St. Luke Living Center
The annual dinner of St. Luke Hospital Auxiliary was Thursday evening and provided a night out for six Living Center residents — Art Mueller, Gertrude Ray, Millie Riffel, Ruth Viets, Martin Hajek, and Florence Ehrlich. We gave a thumbs-up for the meal, nostalgic musical entertainment, the exemplary volunteer work of auxiliary members, and being able to talk to acquaintances. Robyn Kukuk and Sue Gutsch accompanied the group with assistance from Joyce Ford and Janet Herzet.
Our Living Center home had the privilege of providing a facility for birthday celebrations of two charming women whose years of life are nearing the century mark. The large family of Thelma O’Dell allowed us to be part of honoring this great-great-grandmother’s 99th birthday Saturday afternoon. We were served cake, ice cream, mints, nuts, and punch, and sang “Happy Birthday.”
The following day, our large, windowed dining room was the setting for an open house celebrating the 98th birthday of Sadie Bernhardt. Her children, Margie and Dick Schwartz, and grandchildren Thane Schwartz and Piri Griffith were hosts for a community tribute to this lady of spirit and humor. Sadie estimated that 90 to 100 friends and family members shared in the occasion — as did many of our residents — making it “a wonderful day.”