Topeka Community Matters July 2021

Topeka Presbyterian Manor

JULY 2021

Topeka Presbyterian Manor’s own ‘Rosie the Riveter’ looks back on service, love of country May 1945 marked a month-long celebration for a nation weary from war.

World War II continued to rage in the Pacific, but victory in Europe (known as VE-Day) had been realized after four long years of American sacrifice.

Clara Cooper, a self-described “farm girl” from Olpe, Kan., remembers it well. In January of 1944, Clara, now a resident at Topeka Presbyterian Manor, left the family farm to work at Beech Aircraft in Wichita to support the war effort.

Alyssa Colter

End of pandemic coincides with rise in social well-being “It’s so exciting to hear laughter and chit-chat again,” said Alyssa Colter, the life enrichment director at Topeka Presbyterian Manor.

Clara recently appeared on the news to speak about her experience working in a Wichita factory during World War II.

“I was there for one year and nine months,” Clara said. “We had a week of training and were given a rivet gun, a saw and a toolbox and began to get to work.”

Women like Clara, known collectively as Rosie the Riveters, played a vital role during the war, filling roles traditionally occupied by men.

Clara quickly learned the tools of trade, jumping into the job “feet first.”

“We didn’t think anything of it at the time,” she said. “We were just doing our part for the country. Now I’ve come to realize how much we’re appreciated.”

Clara said she would work during the week and travel home on weekends to help on the farm.

“I took the train every weekend,” she recalled. “The trains had no air conditioning, so it was very different from the experience someone might have today.”

She has noticed a definite improvement in the social wellness of Presbyterian Manor residents since the advent of vaccinates and easing of pandemic-era restrictions.

“We’re all looking at things differently now,” Alyssa said. “And the residents have been through a lot together.

She said that activities are better attended than before the pandemic and she has noticed residents encouraging their neighbors to join in.

“They have banded together and are really there to support each other,” Alyssa said. “It’s kind of an amazing thing.”

Rosie the Riveter – continued on page 4 Well-being – continued on page 3 Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at TopekaPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.

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Winning quilt celebrates Presbyterian Manor friendships Peggy Shrewsbury’s “Friends” won the top amateur prize in the 2021 Art is Ageless® competition at Topeka Presbyterian Manor, but 30 of her neighbors also contributed to the project.

“Friends” is an autograph quilt, a commemorative style that dates to the mid-19th century.

The quilt honors the friends Peggy has made since she moved to Topeka Presbyterian Manor four years ago.

She asked each of her neighbors to sign their name to a piece of fabric.

Each of the quilt’s 30 blocks includes one of the signatures.

“I’ve met so many wonderful people since I’ve been at the Manor,” Nancy said. “People I’ve eaten lunch with in the dining room or played bingo with. A lot of us have become close, and I thought it would be a nice way to remember them.”

Peggy Shrewsbury won another blue ribbon for her quilt “Friends,” which was exhibited this spring as part of Topeka Presbyterian Manor’s Art is Ageless® competition.

and gobs of fabric,” Peggy said. “She filled a tote bag with a lot of bright colors, and I chose fabric from there.”

“Friends” features floral, paisley and polka-dot patterns in a full spectrum of colors. Peggy machineIn the fall of 2019, Peggy carried a stitched the blocks together in a box of fabric and a fabric pen around simple but pleasing geometric grid. with her to collect signatures from She hand-quilted the piece together, her neighbors. including the interlocking hearts When it came to choosing fabric for stitched around the border.

“Friends,” she turned to a trusted “I think it turned out pretty cute,” source. she said.

“My daughter is a much better quilter than I am, and she has gobs

Peggy learned how to quilt around

30 years ago. It was something she’d always wanted to do, and she had more time once her children were “leaving the nest.” Her quilts “12 Month Quilt” and “Arizona Retirement Adventures” won Art is Ageless blue ribbons in 2018 and 2019, respectively. She planned to enter “Friends” in the 2020 Art is Ageless competition, but last year’s event was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Recently, Peggy started a new quilt project: a quilt for one of her grandsons, made from concert Tshirts he’s collected over the years. u

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Community Matters 785-272-6510 ◆ Fax: 785-272-0496 4712 S.W. Sixth Ave. Topeka, KS 66606-2284 TopekaPresbyterianManor.org

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | July 2021

is published monthly for residents and friends of Topeka Presbyterian Manor

by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

To submit or suggest articles: dloftin@pmma.org Heather Pilkinton, executive director Danica Loftin, marketing director

OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

Presbyterian Manor couple thrilled to reunite The advent of vaccines and lifting of many pandemic-era restrictions reunited a married couple who live at Topeka Presbyterian Manor.

for lunch,” Kay said. Stephen has limited mobility, but staff assist so that he and Kay can get away on occasion. They will also bring him up to Kay’s apartment so she can make dinner for the two of them, often a baked potato or a casserole.

Kay Jones is a resident of the Garden Independent Living neighborhood, and Stephen, who suffers from Parkinson’s Disease, lives in the health care neighborhood.

were quoting Ecclesiastes: ‘There is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven,’” Kay said. “There certainly was ‘a time to refrain from embracing,’ and that was the pandemic.” u

Stephen’s mood has improved immensely since he and Kay have enjoyed more frequent visits.

“It was pretty hard to take at first,” Kay said. “But as we watched the news from around the world, we realized what the pandemic meant and how serious it was.”

“He has brightened,” Kay said.

Although she describes the separation from Stephen as a “nightmare,” Kay was determined to have the right perspective on the situation.

As restrictions began to ease, the Joneses were able to have short, socially distanced visits.

“Sometimes, you have to work at finding the positive things in your life,” she said. Kay counted her blessings: everything from her three children and her grandchildren to the fact that she was often able to wave at a neighbor down the hallway when she left her apartment to take out the trash. That make her feel less alone at the height of pandemic restrictions.

“I couldn’t hug him or anything, but at least I could, as they say, ‘lay eyes on him,’” Kay said. “And vice versa.

He appreciated getting to see me and having these short, sit-down conversations.”

Now that both Joneses are vaccinated, the couple is able to spend a lot more time together.

“Today I drove over and picked up my husband, and we went to Bobo’s

“I just watched a movie where they

Kay Jones preps a planter during a gardening activity this spring.

Well-being – continued from page 1 A 9-year employee at Presbyterian Manor, Alyssa worked her way up from her first job as a certified nursing assistant. She has also worked in medical records and central supply.

One of the new initiatives she has implemented is a “free hour.”

“Through all of the pandemic, choices were restricted,” Alyssa said.

“I want them to have the chance to take back control and decide what they want to do as a group.”

She said her approach is to give the residents “more of a voice and more of a choice” in the activities they do,

while still being cautious. Since the weather has been nice, many activities have taken place outside, including gardening and sharing treats such as root beer floats and popsicles.

“Sometimes we just sit outside and soak that sun up,” Alyssa said. u

Topeka Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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Rosie the Riveter – continued from page 1 Clara recalls those train rides with mixed emotions. They were uncomfortable at times, especially during the scorching Kansas summers, but they also provided her an opportunity to remain connected with family and assist her family with farm work.

“I was always working,” she recalled. “When I wasn’t at Beech, I was on the farm.”

She remembered her work as being important, but also as an awakening to the world outside of her small farming community.

“There were five of us girls and the rest of the workers were men,” Clara said. “As you can imagine, a

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | July 2021

small-town farm girl wasn’t used to some of the jokes they told. It took a bit of getting used to.”

She remembered being told that the men at Beech quickly became aware that they should avoid certain jokes in her presence.

“It was eye opening,” Clara said with a smile.

After the war ended, Clara recalls an announcement over the intercom system telling the women to pack up and head home. She returned to Olpe and, like the soldiers who returned from war, picked up her life where she’d left it.

“I have no regrets,” she said. “I’ve really had a wonderful life.” u

This 1943 poster produced for the Westinghouse Corporation has come to represent women who supported the war effort by working factory jobs traditionally held by men.

Note: The “We Can Do It” poster is available under the Creative Commons license through the Smithsonian. https://www.si.edu/object/we-can-doit%3Anmah_538122