Lawrence Community Matters February 2022

Lawrence Presbyterian Manor

FEBRUARY 2022

New residents share their secret to love and marriage For Dick Schowen, the secret to successful married life is simple.

“Dick says his secret to a long and happy marriage is to do what his wife says,” explained his wife, Barbara Schowen.

“Actually, he is very easygoing, goodhumored, and easy to live with. I’d like to say my secret is patience and good humor, but I don’t always succeed. I’ve always admired Barbara and Dick Schowen Dick’s kindness, his mind and love of learning — and from him I’ve learned a lot.”

Their “secrets” have worked for the past 58 years, with no sign of failing now.

Presbyterian Manor Art is Ageless® exhibit and reception features senior artists Local senior artists will be celebrated February 1 - 9 at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor’s annual Art is Ageless® exhibit. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the exhibit will have two parts — an in-house show from February 1 through 8 at the campus for residents only, and a oneday only public show at the Lied Center (Pavilion), 1600 Stewart Drive, Lawrence, Kansas.

The exhibit will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for residents of Lawrence Presbyterian Manor. The public exhibit will be from 1 to 4 p.m.

February 9 at the Lied Center.

Art is Ageless is a trademarked program of PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®). The program offers senior artists the opportunity to share and display their artwork and reaffirms the agelessness of human creativity.

“It’s inspiring to see the beautiful pieces these seniors have created,” said Chris Phelps, marketing director. “The joy it brings to them and others is wonderful, and that’s something we want to celebrate and share with the entire Lawrence community.”

The public is welcome to visit the Lied Center to view the exhibit of acrylics,

“We met in graduate school at (the Massachusetts Institute of Technology),” Barbara said. “Dick was two years ahead of me and a grad student in the lab directed by a professor I was interested in working with. As I was waiting to speak to the professor, Dick offered me a seat and we got to talking. He says that’s when he decided I was ‘it.’

Schowens – continued on page 2

Art is Ageless – continued on page 2

Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at LawrencePresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.

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Schowens – continued from page 1 Meanwhile, I was having too much fun dating lots of different people, which is easy to do if you are one of the few ‘girls’ in the rather maledominated department. But about six months in, we were dating regularly.”

director of the KU honors program. Barbara’s work involved teaching and advising undergraduates as well promoting undergraduate research. Both Dick and Barbara carried out research in bioorganic chemistry.

Barbara and Dick moved to Lawrence in 1963 after getting married. Dick was offered a position as an assistant professor in the University of Kansas chemistry department. Barbara finished her dissertation and took a position teaching chemistry down the road at Baker University. She remained there until 1977, when she began teaching chemistry at KU.

Since moving to Lawrence Presbyterian Manor in August, the couple has found their new townhome comfortable and the residents and staff friendly and helpful.

Throughout the years, Dick and Barbara have enjoyed traveling the world, including China, Africa,

Their two daughters were born and raised in Lawrence, graduating from Lawrence High School before moving on to their own careers.

One daughter lives in Louisiana and the other lives in North Carolina. Together, the couple has four grandchildren ranging in ages from 15 to 22.

Dick retired from KU in 2000 as a distinguished professor of chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, and molecular biosciences. Barbara retired in 2003 after seven years as half-time

New Zealand, Greece, France, India, Taiwan and Mexico. They enjoyed learning about each country’s art, history and culture.

They continue to remain active with their hobbies and volunteer efforts. Barbara is a member of the University Women’s Club and is active in its birding group. She’s also involved with a book group, a women’s study group, an investment group, and she serves on several boards. Dick enjoys concerts and musical events, and they both enjoy local and KU theater. u

Art is Ageless – continued from page 1 oils, photography and various other mediums, ranging from amateur to professional levels.

Winning pieces at the community level move on to a masterpiece level judging to determine which pieces are featured in the annual calendar and note cards.

In addition to the exhibit, Lawrence Presbyterian Manor will honor local senior artists during a reception from 4-5 p.m.

February 9. This reception is for

the artists only and is not open to the general public. An RSVP to Chris Phelps at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor will be required. Call 785-841-4262 or email cphelps@pmma.org.

For more information about Art is Ageless, visit ArtIsAgeless.org. For more about Lawrence Presbyterian Manor, visit LawrencePresbyterianManor.org or contact Chris Phelps at 785-8414262 or cphelps@pmma.org. u

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Community Matters 785-841-4262 ◆ Fax: 785-841-0923 1429 Kasold Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 LawrencePresbyterianManor.org

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | February 2022

is published monthly for residents and friends of Lawrence Presbyterian Manor

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

To submit or suggest articles: cphelps@pmma.org.

Dawn Smith, executive director Christopher Phelps, marketing director

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

Lawrence campus shares customer service survey responses

Lawrence Presbyterian Manor continues to seek customer feedback through monthly telephone surveys. Each month, residents and their representatives are randomly selected to participate in telephone satisfaction surveys conducted by Pinnacle Quality Insight.

The graphic above highlights some of the survey results. All scores are given on a 5-point scale, with 5 being the highest score and 1 the lowest score. Between December 2020 and November 2021, Lawrence Presbyterian Manor residents and their families gave the community high scores in demonstrating dignity and respect, dining services and resident

activities. Residents and families also indicated a high willingness to recommend the campus to others.

Pinnacle Quality Insight. All state and federal confidentiality laws are met in Pinnacle’s service. u

“I would tell them that we’ve always owned our own homes, except when we were first married,” one respondent said. “We weren’t used to renting, but it’s just as though we own our own home. We can make decisions and come and go. We just tell them we’re going to be gone for a week and make sure everybody kind of looks out for it.”

We greatly value the opinions of our residents and their representatives about the care and services we provide, and we encourage them to participate honestly when contacted by

Lawrence Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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1429 Kasold Dr. Lawrence, KS 66049-3425 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Love, hope and blessings

By Dinah Dutta, chaplain

I enjoy spending time with our resident family members during evening meals. I encourage them to share stories from their personal and professional lives.

During the month of December, we shared many stories. Each reflected the love, hope and blessings we have experienced in our lives. The pandemic cannot define us. We have learned from the past two years, “Adversity not only draws people together, but brings forth that beautiful inward friendship,” in the words of Soren Kierkegaard.

We assured each other that the love, hope and the blessings in our lives

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will guide us through the year 2022. Most importantly, our faith in God will lead us through the rough phases of our lives and we can rest in the shadow of His wings of love.

“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 17:8).

Well, you have been singing with me for a while. I invite you again to sing, “In the Shadow of His Wings” by J. B. Atchinson. Rev. Jonathan Bush Atchinson was born in Wilson, N.Y., Feb. 17, 1840, and licensed as a Methodist preacher Sept. 6, 1874.

COMMUNITY MATTERS | February 2022

In the shadow of His wings There is rest, sweet rest; There is rest from care and labor, There is rest for friend and neighbor; In the shadow of His wings There is rest, sweet rest, In the shadow of His wings There is rest (sweet rest).

Chorus: There is rest, (sweet rest), There is peace, (sweet peace), There is joy, (glad joy), In the shadow of His wings: There is rest, (sweet rest), There is peace, (sweet peace), There is joy, (glad joy), In the shadow of His wings.

I wish my PMMA® family a blessed, peaceful and joyful 2022. u