Even during her first career as a customer service representative with Northwest Airlines, Julia Szuper’s favorite part of her job was working with older adults. Upon retiring from the airline, this mother of three decided to pursue her passion and completed her bachelor’s degree in gerontology at Madonna University in 2014. Since then, Julia has […]
Prairie Cottage resident Paul Dohr has been creating art for most of his ninety years. He grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin during the Great Depression, one of nine children. At 17, Paul graduated from high school, knowing in another year he would join the Navy to serve in World War II. In the meantime, he […]
For 25 years, Bertie Hubbard from Dexter owned her own daycare and preschool. Today, Bertie serves older adults as a full-time dietary aide at Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC). “Now, I have the big kids,” she laughs. Over the last six years at CRC, Bertie has built close relationships with the residents and knows many of […]
“The love God gives you, you have to give to others. Love is the most important thing you can have. With love, you have peace.” -Delores Chatigny A retired hospice director, Dolores Chatigny grew up in the Catholic faith. A member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dexter, Dolores serves as a Eucharistic minister, taking […]
Dawn Buchbinder, LMSW, has cared for older adults at Thome PACE in Jackson since it opened in 2016. “I learn so much from the participants,” says Dawn. “They are so respectful and appreciative. At this stage of life, they long for a sense of family, and Thome PACE provides that for them. It’s a great […]
Self-taught Michigan artist Catherine McClung delighted an audience of Chelsea Retirement Community residents and local community members with her work entitled, “Birds of the Bible,” a watercolor mural now on display at Chelsea Retirement Community. This magnificent work took Catherine over two years to complete – the culmination of fourteen years of Bible study and […]
When Steve Sarns of Dexter joined the UMRC Foundation Board, he had just been through some life-changing experiences, including cancer treatment and semi-retirement from his family’s company. During a tour of UMRC’s Huron Valley PACE in Ypsilanti, he wanted to help. “I love the concept of PACE,” Steve says. “When I heard about their Men’s […]
Every now and then I get a chance to speak to members of the media about the good things we are doing here at UMRC—like recently, when we were featured in Crains Detroit Business for our $2.5 million facilities expansion grant from the Edward N. and Della L. Thome Memorial Foundation. Other times, I am […]
Jean Baker recently attended the performance of Willow Run at Chelsea’s Purple Rose Theater. The play really touched home for Jean, herself a real-life “Rosie, the Riveter” – she and her husband, Louis, who now reside at Chelsea Retirement Community, helped build some of the first planes manufactured at Willow Run in Ypsilanti. Jean and […]
Linda and Charlie Britton Prairie Cottage residents and long-time dog lovers, Linda and Charlie Britton weren’t sure if they wanted the commitment of another pet. Then friends from church and Linda’s quilt guild introduced them to Leader Dogs for the Blind. This nonprofit guide dog program was founded in 1939 by three Detroit-area Lions Club […]
