his wife Sidney Charity in Caroline County, MD, where both were enslaved. Levin was given his freedom, but Sidney took matters into her own hands and escaped to New Jersey where the family grew and prospered. Pat continues to do research for the Caroline County Historical Society from her home in Pottstown, PA where she now lives in a spacious apartment. It is a five minute walk from a son, his wife and the youngest “Mumsi” child, Victor. Pat’s other children are scattered about in America and Germany. She sends love to all the “Trinity ladies and sweet remembrance of those we have lost. We may be the only true ladies left. I wince at the mangled womanhood of the net and the telly.”

Elizabeth “Sis” Heffernan Shay, after ten long months of doctor’s visits, is on the mend and is moving to a senior living facility close to her youngest son, Joe. Her other six children are scattered all over the country and Sis hopes that with the COVID vaccinations she will be able to travel to see them. She keeps in touch with Anne Hayes Cleary who lives in California.

2020 saw a move for back north for Jean Hurley Bernhart who wrote that after 22 years in Florida, it was a shock to watch 18 inches of snow pile up on her patio. Jean has a new great granddaughter born in Tyler, TX and after the second vaccination she plans to travel to meet her. Jean plays bridge online, which was a wonderful activity during 2020. “Finally, all those hours in the smoker at Trinity are paying off.”  Also moving soon is Sr. Benedicta E. Chang, who will be leaving the Sisters of Notre Dame residence in Stevenson, MD for their residence in Cincinnati.

Nancy Crecca Schaefer “moved” during 2020 for five months. Her children wanted her out “of the big city” so she stayed in Frederick, MD with her son Henry and his wife Beth for three months. Then her son-in-law Rich drove down from New Hampshire in his orange pickup truck and took her to Concord where she remained with daughter Susan and Rich for another two months. “I really enjoyed living with them since living alone in an apartment can get very boring. Now that I have the two shots, social life is improving daily.”  Nancy volunteers one day a week at the Christ Child Opportunity shop in DC. Like Nancy, Eileen Denney McLaughlin lived with her son John during the early days of the pandemic and now resides in Ambler, PA where she is able to enjoy frequent visits from her family.

Other classmates commented on activities that helped them cope with the pandemic. Ann Horbett Groshek enjoyed short hikes with friends during the year and did occasional workouts at her gym in spite of having to wear masks. Like most of us, reading was an important part of life during 2020. Having had two vaccinations she plans to attend her granddaughter’s wedding in July. Julia “Judy” Ryther Macher continues her “one of a kind necklace business” and recently was asked to be at the Carmelites church basement two weekends in a row, which netted $1200 for the Carmelites. With two vaccinations, she is ready to return to a lifestyle which will let her and Helen Brady Crowley enjoy lunch in New York again.

In addition to the pandemic, the year brought other difficulties and challenges to some.  Maureen “Pudgy” Malone Quine lost her husband Bob in July who died at a nursing home five minutes away. She was with Bob at the end but due to COVID restrictions, she had only seen him once since last March. There was no funeral and Maureen missed “all the rituals that make grieving a little bearable.”  Her family keeps growing with nine grandchildren, three great grandchildren and two more on the way. COVID restrictions have prevented Maureen from tutoring at the prison and she misses that greatly.

Health concerns, apart from the coronavirus, dominated the year for others. Ellen Daley Prokop’s grandson Matthew was involved in a horrendous car accident which resulted in severe brain damage. After spending 104 days in two separate hospitals, he was released, followed by months of therapy. He was able to return to college this semester.  “Our walking miracle.” Shortly after his accident, Ellen fell and wound up with a compression fracture in her spine. After months of wearing a brace, she is back to “normal, whatever that is.” Her husband Mike celebrated his 90^th birthday with a drive-by party arranged by one of their granddaughters complete with a local fire truck and neighbors waving balloons. Margaret Mary Collins O’Brien, wrote that in addition to being the year of the pandemic, for her it was the year of the “bionic woman”. She acquired a new hip in February and had already had both knees replaced.  One of the highlights of her recuperation following the hip surgery was a thick envelope of get well letters from her daughter’s third grade class. Mary Curtin Smith is recovering with physical therapy for a leg which she broke before Thanksgiving. Mary is grateful that her daughter lives a few doors down the street from her.

I, Annette Pieslak Kane, have also had 2020 compounded with health issues. In March, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma and was treated with chemo for six months. My children quarantined themselves and one of them was with me for each treatment. Prior to the final chemo treatment, while visiting with my son Brian and daughter-in-law at the summer home in St Michaels, MD,  I experienced severe abdominal pain and had emergency surgery at a hospital in Easton, MD where I spent two weeks in recovery. The chemo had caused a perforation of the small intestine which necessitated the surgical procedure. A PET scan in December showed that I am free of cancer, a great Christmas gift. Happily, I can now resume volunteer work with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps and with the Care for Our Common Home team in our parish where we work at the parish level and with other parishes in the diocese in activities in response to the papal encyclical “Laudato Si’”.

Ruthann Twomey Arnsberger here!  Major kudos to Annette for taking on this fun but challenging job. Due to vision issues, I no longer drive but with my three day a week morning caregiver, and much family support from six of the eight in the area and two in NC, I’ve managed to stay in my little house. I’ve discovered audio books, local reading sources and daily Mass from Toronto. I was able to get Easter Mass and reveled in the liturgy, flowers and music. Zoom book club and a prayer group also help my outreach ministry. I am hiring my techie granddaughter to get me started with gmail and will continue to send out occasional blasts. (Patricia “Pat” Smith Daley gets the super sleuth award for dedication in tracking all you “greenies”.) Peace and good health be with you dearest friends. God is good!

Annette Kane provided and update on June 16th that Ruthann Arnsberger has passed. May we remember her amazing spirit and heart.

Ruthann Twomey Arnsberger and Annette Pieslak Kane

In Memoriam:  Dorothy Elizabeth Brown Bundschuh, Gloria “Ditto” Ford Murphy, Helen O’Neill May, Mary Ann Paganelli Lee, Hope Savage Crawley, and Carolyn “Connie” Sippel Daugherty.

May they live in the presence of the Trinity eternally.

Dear Best Friends of the Green,

Our request for challenges and growth over the past year seems to have resulted in many health challenges as we mark our 85th year.

Ann Horbett Groshek still manages her hikes, but confesses to being happy she is still vertical. She keeps her mind sharp with book club and Sudoku. Pat Keeler Bader enjoys her new condo, but has had to resign herself to using a cane and not being able to get into NYC for theater and volunteering at the Met. Gloria “Ditto” Ford Murphy and George have had a bad health year with too many hospital stays, but are now on a walker and cane respectively and moving along.

We have lost three of our own this past year: our class president Alice Dargan Clark, Kay Hickey Lauler and Cathy Clony McGoldrick. We fondly remember Alice’s leadership of our class, Kay’s devotion to the Sodality and Cathy’s beautiful smile and many kindnesses to all. May they Rest in Peace. Drink ’em Down!

Pat Smith Daley speaks of her greatest challenge as being the death of husband Mick in October. He was buried with full military honors, flag draped, horse-drawn caisson and all, at Arlington Cemetery in February. Her thought for all of us. “May the power, wisdom and love make us Trinity strong.” Irma Fiol Alvarez continues to take care of beloved husband Tito, and as far as growth is concerned, “I am shrinking with age!”

Sister Benedicta Chang, SND, tells us that Pat Sullivan Wilson is also grieving for her husband Chris, as well as Mary Curtin Smith for Bernie. Sister Benedicta had a lovely lunch with Mary and Connie Sippel Daugherty who lives in the Baltimore area.

We have some still very active classmates also. Mary McLaughlin Bedard rides her beloved horse, Missy, for an hour three to four days a week. She also brushes and grooms her and she is the light of her life, aside from her sports-minded grandchildren, of course. Mary continues her weekly visits to a local nursing home. Nancy Thompson Jackson notes that she and Jim are in good health, though not as vigorous. As she wrote, though, he was just off to go skiing.

Judy Ryther Majcher continues with her jewelry business and was off for a 50th anniversary cruise in Australia and New Zealand. Ellen Daly Prokop keeps busy with family visits, her music, and books. Carol Aiken Preece enjoys bragging about her five great grands – all through her daughter’s line.

The DC local greens, Pat Daley, MM O’Brien, Jean Connell, Annette Kane, Nancy Crecca Schaefer, Anne Landry, Barbara Bemis Sullivan, Ruthann Arnsberger and guest Helen O’Neill May met at the Irish Inn to toast our long friendships. Helen May had us roaring at her tales of the residents at the retired citizens home where she now lives. It has been a difficult year for Helen moving from much loved DC area to Richmond to be near family. She eventually realized she had to learn her way around, make friends and get active. She has found 20 good Catholic friends who enjoy each other’s company and she is happy now with the community at Cedarfield.

Nancy Schaefer has moved to a centrally located high rise in northwest DC. She and Barbara Sullivan still volunteer at the Christ Child Society Opportunity Shop in Georgetown. Barbara enjoys her book club, as do many other respondents.

Dottie O’Brien Meisenzahl and husband continue to enjoy life in an independent living residence and she helps husband Bill with his memory issues. Children and grandchildren living nearby are an added bonus. A beautiful email came from Larry Kinch, husband of Sue Upthegrove Kinch, which tells of Sue in a nursing home. He reads all of our Trinity emails to her and she seems to enjoy them.

Roseanne Flaherty Madden says so many body parts not working well, so she calls this their armchair year. However, they are still managing to physically work in appropriate ways. They especially enjoyed watching the Olympic curling competitions from their armchairs, being long time enthusiasts of the sport. Peggy Inglesby Greenslade also noted slowing down to help husband Johnny more, but she continues to volunteer at Open Arms, an ecumenical group consisting of many local church volunteers who provide support and aid in many ways as an alternative to abortion.

We still have many other active volunteers such as Anne Carusone Landry, who has just completed a 14 year stint with St. Jude’s Hospital Gala, preceded by many years of volunteering with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Anne was in charge of procuring auction items. She asks that you remember in your prayers her son Jimmy, who is in need of a heart transplant.

Maureen “Pudgy” Malone Quine continues with her prison ministry, helping the inmates work toward high school diplomas. She is also an advocate for more education for the prisoners, but calls it an uphill battle and a real challenge.

Hope Savage Crawley still does her weekly volunteer work at the Salvation Army overseeing showers for the homeless and visiting with them, as well. She is also at the YMCA frequently exercising as it is important for her medical care.

Anne Denison Morgan DeAcetis, despite her blindness, wrote a beautiful email about the challenges of being the very senior member of the search committee for her Episcopal church to find a new rector. Anne helped go through 50 applicants’ resumes, winnowing it down to three. From there, the committee visited each of the finalist’s parishes, and then had the candidates visit their church to meet the parishioners. Anne was happy with their ultimate selection.

Margaret Mary Collins O’Brien spends her time with family as the top priority. She has two younger brothers with whom she keeps in close touch, as well as her many other extended family members. MM still enjoys light gardening and scrapbooking for her only granddaughter. She tries to be a patriotic citizen through her shopping sprees to support the economy.

To quote Jean Perry Connell: “At this time in my life, it IS my family that I am most focused on. Outside interests are less meaningful. It is in my family that continuous efforts can bring results. It is in my family that my influence can support change. My greatest challenge is to have the patience and grace to wait for this to occur.”

Peg Malone Fisher has had a rough flu winter, but offers some thoughts on the challenges we face as we age. “We must reinvent ourselves, but also accept the challenge. So many of those near and dear are either suffering or have died, and we must appreciate that we have our religion to help us on our way. We must pray for the future of our children, grandchildren and the whole world.”

This is from another classmate who prefers to remain anonymous, but also has words of wisdom for us all. “Our lives have had challenges and tragedies, which we have met as best we can and we still must maintain a sense of hope and some humor. We are blessed with curiosity which has kept us growing through the years.”

From Annette Pieslak Kane: “The most fulfilling work I am currently doing is serving as co-chair of the Care for Our Common Home team in my parish. This work is an outgrowth of a study of ‘Laudato Si,’ Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment. We are trying to implement the Pope’s call to care for creation through education on environmental issues in our community; fostering spirituality in prayer for the environment (we hosted an ecumenical prayer service during the Season of Creation); advocacy at state and national levels; and sustainability projects. Environmental activities contribute to my commitment to the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, which engages retired persons in work for the poor, in study, reflection and retreats. I also continue to serve as accompanist for the parish Resurrection Choir, which sings at all funerals – a beautiful ministry to grieving families. Like all of us, I face the bodily challenges that go with our age, but am grateful for a yoga class to help maintain balance and flexibility. I get great joy from continued piano study and even played in a recital last spring – the only performer over the age of 17! I cherish visits with friends, and like most of us, miss those dear friends who are no longer part of our lives.”

I, too, have faced challenges this past year from health issues that have slowed me down. I moved from a very busy life of volunteering to a quieter one of keeping in touch with folks via phone and prayer. I manage to participate in art appreciation classes (to my regret, I never took Dr. Ellinger’s art history courses), plus occasional lunch dates and book club meetings. I am trying to practice patience, courage, and hope.

From the founder of the Sisters Notre Dame de Namur order St. Julie Billiart: “My prayer is that the good God may establish His absolute reign in your heart and those of all.”

PS: Don’t forget May 31-June 2, 2019, will be our 65th Reunion at Trinity. Chairs Jean Connell and Nancy Schaefer urge you to mark your calendars for another grand party celebrating our long standing friendships. It will be a wonderful opportunity to tour the new Payden Academic Center, which is such a light filled educational building of which to be proud.

Hugs and God’s special blessings to all!

Ruthann Twomey Arnsberger