Senior Life - Elko Edition - January 2023

begins 51st year serving Wa-Nee community

As the calendar turns to 2023, Nappanee Open Door begins its 51st year of serving the Nappanee and Wakarusa communities. It began in 1972 in the basement of the since demolished building that housed the Nappanee United Methodist Church.

“It started with a group of community leaders as more like a community assist, taking people to doctor’s appointments, picking up medicine, taking people out of town to visit relatives,” said John Personett, the organization’s executive director. “They didn’t go into the food side of things for at least a couple years.”

After the city acquired the former train depot from CSX in the mid-1980s, it eventually offered the space to then executive director Hank Whelan, who served in that position for 27 years.

“Open Door has been in this building ever since, serving food to the community,” said Personett. “We service families in the Wa-Nee school district, so we operate in both Elkhart and Kosciusko counties. We provide food, rent and utility assistance and vouchers through the Nappanee United Methodist Thrift Shop for clothes.”

The income requirements for Open Door’s clients are the same as those for the free/reduced lunch program in the schools. Upon their first visit, families must show proof of residency

and income and can then come semimonthly.

Personett explained Open Door procures most of its food from the Northern Indiana Food Bank, either through donation or by discounted purchase. There are other sources, including Milford Food Bank, from which Open Door stocks its Continued on page 3

Key Positions

Shirey has a passion for serving seniors

“Being a nurse is not just a job,” stated Kristina Shirey. “Any health care professional learns quickly that to be successful, one must have a passion for serving. We must love those we are taking care of and be subservient. My first love is senior citizens. That’s why I enjoy my job so much.”

Kristina Shirey is the care services manager/director of nursing at Lake City Place, Warsaw.

“I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I was an 8-year-old child,” Shirey continued. “I guess it was just my serving nature. I have no other nurses in my family.”

In high school Shirey was in the health occupation education program. “I got my certi-

fied nursing assistant credentials at 15 when I was working with long-term care patients at a nursing home.”

After that, she worked at St. Joseph Hospital, Kokomo. “I left the hospital and got my nursing degree from Ivy Tech in Kokomo. I’ve been a nurse for 27 years.”

For 15 of those years, she was the assistant medical director for the Howard County Jail. “I loved my work there, but they started outsourcing our jobs. So, I went back to my first love, working with seniors.”

Although no two days are alike, Shirey does have some routines she practices daily at the assisted living facility. “I make sure I talk to all the seniors every day. I love hearing the stories about their lives, families and jobs. I help

bring them to the dining room for meals. I do assessments on residents’ physical and mental capabilities, so we can accurately assist them with the help they need. I also oversee the staff members and encourage them in their tasks.”

Her biggest challenge is to keep everyone happy. “It’s important to me that staff, residents and their families feel affirmed and heard. I also work with outside agencies. It’s a delicate balance to see that everyone gets what they need.”

However, she does get some help in bringing a homey and caring atmosphere to everyone inside Lake City Place. “Lacy, the community dog, is not only available for the residents and visitors, but she lives with me. When I left this adorable Pomeranian at the facility, she spent her nights working with the staff members and got very little rest. At my house, she gets a break from her duties.”

Shirey strongly believes in pet therapy. “The residents adore Lacy. She’s got an inner sense that tells her when they are having a bad day. She comforts those who are struggling. She brings happiness and a sense of family to the facility.”

There’s a close bond between staff members partly because Shirey promotes this camaraderie. “I always approach life on a positive note and encourage the same for my staff.

I’ve found that a little praise goes a long way. A good leader never forgets where they came from. I’m not above helping the kitchen staff, nurses or other staff members. We should never get so high up that we’re not willing to lend a helping hand. It builds morale in any organization.”

Shirey and her husband, Ernest, love to travel. They have a 25-year-old son Tyler who graduated with a mortuary of science degree that enables him to work as a licensed funeral director. Shirey also enjoys gardening and being outdoors.

Medical handoff should not be kiss-off

If you’ve never had to visit a doctor during your lifetime, consider yourself extremely lucky.

But not off the hook, because the likelihood of everybody becoming a patient at some time in their lives is 100%, according to a medical school dean as quoted in The Prepared Patient Newsletter. Which means everyone can use some guidance in “good patienthood.”

While most patients do not prepare well for medical visits,

our current health care system almost demands patients be ready to make good use of the limited time they’ll have with the doctor.

Preparation is simple. State your problem when you make the appointment. Be ready to relate diseases that run in the family, and current and past medial problems and treatments.

Write down that information before you go, if necessary. Don’t leave home without a list of all prescribed and over-the-counter medications and supplements you take and in what frequencies and dosages.

While you’re there, tell the doctor about your emotional health. Tell him or her if you’re depressed for whatever reason, overly nervous about a visit by relatives, stressed by preparation for an upcoming trip or excited about the approach of a new grandchild.

Don’t leave before you get all the information you need, such as if and when you should return, what warning signals to watch for and when’s the best time to contact your doctor. Make sure you understand clearly the instructions about what you’re supposed to do as part of your treatment.

These same rules apply if you’re referred to another doctor. In most cases, this will be a specialist in whatever area

Watch for the signs of hearing loss

David was feeling uneasy about getting a hearing test, thinking it was a waste of time, but David’s family would not leave him alone about getting the test.

One day while driving, he did not hear a fire truck about to enter the intersection. Luckily for David, he stopped in time. It was that situation that convinced him to be tested.

Age-related loss of hearing, known as presbycusis, affects three out of five adults and 50% of those over age 75. Hearing is important for health and well-being —

even more today because we have had to deal with social distancing and the wearing of masks for so long. Even mild hearing loss increases the feeling of isolation, and we have so much of that already.

It’s common knowledge that noise exposure causes hearing loss, including ringing of the ears (tinnitus). Sadly, untreated hearing loss is also associated with depression, paranoia, anxiety and increased risk of developing dementia. Your having trouble understanding conversations can impact relationships with friends and family.

your primary care physician feels the need for a second opinion or diagnosis.

You might want to check with your health and hospital insurance carrier to see if that doctor is included in your coverage. If he or she is not, ask your primary care physician for a doctor included in your coverage list. Don’t be afraid to shop around yourself.

Make sure no one drops the ball in the handoff from your primary care physician to the referral doctor(s).

OPEN DOOR

Besides making all the doctor visit preparations listed above, make sure your medic is going to send your medical records and history to any doctor(s) you’re referred to. If necessary, ask for a copy of your records and carry them to the referral visit.

Your referring doctor should tell you exactly why he or she is referring you to a new doctor and what to expect, including the possibility of new tests or treatment.

You should also ask about the new doctor’s personal-

Common signs of hearing loss are:

• Trouble hearing in noisy places and over the phone.

• Needing the TV louder than is comfortable for others to understand the words.

• Trouble understanding women and children’s voices.

• Family commenting that you say “what?” or “huh?”

See a hearing specialist for help.

Northern Indiana Hearing Center is located at 2406 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend.

For information, call (574) 383-5595 or visit northernindianahearingcenter.com.

ity. For example, ask if this specialist has the patience to explain things to patients.

You also should tell all your doctors how you learn best. If you’d rather read instructions than receiving them verbally, say so. If being shown works best, have them walk you through how things work, how many pills to take and how to give yourself medication.

It’s your health and doctors can use all the help they can get to keep you hearty and hale.

Continued from page 1 Others give two hours a day, one day a week. The city still owns the building, paying for utilities and furnishings. Many city employees are also on hand to help when a shipment of food is delivered.

shelves. Because of its limited space, NIFB has waived its requirement to let people choose what food they want, which allows Open Door to prepack the bags for those in need.

A nonprofit, Open Door works closely with Family Christian Development Center, another food bank/assistance organization operating in Nappanee. Personett emphasized that neither group is concerned about people using both resources to receive food and other help. Both Open Door and FCDC are members of the Emergency Food Assistance Program, a federal program that provides bulk food deliveries for distribution. Both groups also coordinate their efforts with the appropriate township trustees to meet people’s needs.

Open Door is able to offer some frozen and fresh foods to its clients, including meat, vegetables and even wild game donated from area processors. Local bakeries and grocery stores also donate baked goods and other products to Open Door to distribute to families.

“Right now we’re serving around 100 families each month, which includes multiple visits,” said Personett. “That number can vary depending on layoffs, holidays and other factors. Last month we serviced 160 families. Our motto is ‘It’s given to us and we’re giving it back to them.’ But I still feel it’s important to be a good steward of what we have.”

Open Door has about 20 volunteers, some of which also serve on the 12-member board.

“It’s something I need to do,” concluded Personett. “I’m looking at a few more years to be in charge. Then I’ll back off and let somebody else take over.

“We’re here because the people in the community — the businesses, the individuals, the churches — feel the need to support us. We don’t fundraise. I asked Hank (Whelan), ‘Where

does the money come from?’ He said, ‘John, it always just comes,’ and it has. We’ve just always had enough. Sometimes there’s some left over for the rainy days when we’re spending more than what’s coming in the door. But that’s what makes you feel good. We’re here because of the community and their need to give back to those in need. And we’re one of the agencies able to help out.”

Open Door is located at 292 S. Main St., Nappanee. For more information, call (574) 773-3820 or visit facebook.com/ NappaneeOpenDoor.

What Seniors Think

Individual

Only half of 1,500 Americans 45 and older could correctly answer such financial questions as whether or not diversifying investments decreases risk, according to an American Association of Retired Persons survey.

And at least a quarter of those surveyed answered, “I don’t know” to every question.

This relative lack of investment know-how is troublesome, especially as employers are increasingly shifting the burden of pension investment onto their employees.

Almost half of those polled said they get their fiscal advice from friends and family members instead of such business practitioners as financial planners and accountants.

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have any questions, give us a call and we’ll walk you through it.

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“What are

Alles continues to devote her time serving Milford

Becky Alles was raised in Milford. Her parents, Robert and Marilyn Brown, were both community minded.

Alles spent 20 years in Fort Wayne working in dental hygiene. Her husband took a job with Phend and Brown and she continued working in dental hygiene in Warsaw.

After Alles retired, she was appointed as the Van Buren Township trustee in June 2013. Her last term is up Dec. 31. She currently serves as secretary of the Milford Kiwanis Club. “We do a Christmas project every year. Kiwanis adopted five families for Christmas this year. The families provide a list of needs for their children as well as a list of toys. Kiwanis passes out the list to its members and they help these families,” she said.

“I’ve been coordinating our latest project, a teacher’s toolbox. We have a room at the Milford Methodist Meeting House where we are storing school supplies. At the beginning of the year, we are hoping to invite teachers in and offer them more supplies so they don’t have to spend more money out of pocket.

“I also serve on the steering committee at the Milford Meth-

odist Meeting House. As a former member of the church, I wanted to stay on and help with all the programs. My brother, Dan Brown, is also on the steering committee and wanted to stay involved as well,” said Alles.

“When my dad passed away in 2017, he had pretty much been in charge of the Milford Cemetery Association. We had to quickly do something because he handled the money and sold the lots. I called two other members of the board and they voted me onto the board. I got bonded and took over handling the money. It’s a volunteer position.

“It’s been an interesting job talking with people. I kind of understand now why Dad enjoyed doing it — talking to the different families as they are preparing their final arrangements or talking to families who quickly have to plan final arrangements.

My years as a dental hygienist and working with patient’s concerns have helped me with the position,” she said.

“I decided to stop being a trustee because it’s a four-year term and our kids all live out of state. We have a 2-year-old grandson, which we would like to see more often.

“It’s been a blessing to me because I’ve been working and in touch with people in town. As

trustee, you’re in touch with the fire department and the town. I’ve really enjoyed it. As the old saying goes, you come into something and try to improve it and make it better for the next person who will in turn do the same thing.

“Dec. 31 is the end of my term, but all outgoing trustees have to finalize the books. I will also help Diane Perry with her transition. She’s taking over the position for me,” said Alles.

Got the blues? Hit the door

The first step toward combating loneliness could be just walking out your front door, according to mental health experts.

Feeling isolated and alone has become a growing problem

in today’s society. One solution is simply to get involved in an activity that interests you. Outdoor activities can bring interaction with others who have similar interests, whether that includes taking scuba diving or canoeing lessons, joining a bicycle or camping club, getting involved

in community outreach or church groups, or any number of creative alternatives.

Whatever activity you pick, make sure it’s something you like. Make lifestyle changes that will stick, and new and better relationships will follow.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Jeff ‘JJ’ Shaw, Attorney at Law

This New Year, learn about Social Security online

Security benefits, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:

Social Security programs touch the lives of more than 70 million people. We work hard to ensure critical benefits and other services are accessible to you.

Consider the start of the new year as an opportunity for you to engage with Social Security online. This begins with creating your free and secure personal my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount. Once you create an account, you can:

• Apply for retirement, spouses, or disability benefits.

• Apply for Medicare.

• Check your application status.

• Request a replacement Social Security number card.

If you do not receive Social

• Get personalized retirement benefit estimates.

• Get your Social Security statement.

• Get estimates for spouse’s benefits.

• Get instant proof that you do not receive benefits.

If you receive benefits, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:

• Change your address (Social Security benefits only).

• Set up or change your direct deposit information (Social Security benefits only).

• Instantly get proof of benefits.

• Print your SSA-1099.

Your personal my Social Security account has a secure Message Center. You can choose to receive the annual cost-ofliving adjustments and the income-related monthly adjustment amount online. Unless you opt out of receiving notices by mail that are available online, you will receive both mailed and online notices.

Your personal my Social Security account offers easy access to features that save you time when you do business with us online. Check out our other resources available at ssa.gov/ onlineservices for your convenience.

Please share this information with your friends and loved ones who may need it.

Pet food drive benefits Animal Welfare League

Molson Coors and Five Star Distributing held a pet food drive to benefit the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County. The pet food drive was organized by Molson Coors Sr. Distributor Sales Executive Stacey Sherman and Five Star Distributing Marketing & Promotions Manager Lindsay Walter.

Five Star Distributing employees collected pet food and litter for donation, as well as a metal wire shelving unit for AWL’s new cat house. A personalized Blue Moon Solo Stove was also donated for a fundraising raffle along

with pet food and supplies.

“We are so grateful to have community partners like these two companies,” said AWL Executive Director Tonya Blanchard. “Their efforts to support these shelter pets are so greatly appreciated.”

“With inflation and cost of services still on the rise, our year-todate expenses are already much higher than last year,” said John Lantz, AWL board president. “We are very thankful these two companies came together and helped out our homeless pets.”

Besides being a link to the world of information and research, the internet also allows you to check with the manufacturer’s website to seek out a manual for the proper model of your particular product.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Mounsithiraj provides indoor soccer venue in Goshen

It’s been more than four decades since then-13-year-old Tavi Mounsithiraj came to the United States as a Laotian refugee. In 1980, Mounsithiraj and his family were brought to Michigan with the assistance of a Mennonite church in Michigan. Eventually, he came to Goshen College as a student and member of the school’s soccer team.

Following his graduation from college, Mounsithiraj remained in Goshen. He remained active at various levels of the soccer community in the area. Eventually he joined the Goshen College soccer coaching staff as an assistant coach. He took over the program as its head coach in 2001, a position he held until 2012. An artist at heart, he also owned a framing business in downtown Goshen, but he always had a vision of owning an indoor soccer facility.

Mounsithiraj partnered with Goshen Stars soccer club in 2017 to rent a space for indoor soccer from Eastlake Athletic Club, which then had a facility at 1400 Fairfield Ave. in Goshen. The multi-use building still contained the gym, but also baseball batting cages and hosted other athletic endeavors. In 2018, the Eastlake owners asked Mounsithiraj if he would be interested in purchasing the building. He had been in contact with some local investors who shared his vision for an indoor soccer facility.

The vision became a plan and the plan became a reality. Mounsithiraj now is the co-owner of Goshen Soccer Academy, a large indoor facility that not only includes three fullsized futsal courts, but also two racquetball courts, three pickleball courts and the ability to set up for volleyball and basketball games, as well. On nearly any given evening hundreds of kids, ranging from those just starting in the game to high school teenagers honing their footwork skills, can be found at GSA, firing the smaller and denser futsal ball into the abbreviated goals.

“For the five of us, it’s all about giving back to the community, it’s not just about soccer,” said Mounsithiraj about his partners. “We don’t know what kind of home life some of these kids have. Demographically, we cater a lot to the Latino community who love this sport. We want to make it affordable, too.”

GSA has a lot of support from many soccer heavies in the area, including numerous local high school coaches such as Mounsithiraj’s brother, Viratham, who leads the highly successful Goshen High School boys team.

“We want to make sure we have a place in Elkhart County and the surrounding area for the kids to play,” he said, pointing out that GSA is a safe environment for people to bring their kids and their families.

“The parents know who I am, they know who we are. It’s a win-win for everyone. We’re doing something for the community. It’s not just about soccer.”

During many weekday mornings, the facility hosts around two dozen people to play in a pickleball league. He noted that access to gyms during the winter months can be tough, which makes the facility a blessing for many people who utilize it for other indoor sports.

“Our main priority is still soccer, but if people are willing to come in during other hours we can provide space for them to play,” Mounsithiraj said. “It’s really hard to compete with the activities going on in the schools. This is another resource for them to have access to play.”

To learn more about GSA, visit facebook.com/GoshenSoccerAcademy, or stop by and check out the facility for yourself!

Senior Assisted Living

Q. How do you weather the winter blues?

Sue Roesner, MSOL Community Relations Manager

Elder Law

Q. What is Probate, and How Can I Avoid It?

A. For most people, a Last Will and Testament is little more than a piece of paper until it is filed with a court. For individuals with assets exceeding $100,000, a Will requires formal court administration, called Probate.

Probating a Will is a rigorous process that requires filing legal documents with the court, publishing notices in the newspaper, searching for creditors, creating an inventory of the estate assets, paying creditors, rendering a final accounting, and distributing assets to the beneficiaries. This process can be supervised or unsupervised and requires the assistance of an attorney throughout. If everything goes smoothly, an estate can be administered within six months to a year at a cost of several thousand dollars or more.

Part of the role of an elder law at-

Lake City Place

425 Chinworth Court Warsaw, IN 46580 574-267-3873 www.enlivant.com

Professional Services

Q. Do I need a Will?

A. If you don’t have a will, your assets will be distributed based on the provisions provided by the state of Indiana. For some, this may be fine. But for most, leaving your own instructions for distribution is more appealing. If you don’t currently have a will, you are not alone, almost 50% of Americans die without having a will.

A will should reflect your desires regarding the distribution

of assets after your death. When creating a will, a stumbling block for many is considering how their heirs will handle the assets. If a potential heir is irresponsible, should you include provisions that provide management of the funds? The best advice is to work with a trusted professional to create a will that reflects your wishes, protects your loved ones and your assets. As the New Year is upon us, if you have not already done so, write a will.

Contact TCU Trust Services, we are here to help you through the process with professional competent guidance.

nor does it constitute the rendering of legal or tax advice. You should

Advertising with us is a Breeze Advertising with us is a

Breeze

William J. Stockdale Attorney at

Law

torney is to advise clients on how best to structure their assets to avoid the unnecessary expense and hassle of probate. Revocable living trusts and transfer on death designations are often used for this purpose. Regardless of your financial situation, it is critical to speak with an experienced elder law attorney to understand how your estate will be handled upon your passing.

TCU Trust Services 110 S. Main St. South Bend, Indiana 46601 (574) 245-4735, ext. 5164

A. If your product or service is geared to adults over the age of 50, Senior Life is the newspaper for you! According to audit statistics, our readers are 45 years of age and older and frequently purchase products or services from the ads they see in Senior Life (74.8%). Call or send me an email today to discuss adding Senior Life into your marketing strategy.

Biddle, Account Executive

Elkhart & Kosciusko Counties vbiddle@the-papers.com 1-866-580-1138 Ext. 2319 www.seniorlifenewspapers.com

information is not designed, meant,

consult with your attorney and/or tax advisor before implementing any strategy discussed here. Trust services provided by MEMBERS Trust Company are not federally insured, are not obligations of or guaranteed by the credit union or any affiliated entity, involve investment risks, including the possible loss of principle. MEMBERS Trust Company is a federal thrift regulated by the Office of the Comptroller or the Currency.

Q. What is the likelihood I will get a response if placing an ad in Senior Life?

Victoria

Ocean’s 11: ‘Let’s Pull the Job!’

Las Vegas takes our money, sure, but what if the tables were suddenly turned and we took their money? Who wouldn’t enjoy that?

In 1958, actor Peter Lawford paid $10,000 for a story idea that a movie-director pal claimed to have heard from a gas station attendant. Lawford then approached his fellow members of the celebrated Rat Pack (the men preferred the more dignified nickname of The Summit), which included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Joey Bishop.

Lawford shared a proposal about using the idea for a heistcaper film set in Sin City. When he heard the concept, Sinatra joked, “Forget the movie, let’s pull the job!”

The Ocean’s 11 plot line became a setup for the five hard-drinking, chain-smoking, dame-chasing headliners to make whoopee on-screen, which they did with ease and aplomb as they adlibbed many of their lines.

The premise of the gather-theguys yarn stars Ol’ Blue Eyes as leader Danny Ocean. He has assembled a squad of Armyveteran paratrooper pals for a civilian commando raid in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve. Each participant exudes a different level of passion and each has a personal reason to be involved. One hopes to help his wife stop stripping for a living. Another is terminally ill and wants to provide for his kid’s college tuition. Yet another sees a chance to buy his way out of a mundane life that includes driving a truck.

The plan was to simultaneously cut off the electricity at midnight at five major casinos—the Sahara, the Riviera, the Desert Inn, the Sands and the Flamingo. The thieves would then break into casino cages, stuff $5 million in cash into trash cans, and have one of the raiders drive a treasureladen garbage truck out of town and into hiding. But, to prove that (Hollywood) crime never pays, one of the 11 scofflaws unexpectedly dies and a monkey wrench is tossed into the mechanism of the “perfect” plan.

Sinatra and Martin earn the lion’s share of screen time together, with Frank once saying,

“You know, sometimes I think the only reason I got into this caper was to see you again.”

Cameo appearances weave through the story and include such icons as Shirley MacLaine, Red Skelton, Angie Dickinson and George Raft.

Filming often took place in Las Vegas in short bursts during the daytime before the superstars appeared on stage to perform for the likes of JFK and other celebrities of the time.

The original Ocean’s 11 became one of Warner Brothers’

Tracy Lawrence coming to The Lerner Theatre

Friends of the Lerner is pleased to announce Tracy Lawrence with special guest Kasey Tyndall will be coming to The Lerner Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17.

Tickets for the tour are now on sale to the public.

Lawrence is one of country music’s truest traditionalists and this year he is celebrating his 30th anniversary in the country music industry. His impressive catalog of timeless music has made Lawrence a mainstay in the genre, selling more than 13 million albums and charting 18 No. 1 songs.

He has garnered numerous CMA and ACM awards and nominations, as well as a Grammy nomination. Commemorating his three-decade career in 2021, Lawrence is releasing three new albums, which include all new music along with some of his favorite career hits.

In addition to his chart-topping success, Lawrence hosts the award-nominated nationally syndicated radio show “Honky Tonkin’ With Tracy Lawrence,” for which he has received two ACM nominations for National On-Air Personality of the Year. The show features music from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s, and is heard on more than 115 affiliates.

Lawrence also is the co-

creator of “Storming Heaven: The Musical,” a production based on the novel “Storming Heaven.” Lawrence, along with others, helped develop the story line of the musical and also composed songs for the drama.

He was honored by the Nashville chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals with “Philanthropist of The Year” for his nationally recognized annual “MISSION: POSSIBLE” turkey fry and

concert, which has raised more than $500,000 for the homeless and hungry in Dallas, Louisville and Nashville, and served more than 84,000 meals.

MISSION: POSSIBLE is poised to make an even larger impact in the future as the nonprofit organization expands into more markets across the country.

Tickets are available by visiting thelerner.com/event/ tracy-lawrence.

most profitable pictures upon its August 1960 release. And while some movie critics harrumphed that the tale was immoral, most reviewers declared it a romp –and quite a clever scheme.

The original Ocean’s 11 is now a low-tech time capsule

that delights to this day and it allows us to appreciate largerthan-life fellows with oversize personalities who try to live life by their own rules.

Check out this classic; it’s one of the reasons we once loved going to the cinema.

God’s Gals ministering to women for 18 years

While sitting down with Jeanie Dudley at her kitchen table, it quickly became apparent God has given her a huge heart for women, particularly widows, divorcees and singles.

After two prior marriages, Dudley met her husband Dick Dudley at a church Sunday school class.

“My son started attending this church because his girlfriend was going there. I went one Sunday and saw a man sitting in the corner of the Sunday school class who looked a little sad. I went back again the following Sunday and saw him again. The next Sunday I saw something in the bulletin about a new Sunday school class they were starting for single people and he was leading it. We dated for one year and ended up getting married. We had a wonderful Christian marriage. Dick and I were married for 13 1/2 years before he passed on Dec. 3, 2004,” said Dudley.

After Dick passed away, Dudley said, “OK, Lord, what am I supposed to do now?” She quickly received an answer that she was supposed to help widows, divorced and single women. In January 2005, the

ministry started off with the name, “Single Ladies,”and began with a study of the book, “The Purpose Driven Life.”

After meeting at a local coffee shop for nearly three years, the ministry had grown and the ladies started meeting at the Heritage Center in Nappanee. They realized it was time for a new name. After they all voted, the Lord birthed the ministry, “God’s Gals,” out of that initial desire laid on Dudley’s heart.

“God promised to take care of the widows,” said Dudley. “We decided to do something other than just a study. There was a Christian movie playing at the Nappanee Theater, so we decided to all get together and watch the movie. We then started having social meetings twice a month as well,” she said.

When COVID started, they could not meet at the Heritage Center. They actually did not meet for nearly a year. The Nappanee First Brethren Church helped them with a place to cook and enjoy dinner fellowship. Dutch Village Restaurant ended up providing them a room for their meetings. “They are really such lovely people. They have been so helpful. They give us a separate room we don’t have to pay for,

have wonderful food selections and their prices are right,” said Dudley.

“We realized just how much protection God offers us,” she said. Dudley mentioned right before the pandemic she hit a wall, and sitting in front of her computer she had a hard time thinking of anything in regards to the ministry. She told her good friend Carol Ludwick she needed help and Ludwick asked her, “Have you had lunch yet?” After that lunch, Ludwick became Dudley’s assistant, helping her with the ministry. Linda Bolt has also helped lead studies.

“The point is to really encourage each other. We start with prayer requests and are close enough with each other to share our prayers and pray for each other. It’s all about lifting each other up. We get together and feel like a family. We enjoy each other’s company so much. After that year we didn’t meet because of the pandemic, we just wanted and needed to be together again,” she said.

“We help each other not only physically, but spiritually. We truly are God’s Gals. I also want to give credit to the First Brethren Church for their support. There is a class in the church that has offered to help

widows. They offer to help us ladies with yard cleanup and other things. They faithfully help our group because they feel the need to help widows. That’s a biblical thing.

“When the Bible study started with six people, I had

no idea it would turn into this group. January will mark 18 years since we started. I am in awe that it is still going. God is the one who should have all the credit. This was a God thing. We are just being obedient,” said Dudley.

Natuzzi sofa set is falling apart

didn’t identify the issue the day it was delivered. That was impossible to do.

Leslie Azor’s new Natuzzi sofa set is coming apart. The company keeps sending a repairman to her home, but so far, he hasn’t been able to fix the furniture. Can she get a refund?

I bought a Natuzzi recliner sofa set last year from a local retailer. After using the furniture lightly for a few months, it was clear there was something wrong with it.

One recliner was completely defective where you feel the metal bar in the footrest. The leather has wrinkled and pushed up the metal pieces because the foam holding it all together is defective. The sofa warped to one side. The other side is following suit.

The retailer would not replace the damaged recliner and said we had to deal with Natuzzi directly because we

Natuzzi has twice sent a repairman with stacks of foam to “repair” one of the recliners, and after the second visit, the repairman also requested parts for the other recliner. I have had to wait six months each time for the foam parts and then for the repairman, and he has had to leave both times, unable to fix the recliners because the foam was defective.

Now I have had to wait again for more foam shipped from China, with no guarantee that it will come when promised or that it will work. This is now a year of waiting with no end in sight and accepting at best a patch of what was supposed to be an expensive Italian sofa.

The repairman has told us he practically needs to

reconstruct all of the inside parts. I have a copy of the back-and-forth emails with Natuzzi — all communication with them has been in writing. I want to close this chapter with them and stop trying to patch a new sofa as if it were 10 years old.

I want them to either fully replace both recliners, with

the assurance they will be checked before they are sent to us to ensure they are not defective, or return our money. — Leslie Azor, Miami

Natuzzi should have delivered the quality product it promised, and for which you paid $6,000. Also, the retailer should have stood behind the purchase.

Many retailers have warranties, guarantees or policies that ensure if something happens to your purchase, you can get a quick refund. I think the retailer’s demand you say something upon delivery was unreasonable. I mean, you hardly had time to sit on your new leather furniture before its warranty expired. Come on!

Natuzzi’s warranty leaves something to be desired. It contains lots of exclusions and doesn’t specify a time frame for repairs. It also appears to be an awkward translation of the Italian warranty. When I read it, I’m not sure what you are

— and aren’t — entitled to. It’s just a promise to repair your furniture if something goes wrong.

You did a great job of keeping a paper trail — all the correspondence between you and the retailer. It’s one of the key components of being able to advocate for yourself.

Unfortunately, your case dragged on for too long. The company was not living up to its promise to “create harmony in spaces.” So I reached out to Natuzzi on your behalf.

A representative from both your retailer and Natuzzi contacted you the next day. They offered you a full replacement of the sofa. “You did in one day what I couldn’t in nine months,” you said.

I’m happy to help.

Christopher Elliott is the chief advocacy officer for Elliott Advocacy. Email him at chris@ elliott.org or get help with any consumer problem by contacting him at www.elliott.org/help.

Dementia by any other name is still debilitating

of such neurological disorders as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Everybody wants to live forever but few folks look forward to the aches of aging.

A lot of time and talent have been devoted to eliminating or finding cures for disease, developing drugs that diminish debilitation and producing prosthetics that help coping more comfortably with our lengthening lives.

Despite all the intelligence applied to the science of longevity, little has been done to enhance our brain’s power, particularly as it ages.

Dementia — its causes and cures — are still a mystery to the best medical minds.

Experienced experts even disagree on the best ways to avoid or alleviate the ravages

Play mental agility games, such as crossword puzzles, some say. Learn a language to foster the brain’s flexibility. Travel. Join social groups. Stay active. Exercise to maintain a healthy blood flow to the brain. Eat foods containing chemicals that stimulate brain activity and cells.

All of these are safe and sane advice for anyone wishing to stay healthy.

But there’s still no cure for such degenerative brain diseases as Alzheimer’s. The inevitable result is loss of memory, identity and mobility if death does not intervene.

Alzheimer’s disease ambushes one-third of everyone older than 85. More than 5 million people in this country reportedly suffer

from it. That number is expected to triple over the next four decades as the population ages. No one is safe. It caught up to late President Ronald Reagan, actors Jimmy Stewart and Charlton Heston, boxer Sugar Ray Robinson and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Anecdotes and stories by friends, families and caregivers dealing with victims of this and other debilitating neurological diseases hurt the heart. With frustration, they watch the fading away of their loved one, all the while trying to rationalize what is happening.

The recurring theme is that these caregivers cannot realize, accept, come to grips with or face the fact that the person they once knew is disappearing.

The once-witty wife becomes a slug. The once-creative dad gathers dust in the corner.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Make 2023 your best year yet —

Affirmations may help keep you on track

Years Eve. Ideally the resolution should be to get healthy, which means a whole lot of little steps to ensure that you are eating nutritiously each day which will lead to be healthier.

If you don’t like where you are, move. You’re not a tree.

Decide what it is you want, write it down and work on it. Every single day.

Affirmations are exactly that – affirming your action. Many people use daily affirmations to keep on track each day like a nudge, a reminder, a bit of encouragement. Spending just a few minutes at the start of your day can set the pace. The idea being that when temptation to quit arises that you will remember one of your affirmations and realize that this is a fleeting moment that you should not give in to. Every time we try to eat healthily, along comes Christmas, Easter, Summer, Friday, or Tuesday and ruins it for us. Perhaps this would be a good affirmation as we enter into 2023:

Reset…Restart…Refocus… As many times as you need to. Just don’t quit.

Losing weight is the most common resolution set each New

“Don’t fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year as you are today.” — Kevin David.

Think ahead to what’s coming up in 2023; maybe it’s a reunion, or wedding. Being healthier when that event rolls around is a goal – write it down, post it on the refrigerator where you will see it everyday. Put it right next to your list of GBOMBS from Dr. Fuhrman: Greens, Beans, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries & Seeds which you should strive to eat each day.

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” — Steve Prefontaine.

Keep track to see your progress and to keep yourself accountable to yourself. I use a 100-day calendar, but you can use whatever works for you. I weigh in every Monday, but for the other days I check if I eat

completely clean & if I got at least 5,000 steps. As we know, 10,000 steps is the goal, but that doesn’t always happen, at least for me. What I’m looking for is to see if I am actually complying with the way that will lead to a healthier me and taking away the cop-out of ‘this just doesn’t work for me’. It does work, if you work it. Don’t give yourself that out – be addicted to bettering yourself.

Don’t let others derail you. Whether they mean to or not, when people see you making all the good clean food choices, they will tempt you with ‘oh, come one, just one’, or ‘reward yourself with a treat’. What kind of sense does it make to reward clean eating with a bad food choice. Right, none.

You become what you surround yourself with. Energies are contagious. Choose carefully.

Your environment will become you.

Guess what? January 2nd is a Monday, so all the people that start programs on Monday’s can start January 2nd, 2023. What a year it will be.

Cat Wilson lives in South Bend and transitioned from a vegetarian diet to eating a plant-based diet over two years ago. She may be contacted at cwilson@thepapers.com.

Follow the doctor’s orders

prescribed, and not all of them are intentional.

Taking medications correctly at the right time and in the right way as prescribed by your doctor can help control any medical issues you may have.

While not doing so can have some grim consequences, not everyone sticks to those rules because they’re too busy, feel good without the medications, have pills too big to swallow or have any number of other excuses.

About 30% of medication prescriptions are never filled, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 50% of cases studied, patients don’t continue medication as prescribed.

This non-adherence to doctor’s orders causes as much as 50% of chronic disease treatment failures and 125,000 deaths per year.

There are countless reasons medications aren’t being used as

One of the two most common reasons is, “I’m feeling better. I can stop taking medication.”

Sticking to medication may seem like a chore, especially if you’re feeling better. But not taking medications as prescribed by your doctor can result in several negative outcomes.

If, for example, you’ve started on a new blood pressure medication but you’re not taking it regularly, it may not properly control your blood pressure. If your doctor thinks you’re taking the medication as prescribed, they may look at high blood-pressure readings as a sign that you need additional medication.

The other most common reason for not following the prescribed medical course is, “My medication is too expensive. Missing one dose or taking a half-dose here and there to save a little shouldn’t be a big deal.”

Your doctor may not notice you’ve missed a few doses here and there. But medications like those for your thyroid or blood thinners may have a huge impact if only one dose is missed.

Some medications, like those for depression, can have serious withdrawal symptoms when even a few doses are missed.

If cost is a hindrance to getting the proper treatment you need, tell your doctor and they can help you find an alternative.

Taking your medication as prescribed is important for controlling chronic conditions, treating temporary ones and your overall health and well-being.

To help you stick to a required regimen, don’t skip doses or take half doses to save money. If money is a problem, tell your doctor so the problem can be addressed and solved.

However, don’t double up on a dose if you’ve missed a prescribed time or prescribed amount.

Keep taking the prescribed medicine until it’s completed or until your doctor tells you no longer need it. The reason you may be feeling good is because the medication is working, so keep on taking it.

Don’t take someone else’s medication because you think it can help you since you have similar aches, pains and ailments.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist how a new medication will interact with those you’re already taking or the foods you’re eating.

If you have questions about the medication you are taking, talk to your doctor and pharmacist.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Leave ear wax alone; it protects your ears

and infection.

The next time you reach for a cotton swab to clean your ears you might want to think twice. The ears are self-cleaning so you shouldn’t do anything to them.

Wax has antibiotic properties and keeps the ear moist, medics point out. Swabs increase the risk of eardrum perforation

A few drops of hydrogen peroxide can relieve severe wax buildup and loosen it so that it comes out easily and can be wiped away. If your ears itch on the inside, try using baby or mineral oil, administered with a medicine dropper. This is not recommended for anyone with eardrum perforations or ear infections.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

Some prostate cancer risks identified

Age, diet, race and nationality all play a role in prostate cancer risk, according to the American Cancer Society. So does family history. While the causes of this disease no one likes to talk

about are still unknown, statistics reveal 60% of the cases are diagnosed in men older than 60 years.

Asian men are the least likely to contract this disease while African-American are 70% more at risk than white males. It’s also more common in ethnic groups from north-

western Europe and North America than it is among those from Central and South America and Africa.

A sibling or parent with prostate cancer doubles your chances of contracting the disease. Men with a female relative who has contracted or has a high risk of contract-

ing breast cancer also have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. So do men who have undergone vasectomies.

Reducing the consumption of red meat and high-fat dairy products reportedly reduces the risk, as does eating plenty of fruit and vegetables,

such as tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

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6,000 years of history survive in Egypt

the world.

I’m looking over the Nile River from a hotel balcony in Cairo, Egypt — a fantasy land I’ve heard about my whole life. I needed to revel in the moment.

I was about to begin a magical journey through 6,000 years of history. And then accept the hard truth. How do you recapture 60 centuries of history in words? All I can do is let you experience a little bit of Egypt the way I did.

Consider first a stop at the Egyptian Museum as an introduction to the many iconic sites across the country.

Amid the many monochromatic miles lies Sakkara, a sprawling complex of temples, pyramids and crypts. The largest of the many tombs is the Step Pyramid of King Zoser. It is the first pyramid ever to be built, dating back to 2650 B.C.E., and remains the oldest stone structure in

The statue of Ramses II in Memphis that dates back 3,200 years is an intimidating size: about 36 feet tall, and that’s with his legs cut off.

Ramses reigned 67 years, the longest of all the pharaohs, and was the most prolific builder of temples. His list of 55 wives and 115 children is pretty impressive, too.

The Valley of the Kings outside Luxor takes you deeper into the tombs of the most famous of Egypt’s rulers. These pharaohs had their tombs chiseled deep into the sides of desolate cliffs.

Because they had been sealed so long, the walls preserved colors to look as if they were just painted. Deeply etched carvings depicted in hieroglyphic symbols describing the journey to the afterlife appear as if they were recently crafted.

Our guide, Hussien, spoke fluent hieroglyphics and could read the walls like a

storybook. Thus, we learned of the royal lives of the kings and everyday lives of the villagers from 5,000 years ago. Sort of ironic that our country celebrates the historic lives of the colonists who lived 250 years ago in Williamsburg.

Pyramids have always been a fanciful figment far away and so long ago, but nothing I could personally relate to — until now. Landscapes were reshaped to the ego of the pharaoh to ensure his safe journey into the next life along with all the accoutrements — jewelry, foodstuffs, furniture, chariots, weapons — he had acquired.

The Pyramids of Giza pretty much define Egypt. No matter what else you see, this probably will be where your mind’s eye returns whenever you look back on the trip.

The Great Pyramid, at 480 feet tall and built more than 4,500 years ago, is the last of the Seven Ancient Wonders

of the World to still stand. Looking at the 2 million to 3 million massive boulders hauled around the clock from limestone quarries 20 miles away over a 20-year span, I could imagine the 10,000 workers sweating and straining to create this eternal edifice in honor of the pharaoh Khufu (Cheops).

“Take some time to revel in the history embedded in every block of stone and the incomprehensible size of each structure standing tall in the desert sand,” intoned Hussien.

From afar, the surface of the pyramid looks smooth. As you get closer, you can see the enormity of each stone, several feet in diameter, carefully placed beside and atop the others. To look at the pyramids astride a camel added a whole new level of authenticity not usually associated with standard sightseeing options. As I climbed newly embedded stairs onto the

pyramid itself, I wondered if Khufu would take offense.

I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to be impressed by the size of anything else anytime soon. And then we came to the Sphinx — the inscrutable and mysterious Sphinx, equally as old and carved from almost one piece of limestone. The head of a man and the body of a lion represent the combination of intelligence and strength attributed to the pharaohs.

While our OAT tour took a deeper dive into other ancient temple complexes as well as a taste of Egyptian lifestyle and culture, archaeologists announced they have uncovered yet another trove of ancient artifacts at the necropolis of Sakkara, including mummies and bronze statues dating back 2,500 years.

I suspect that will continue to be true for quite some time. After all, it’s been going on for 6,000 years.

Mature Life Features Copyright 2022

It was 50 years ago today —

‘Crocodile Rock’ was Elton John’s first Number One hit single

Elton John

“Crocodile Rock” became Elton John’s first Number One hit single on MCA Records. (In time, eight more would follow.) But rather than appreciate his rare

good fortune, John apparently grew weary of the song and later grumbled, “The last time I have to sing ‘Crocodile Rock,’ I will probably throw a party … It became a big hit, and people love to sing along with it. …

I play to amuse people and to entertain people, but I have to say, when the last show is done at the end of the last tour, I will never sing that song again.”

“I remember when rock was young.

“Me and Susie had so much fun.

“Holdin’ hands and skimmin’ stones.

“Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own.”

“Crocodile Rock” is a microcosm of the past. A retrospective fueled by longing for

bygone days with a girlfriend. Priceless moments impossible to retrieve. Yet Elton’s lyricist Bernie Taupin has admitted, “I don’t mind having created it, but it’s not something I would listen to … I don’t want people to remember me for ‘Crocodile Rock.’ I’d much rather they remember me for songs like ‘Candle in the Wind,’ songs that convey a message, a feeling. Things like ‘Crocodile Rock,’ which was fun at the time, was just pop fluff.”

Johns’ hit song was based on two Bill Haley oldies — “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock” and “See You Later, Alligator” (“After ’while, crocodile”).

“But the biggest kick I ever got.

“Was doin’ a thing called the Crocodile Rock.

“While the other kids were rockin’ ‘round the clock.

“We were hoppin’ and boppin’ to the Crocodile Rock.”

John told rock historian Fred Bronson, “I wanted it to be a record all about the things I grew up with, all the great ‘50s and ‘60s records that we used to love. I always wanted to write one song, a nostalgia song, a rock and roll song which captured the right sounds. ‘Crocodile Rock’ is just a combination of so many

songs, really — ‘Little Darlin’,’ ‘Oh, Carol,’ some Beach Boys, they’re in there as well, I suppose. Eddie Cochran, too. It’s just a combination of songs.’

John (who was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947) was 10 when his parents divorced. By then the chubby, soft-spoken lad had six years of piano playing under his belt. With his rock-music-hating father out of the picture, John received encouragement from his mother when she handed him a copy of Elvis Presley’s breakout hit “Heartbreak

Hotel.” “I went on from there,” he says. “Pop was my whole life.” He began using his pocket money to buy records and then pick out their melodies by ear on the family piano.

In “Crocodile Rock,” Elton John manages to create an enduring music masterpiece

that roars along with highoctane gusto, pounding piano lines and whirling synthesizer riffs adding to the retro-rock feel, as do the growling guitar lines, pulsating bass notes and throbbing drumbeats.

It is, one might say, a justabout-perfect pop disc.

South Beach art deco —

A national treasure on South Beach

The demise of art deco has been greatly exaggerated. It’s alive and well and headquartered in Miami on South Beach. Examples of this style of architecture proliferate in a host of hotels along the main streets of Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue. In fact, of the 1,200 buildings in the area, 850 are in the art deco style. Art deco’s roots can be traced to the 1925 Paris

Continued on page 19

Greencroft Community Center Tours

Upcoming Tours

Jan. 13 – RV Hall of Fame, Elkhart, IN

Feb. 6 – Jayco RV Factory Tour, Middlebury, IN

Feb. 27 – Studebaker Museum/SB Chocolate Factory, South Bend, IN

Mar. 6 – Shopping in Shipshewana, IN Mar. 22 – Fair Oaks Farm, Fair Oaks, IN

Apr. 12 – Gerald Ford Museum & Chaffe Planetarium, Grand Rapids, MI

May 4 – Sauder Village & Quilt Show, Archbold, OH

June 13-15 – Chicago

For full information on any of these tours, or to make a reservation, please call 574-537-4090.

1820 Greencroft Blvd. Goshen, IN 46526 www.greencroft.org

www.s-stravel.com

Call 888-262-4423

Niagara Falls — no passport needed

May 15, and returns Friday, May 19.

Join us for all the sites and sounds of Niagara Falls and the surrounding area — all in the United States, so no need for a passport. This deluxe motorcoach trip departs Monday,

The cost for this four-day, four-night trip is $635 per person, based on double occupancy and includes:

• Motor coach transportation.

• Four nights lodging in the

Niagara Falls, N.Y., area.

• Eight meals: four breakfasts and four dinners.

• Guided tour of Niagara Falls, N.Y.

• A journey to The Falls on “Maid of the Mist.”

• A cruise on the Erie Canal.

• A scenic drive through wine country.

• Guided tour of Buffalo.

• Visit to the Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum.

The host will be Dennis Donathen, who is known for taking care of every detail while bringing fun to your trip. A $75 deposit per person is required to hold a spot. Make 2023 a year for fun and travel.

Visit grouptrips.com/ddresales where you can see the daily itinerary along with videos. This is where to sign up for the trips. If you have any questions, call (574) 220-8032.

Other 2023 trips are: Chicago, Aug. 22-24, $355; Memphis, Tenn., Sept. 11-16, $640; and Branson Holiday Show, Nov. 13-18, $725. All rates are based per person, double occupancy. Happy New Year.

A national

Exposition Internationale de Arts Decoratifs et Industreis

Modernes and was the hottest topic there. It was sure to completely change the architectural world and did become popular in Europe and the USA. One of the signature structures of the art deco style, though not in Florida, is the iconic Chrysler Building in New York City.

The premise was actually quite simple. The design of the exterior of the front was based on a triad. Both sides were symmetrical and the center section soared from the entrance to, in many cases, above the roofline and generally encompassed

a decorative element, like zigzags, chevrons, sunbursts, fluting or banding. It was all to be accomplished in a streamlined style that would create a sleek, anti-traditional elegance symbolizing wealth and sophistication.

South Beach was destroyed by a hurricane the year after the Paris Exposition. The reconstruction was done in the art deco style. The hotels were indeed elegant and the tourists flocked to Miami to enjoy the beach.

Another calamity struck South Beach and the entire country in 1929. This is when the bottom fell out of the stock market and fortunes immediately disappeared. Tourists no longer had funds for Florida vacations and many of the hotels failed from lack of occupancy.

Then along came World War II and the country’s focus was on other things. Art deco was considered to be too gaudy and ostentatious for wartime austerity. After the war, promoters attempted to secure

loans to spruce up the hotels, but banks weren’t taking the bait and rich financiers were few and far between. Surprisingly, the money to rebuild South Beach to its earlier elegance came from the mob.

The art deco period ended up spanning the Roaring 1920s, the Great Depression of the early 1930s, through the war years and into the early 1950s. South Beach today is considered a national architectural treasure. The buildings have been carefully restored as close to the original look as possible.

When visiting South Beach, you will be able to tell art deco buildings from newer

structures by their distinctive triad-style facade and some of the other little touches that distinguish them. Their pastel colors give the neighborhood a stately, bright, clean appearance. Be sure to step inside some of the hotels where you’ll find art deco designs incorporated in the marble lobby floors, their wall decorations and even the registration desk.

Two-hour walking tours of the historic district get you up close and personal with art deco, which was sometimes referred to as the “style moderne.” You’ll also learn that the style also extended into fashion, furniture, fine arts

and decorative arts. Be sure to see the neighborhood at night when they’re beautifully lit. Unfortunately, the ocean can’t be seen from Ocean Drive because of a tall protective dune.

ANSWERS:

Argos, Bremen, the 1910s —

Grandma and her childhood postcards

Grandma lived the last 30 plus years of her life as a farm wife just north of Elkhart in Michigan and southeast of Edwardsburg.

This story is not about her last years near Edwardsburg, but in her childhood years in the decade of 1910 in Argos and Bremen. Grandma Eva Zentz Lawson was born to Henry and Viella (Markley) Zentz in 1898. The family had a great love and longtime residence in both Argos and Bremen as do their descendants to this very day. Grandma was about 11 years old when she entered the beginning of the 1910 decade where we begin our journey.

The Zentz girls sent and received hundreds of beautiful postcards to each other during the 1910s and into the 1920s. Other than two brothers, Claude of Argos and Harvey of Bremen, Grandma had plenty of sisters to share hundreds of postcards. Those sisters were Grace, who later in her adult years would die in childbirth, Ada, Chloe, Della, Dora and Hazel, who never married but helped

raise me from birth into my teenage years.

Before Grandma passed away in May of 1974, she gave me her precious postcard album of which I have to this day. Now the album is over 110 years old. Her brothers and sisters are all gone now but they seem to come to life as I turn the pages of this 110-year-old album and read what they wrote to each other on 300 plus beautiful postcards.

What the other sisters have done with their cards may never be known, but Grandma’s cards and album will be loved forever by me — her

only grandson.

I now share with the readers the New Year’s Day cards saved by Grandma from the 1910s. Happy New Year everyone!

Any information welcome to: Dr. Greg Lawson, 1801 E. 3rd St., Mishawaka, IN 46544. Lawson is a long-time writer laureate of area history and human interest stories.