Village Voice - Spring 2023

Spring 2023

Vol. 33, No. 2

Masonic Villages include locations in Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill, Sewickley and Warminster.

Published by Masonic Villages’ Public Relations Department

Masonic Village, One Masonic Drive Elizabethtown, PA 17022

717-367-1121, ext. 33383 or email pr@masonicvillages.org.

Masonic Villages is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Decisions concerning admissions, the provision of services and referral of residents are not based upon race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age (where minimum age for admission is met), sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, limited English Proficiency (LEP) or any other protected status.

News and Awards

Lisa Livingston has been named director of retirement living and community services for Masonic Village at Elizabethtown. Lisa will have responsibility for both retirement living and home and community services with a focus on operations, compliance, quality and strategic initiatives. She will serve as the administration liaison to all retirement living residents, providing communication, addressing needs and concerns and interacting with families as required.

Lisa joined Masonic Village three years ago as the director of home and community services, which include home care, home health and hospice. She previously spent 10 years with Genesis Healthcare as the director of rehab services. Lisa obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree in occupational therapy and is currently finishing her Master of Business Administration degree.

Peggy Seaman has been named director of social services at Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill. She is responsible for providing social services to residents in retirement living and personal care, as well as supervising the health care social workers and resident services assistant.

Peggy is an accomplished social worker with 25 years of experience serving the healthcare community, including mental health, long-term care, short-term rehabilitation and hospice clients. She earned her master’s degree in

social work from the University of Pennsylvania and her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Rosemont College. Prior to coming to Masonic Village, Peggy worked as social services director at the Embassy of Ivy Hill, a skilled nursing facility in Philadelphia.

Penny Wroblewski has been named director of personal care at Masonic Village at Warminster. She is responsible for organizing, delivering and directing professional nursing care to residents in personal care. She assigns and schedules work and employees and identifies opportunities for improvement.

Penny is a licensed LPN with 25 years of experience in the health care industry. She previously worked as an LPN at Manor Care LTC, a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility. She has also been a pain management specialist since 2013. Penny graduated in 2011 from the practical nursing program at Eastern Center Arts & Technology in Willow Grove.

Masonic Villages CEO William L. Kingsbury was named as one of the region’s “Power 100” by Central Penn Business Journal. This annual list recognizes local leaders and change-makers across various industries, including healthcare and non/not-forprofits. Congratulations to Bill on this recognition!

Lisa Peggy Penny Bill

Almost Never Says “No”

Congratulations to Masonic Village at Dallas resident Karen Mertz, who received the “Volunteer of the Year” award at the community’s volunteer luncheon this year!

In addition to her work with numerous on-campus committees and events, Karen volunteers with Back Mountain Memorial Library and Habitat for Humanity.

She, along with other volunteers, make blankets for families at the Bourger Women with Children Program at Misericordia University, which empowers economically-disadvantaged single mothers by providing opportunities to complete a college degree and create brighter futures for themselves and their children.

She also distributes items to the Salvation Army, donates toys to Shriners Hospitals and provides books, games and clothing to the Pyramid Healthcare Dallas Detox and Inpatient Treatment Center. She hosted fundraisers for Toys for Tots and Shriners Hospitals.

“I started most of these [volunteer] efforts myself and am still very involved with them,” Karen said. “I love volunteering. My parents instilled these acts of giving back to the community, church and school. It was something that we just always did. It brings me such great feelings.”

Karen has called Masonic Village home since 2013. When she moved there, she joined many activities that were already established. Along with her friend, Sarah Jones, who now lives at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, she started the Veterans Day programs and Shriners Hospitals collection. She served on the executive committee and became co-chair of the social committee. She is co-chair of bingo and has been chair of the Octoberfest activities. She’s in charge of the book club and even bakes cakes for resident birthday parties.

Karen was surprised and touched to be honored at the volunteer luncheon, where she received a potted plant and a gift certificate for dinner at the Greens at Irem Clubhouse.

She continues to find the hours to do everything because she budgets her time well and is “good at delegating.” At 76 years old, Karen said she has been “blessed” with good health and keeps herself fit.

“People say I ought to wear a pedometer because I’m up and down the hallways all day,” she said. “I feel like there are lots of people who work behind the scenes [with me]. I’m just out there because I’m physically able to do it. I walk on the treadmill every day. I like staying active. It helps my brain.”

While she enjoys all her activities, she said making fleece blankets for war veterans is probably one of her favorites.

“It started at my church,” she said. “We do it for children, too, who go through a trauma, like a fire or flood or death of a loved one. I had the idea that we should do more for veterans since we have a veterans’ hospital nearby. We got together and made 40 blankets. We went out and played bingo with the veterans. Whenever they won, they got a blanket. It was so much fun.”

Karen was raised in Northumberland, which is just below Danville, Pennsylvania. She studied elementary education at Bloomsburg State College (now university) and taught kindergarten for 17 years in Dallas. A widow, she was married for 38 years and has two sons and two grandchildren.

Karen enjoys living at Masonic Village because it’s a small campus, everybody knows everybody, and everyone is nice.

VOLUNTEERING AT MASONIC VILLAGES

Opportunities exist across the state for residents, and depending on location, the community, to share their time and talents with Masonic Village. We appreciate everything our volunteers do, from visiting with residents, to helping with activities to assisting with office work.

CONTACT THE LOCATION OF YOUR CHOICE TO SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP!

Masonic Village at Dallas (residents only): cbosak@masonicvillages.org

Masonic Village at Elizabethtown (residents, community members and youth): mvevolunteers@masonicvillages.org

Masonic Village Hospice (Elizabethtown): Visit www.masonicvillagehospice.org/volunteer. Training is required, and sessions are offered throughout the spring, summer and fall.

Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill (Residents and community members specifically are needed to take residents outside, lead a book club for retirement living residents or give a lecture on a historical or other topic of interest): mvlhvolunteers@masonicvillages.org

Masonic Village at Sewickley (residents and youth): khammond@masonicvillages.org

Masonic Village at Warminster (residents and community members): mvwvolunteers@masonicvillages.org

“We try to get to know all the residents,” she said. “We have a welcoming committee, but I’m not on it. There are a few things that I don’t do!”

GOING for Gold

Winter has always been a time to shine for Jeanne Marie Ulmer, a resident of the Bleiler Caring Cottage at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, and this year she had a golden season.

Jeanne earned two medals for cross-country skiing in the 500M and 1K races at the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Winter Games. With 30 years of competing under her belt, she is “the oldest female long-distance cross-country skier in Pennsylvania,” according to her mother, Jean Ulmer. This is the last year she plans to compete in crosscountry skiing, as she turns her focus to swimming.

The Winter Games feature alpine skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing events. Hundreds of athletes, as well as coaches and volunteers from across Pennsylvania, participated. The Special Olympics provides training and competitive events for persons with intellectual disabilities who are age 8 and older. The games are free for participants and funded by donations and fundraisers.

Jeanne started with the Special Olympics in 1988, when as the attendee of a small private school with no intellectually challenged individuals except herself, she competed, and the other students participated as “buddies” (those who assist athletes in getting to their races and cheer them on). She began with track and field events, softball throw, running races, etc. Later, she added basketball, floor hockey, golf, softball, bowling and swimming to her events.

She has been competing in cross-country skiing since 1992, led by her parents, Jean and Bob, who became certified coaches. The training started when they lived in Tioga County before moving to Elizabethtown in 2004. Jeanne has also attended PA State Summer Games for swimming and track and field and has been in many local and regional competitions for other sports.

In 2005, Jeanne was chosen to represent the United States at the Special Olympics World Games in Nagano, Japan, the site of the 1998 Olympics. She was one of six athletes from Pennsylvania and the only cross-country skier to attend the 10-day event. She competed alongside 33 athletes from the United States and earned a silver medal for the 4 x 1K relay, as well as fourth place and seventh place ribbons. She also made more than 100 keychains to hand out to athletes and volunteers. Beyond competing, she stayed in a Japanese village, interacted with townspeople, attended special events, ate Japanese food and learned a few words in Japanese.

“Japan has always been a special place for her since we lived there when her dad was in the Navy. She was one month shy of being born in Japan, and her brother was stationed aboard a Navy ship in Sasebo, Japan, while she was at the games.”

“Attending the World Games was one of the highlights of her life and created a lasting memory for her, as well as me,” Jean said.

Over the last 30 years, Jeanne has earned well over 100 medals, although Jean admits they lost count. Jeanne also served as a Global Messenger Athlete and has spoken publicly about her experiences. Making friends has always been as important to Jeanne as earning medals.

bus person in Café 1911 on campus and looks forward to opportunities to expand her role. She also likes participating with the Elizabethtown College Best Buddies program and attending St. Paul’s Church.

“We are extremely proud of Jeanne and all the accomplishments she has made,” Jean said. “Special Olympics has enabled her to develop her physical abilities and has provided activities for her leisure time. It’s not just about her achievements. It’s more about the social interactions and experiences she’s had that she wouldn’t have had otherwise. We’ve seen her self-esteem grow from participating over the years.”

Jeanne moved to the Bleiler Caring Cottage in 2010. She works as a

Jeanne’s future looks bright as she continues her accomplishments in competition and in life.

CELEBRATING A QUARTER CENTURY

Masonic Village’s Bleiler Caring Cottage is celebrating 25 years in 2023. It began as Lancaster County’s only in-home respite care facility in 1998. A year later, the first permanent residents moved in, and the respite care program was eliminated in 2003. Today, the eight residents of the Bleiler Caring Cottage work,

volunteer and generally enjoy life on and off campus, with involvement in programs like Elizabethtown College Best Buddies, Special Olympics Pennsylvania and Night to Shine through the Tim Tebow Foundation. Many generous donors contribute to the Bleiler Caring Cottage, including Masonic Village residents Ken and Elaine Bleiler (parents of Bleiler Caring Cottage resident Debbie Bleiler), who established the Bleiler Caring Cottage Endowment Fund in 2002. Funds from Elaine’s angel pin sales also support the cottage.

Residents, staff and donors celebrated the anniversary together at a special dinner and program on April 27.

“I like making friends in other counties and throughout the world,” Jeanne said. “I like to be active in sports.”

“I like that I can walk lots of places on the grounds, including work,” she said. “I enjoy my job.”

Below, Bleiler Caring Cottage residents attend the Night to Shine event (l-r): Joe, Beth, Holly, Don, Scotty, Debbie, program manager Heather Secrist [in front], Jeanne and Howard

Writing is an art ...

of crafting ideas and experiences into words — words that can be used to instruct, inform and inspire. Residents of Masonic Village have embraced writing as a profession and a passion. They’ve composed fictional works, poems and life stories. Some tales may be passed down to future generations, while others are for the satisfaction and eyes of the author only. Putting pen to paper is a small gesture with powerful potential. As German philosopher, poet, cultural critic and composer Friedrich Nietzsche said:

“All I need is a sheet of paper and something to write with, and then I can turn the world upside down.”

A Road Less Traveled:

Gail Neustadt’s latest book features beautiful illustrations and whimsical animals in a tale meant to enchant. This is one book, however, you should not judge by its cover. It shares a very personal story — portraying in a dreamlike manner an experience that was very real and very challenging.

Written under her pen name, Dylan Weiss, “Traveling Our Road” describes the winding 15-year journey she took with her late husband, David Neustadt, as they navigated his life with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

While the experience was challenging for Gail, it was especially hard for her grandson to understand what was happening to grandpa. She wrote him a special story, originally known as “Dave’s Tale.”

To help other families experiencing the same journey, Gail decided to publish the tale. She chose illustrator Abigail Walouke, who brought the story to life with unique animal drawings.

Throughout her more than a decade as a caregiver, Gail felt she had lost her sense of humor. Using animals to tell David’s story was her way of recapturing it.

“When I started writing, the animals wrote the story. The animals were in my soul,” she said.

“My skunks, beavers, whale, walking stick and mouse, all were there. They did some pretty hilarious things, bringing humor back into my life. After all, laughter is the best medicine.”

Ideally, “Traveling Our Road” would be read by a parent to a child prior to visiting an ill grandparent, particularly one with some form of dementia, like Alzheimer’s, to help alleviate anxiety regarding an upcoming visit. The book provides ideas to the child, allowing them to establish their grandparent’s inner smile, for example, by sharing a special talent like playing an instrument, singing a song or drawing a picture.

The story includes symbolism for adults, such as when the man in the book gives the woman blue flowers, known as forget-me-nots, which are a symbol of Alzheimer’s. The flowers symbolize Gail taking responsibility for David as his caregiver. There are two characters, Amy and Lloyd, who represent the amyloid plaque that is found on the brain of those with Alzheimer’s. Also in the story, the mouse who scans the landscape on the isle of ills turns to the left, which is symbolic of how

the left side of the brain controls language and how Alzheimer’s also caused communication issues for David.

Gail donates profits from independent sales of the book, available on Amazon, to research prevention and/or a cure for early-onset Alzheimer’s.

After David passed away, Gail chaired her local Parks and Recreation Board, and her involvement with the park system, along with promoting green efforts, inspired her “Skunk Tales Trilogy,” a fictional series about environmental destruction and how the animal characters confront it. Written under her pen name, the books include “Norton’s Tale” and “Sebastian’s Tale,” with the third book in the series, “A Tale of Quinn’s Quill,” underway. In this story, Quinn, a porcupine, is an investigative reporter looking into how beavers, groundhogs and skunks can organize to save a new environmental threat.

“I’ll be sad when I finish the three books,” she said. “I’ll lose my animal friends. But by using my voice and the power of the pen, I’ve met new and fascinating people, now good friends, who have helped me become the effective advocate and educator I am today.”

Gail spent her career as a speech-language pathologist, specializing in geriatrics, having also minored in psychology and English literature. She owned a rehabilitation contract company providing physical, occupational and speech-language therapy in long-term care settings. She has had a variety of experiences writing articles, speeches, manuals and how-to guidelines.

Her first foray into writing was based on personal experiences with her mother, who had Parkinson’s disease. After some frustrations navigating Medicare regulations to get her mother the proper treatment, Gail was inspired to make a difference by writing “Reimbursable Geriatric Service Delivery, a Functional Maintenance Therapy System,” published by Aspen, which became a best seller in her profession. This led to an invitation by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to assist in the development of new assessment tools to be used in long-term care settings, still in effect today.

Her article about the creative communications program she developed while caring for her husband, “Sharing the Load,” won an Excel Award for the American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association (ASHA) from the Society of National Association of Publishers in the literary category.

Although “Traveling Our Road” is a memoir intended for children, Gail’s publisher is encouraging her to write a full memoir, sharing specific difficulties along that caregiving road and what she did. Gail has also shared a new version of “Dave’s Tale” with her three other grandchildren who were born after he died, and thus a sequel to “Traveling Our Road” is in the works. In this one, she will start at the end,

with an image of herself handing David poppies to symbolize morphine, and then her heading down a green road.

On her website, www.authordylanweiss.com, is information about her books, articles and her blog, “Sky Writing,” where she shares the back stories about her writing, as well as some of her experiences with David.

Gail has lived at Masonic Village at Sewickley since 2022. She’s involved in the writers’ group and the Committee for Sustainable Living which aims to educate residents in understanding how lifestyle choices impact our environment and help find ways to live better.

“I love living here, among interesting neighbors with their own incredible stories,” she said. “One of the selling points for me was the Eden Alternative® certification in its health care center. This state-of-the-art philosophy of care, although specific to nursing facilities, is pervasive throughout all levels of care at Masonic Village, making it a unique regional continuing care retirement community.”

Gail will continue to use her words to inspire and educate her friends and neighbors. Using book sales, she has a way to give back.

“Everyone has difficulties and roads they travel,” she said. “I’ve made it through 78 years. My children and grandchildren are fabulous, and I have a wonderful place to live, so book profits are my new play dough.”

ON THE RECORD

Jean Campbell still saves a stack of newspaper clippings in her apartment at Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill from her years as a newspaper reporter back in the late 1960s.

As a writer for the Roxborough Review, the Roxborough/ Manayunk Advertiser and the Philadelphia Bulletin, Jean covered numerous civic association meetings, school board meetings and city zoning meetings and traveled downtown to cover meetings of the school board of Philadelphia and the zoning board of adjustment.

She got her start in 1969 when she saw an ad in the Advertiser seeking a news correspondent and decided to apply for the job. In addition to writing about news events, she authored a monthly column titled “Ramblings,” in which she would highlight birthdays and wedding anniversaries.

The assistant editor for the Bulletin, looking to “keep up with the competition,” was impressed with Jean’s writing and offered her a job at that paper, too, covering community activities.

“I worked for both papers at the same time,” Jean said. “It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun. I met great people and learned a lot about the community.”

At times, it was difficult working from her home office with four children to watch and a husband at work. If she couldn’t find a sitter, Jean would have to take one of her children with her to a meeting.

Jean loved seeing her byline in the paper. One of the articles that moved her the most was about

a black family who moved into the area in the 1960s, during the height of segregation.

“Everyone was so up in arms about it, but the family was very nice,” she said. “I saw the mother in the kindergarten schoolyard and had her join our carpool. One of the people in our carpool dropped out because she didn’t like the family. You learn a lot about people when something like that happens.”

Jean continued her stint as a reporter until 1974, when the executive director at Interac, a local community mental health center, offered her a job in the public relations/community relations department.

She contributed articles to the center’s monthly publications and was the face of Interac at the same civic associations she once covered for the newspapers.

Before retiring, she worked as an executive assistant in administration at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine for 18 years.

Jean, who grew up in South Philadelphia, considers herself a “self-taught” writer. She didn’t study journalism in high school and didn’t attend college. But she was an avid reader and always enjoyed playing Scrabble and word games.

“I used to read the works of Hemingway and Faulkner and the classics of Mark Twain,” she said. “There was also this French author I admired, Guy de Maupassant. Through reading his works, I learned how to construct a story and get it to flow to hold the reader’s interest until the end. That’s what inspired me to write.”

Jean and her husband, Anthony, moved to Roxborough, a suburb of Philadelphia, in 1964 and lived in the same threebedroom home for decades. Jean stayed in the house after her husband died but moved to Masonic Village about two years ago.

“I wasn’t ready to move, but one day I was outside watering the lawn and thought to myself, ‘I’m tired of this.’” she said. “All the responsibility was too much. I looked at five different places, and Masonic Village was last. I got a very good vibe when I came through the door. I took a tour and thought it was very clean, and everyone greeted you. It has been a great experience, and I’ve made a lot of friends.”

Jean recently joined the gardening group and is currently secretary of the Retirement Living Association. She enjoys visiting with her four children, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

While she doesn’t write much anymore, Jean did submit an old poem that was published in Masonic Village’s resident newsletter. She’ll always have memories of a long and fun career, which she can reminisce about while reading her clippings.

“It was a great experience,” she said.

GIFTS

by Jean Campbell

A cloud drifting by, A bird in the sky,

Do they sometimes make you wonder Who gives us all these wondrous gifts, The sun, the sky, the thunder.

What makes the grass and trees smell sweet

After a springtime rain

Why does the sun hide in back of a cloud

And soon peek out again.

One day the sea is smooth as glass,

The next a raging, frightening mass Of foam and froth and surging waves That plunges men to watery graves.

It must be someone with infinite learning

Who lights the stars and keeps them burning

Who casts the sunset in a golden hue Who paints the sky a sparkling blue.

The warmth of the sun

The green of the sod, All these things are gifts from God.

The majesty of a snowcapped mountain

The grandeur of a bubbling fountain

These are gifts of wealth untold, These are gifts worth more than gold.

“These people knew and trusted me, and believed what I said, so that was a little ‘in,’” Jean said.

Working and Writing

When Anita Miller was in the eighth grade, her teacher, Ms. Hochberg, suggested she enter an essay contest sponsored by the Colonial Dames of America. She won first place in Montgomery County and Pennsylvania. The recognition helped her realize she could make a career out of writing.

Anita took classes at Temple University and later applied for a reporter position at The Philadelphia Inquirer. The editors wanted her to cover Bucks County, but she convinced them she should write her own column instead.

In one of her first columns, she chronicled her experience visiting the flight deck of the aircraft carrier S.S. Abraham Lincoln in San Francisco, California. She was invited there by Commander Donald L. Baker, U.S. Naval Reserve, a friend of hers for 34 years.

Although she spent much of her life writing, Anita had another love: theater. After graduating from high school, she toured with the USO American Theater Wing, performing on Army bases and Naval ships during World War II.

While living in New York City, Anita took singing lessons at the famed Irving Berlin Studio. She often performed with a band at weddings and sweet sixteen parties.

Anita grew up in Jeffersonville, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Norristown High School in 1944 with three writing awards. She also performed in all the school plays.

While writing for the Inquirer, Anita also worked for WBUX Radio in Doylestown. She had her own radio show with her own guests. She stayed at the station for more than eight years.

Anita continued writing for several local magazines and newspapers, including two airline flight publications. Dissatisfied with the quality of one of the publications during a flight, she contacted the editor to ask if she could contribute an article.

Anita taught two courses at Bucks County Community College. The first one, “Getting Up and Getting Out When You’re Left Alone,” was about bouncing back after being widowed or divorced. The second one, “So You Always Wanted to Get Your Name in the Papers and Didn’t Know How to Do it,” taught students how to do their own public relations.

Anita decided to run for the Warminster School Board in the 1970s against two men, and she won. She also found housing for more than 20 Italian students who came to the states through the Foreign Study League French and Italian programs. In addition, Anita worked for the Solebury School in New Hope as director of public relations and special events.

She grew up in a large Masonic family and is Past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star Morning Light Chapter No. 312 in Hatboro.

“I’ve been involved with [Eastern Star] for about 20 years,” she said. “My dad, my uncles and my brothers, all of them were Masons.”

Anita married her husband Len in 1953 and the couple had two children. They lived for many years in their Warminster home before Len passed away in 1980. Anita moved to Masonic Village about a year ago.

In her free time, Anita loves to read, cook and bake. She is a longtime board member of the Peace Valley Center for Autism in Chalfont. Her son’s twins are both autistic, and she is very dedicated to the cause.

Anita, who turned 96 in March, credits years of writing and an engaging career for keeping her mind sharp.

“Reading helps my brain,” she said. “I recently took a trip to the thrift store and bought three more books. I love to read.”

“Everyone loved the story, and I ended up writing for the paper for more than eight years,” Anita, who now resides at the Masonic Village at Warminster, said.

“Sometimes I think it was pure insanity that I did all the things I did at the same time, but I never had a job I didn’t love,” she said. “It was an insane time in my life, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“It’s very clean here, and the personnel are excellent,” she said. “There’s a lot of intelligence and a good sense of humor. Every day I play Scrabble. During COVID, I walked the halls and read and played solitaire.”

When Michael Sanfilippo was younger, his father was always building or taking apart electronics, whether it was stereos or radios. It was one of his hobbies and soon became Michael’s, as well.

Michael, a Masonic Village at Dallas resident, began pursuing electronics training after high school. After enlisting in the U.S. Air Force, he took courses and received formal instruction on how to work on radar equipment.

While stationed in the Philippines, Michael completed a temporary tour of duty in Thailand, where he helped build a radar approach control site for Bangkok International Airport. After eight years in the service, Michael took his training to the civilian level, becoming chief engineer for the radio and television stations at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).

At IUP, he developed an electronics curriculum and taught continuing education night classes for five years. His students were adults returning to the workforce who needed a refresher course in electronics.

SHARING HIS Knowledge

The first edition of that book was written in England. Michael rewrote it using American terminology and added chapters in Boolean Algebra and Microprocessors.

Later, as editorial director for the National Education Corporation (NEC), which operated 50 technical schools in the United States, Michael standardized and wrote an entire series of outlines for books, teachers’ guides and lab manuals for electronics.

“At all the schools, the teachers were using different books,” he said. “If you wanted to transfer schools, it was difficult. The NEC asked me to put together a program to standardize everything throughout all the schools.” While doing so, a friend asked Michael if he would be interested in writing technical books. An editor was looking for authors to write about transistors and other solid-state devices, or semiconductor electronics.

Today, Michael is the author of two books on electronics: “Solid State Electronics with Experiments,” published in 1987 by TAB Books, and the second edition of “Understanding Digital Electronics,” published in 1989.

“When I was a kid, it could be difficult to understand electronics, especially if the teachers used a lot of math,” he said. “The first thing they want you to know in college is calculus and differential equations. I always try to look at the subject matter in a different way. I always said if I ever had a chance to write something, I would write it in simple terms, because that’s how people learn.”

As the training supervisor for C-TEC Corporation (now Frontier Communications), a company that sold telephone equipment to corporations, schools and hotels, Michael created a new employee orientation program and taught courses in time management, stress management, interview techniques and succession planning. He also wrote an instruction manual for a system that was used to schedule telecommunications repair work for the company’s customers.

After leaving C-TEC, Michael became director of marketing at BortonLawson Engineering, where he wrote a high school program for students interested in pursuing a career in engineering. His last job before retiring

“I decided this was an opportunity to put together a program and teach complicated subject matter better than the way I had learned it, in layman’s terms that people could understand,” Michael said.

was as a management analyst and program/specifications writer for the Social Security Administration in the IT department.

“It was the best job I ever had,” Michael said. “I was able to write and learn a new program language. The biggest thing was helping people who were calling [into the Social Security Administration] and to solve any issues they might have.”

Michael and his wife, Molly, retired together in 2017 and moved to Masonic Village at Dallas in September 2021. Michael became a library volunteer and, in October 2022, began reorganizing and cataloguing roughly 800 books in the library.

“The most difficult part of the work involves selecting books to be donated to our local public libraries for their yearly used book sale in July,” he said. “I recently began keeping track of books signed out by residents so I can eventually analyze the most popular categories and authors, and we’ll know in the future which books to provide to the residents and which books we can donate.”

Michael receives many compliments from staff and residents for his work. He credits Molly, as well as Carolyn Bosak, executive assistant, for their advice and assistance.

“When I first got here, there were books everywhere,” he said. “I’m retired, and I have time, so I thought I could clean it up and sort it out, and everyone was thrilled. People appreciate the library and have kept it nice for me, which makes my job easier.”

Keeping the library up to date keeps Michael’s brain sharp and satisfies his love of learning.

“Teaching and writing are a lot like being a librarian because people come to you for information and you provide it,” Michael said. “The librarian points people in the right direction or provides information for them, whether it’s a specific book someone told them about or a subject matter they are interested in. That’s where the connection is.”

A STORY Only You Can Tell

Everyone has a life story to tell, but it can be hard to sort through 70 or 80 years of experiences and memories. With the right guidance and encouragement, putting pen to paper can be simple and satisfying, giving your future family members something to cherish.

In 2015, following her passion for writing and journalism, Masonic Village at Elizabethtown resident Marjorie “Marj” Keen (shown right) decided to facilitate a chapter of the Lancaster County Life Story group, of which she was a member, at Masonic Village.

As a field professional of over 40 years with a great curiosity about the lives of others, Marj has always had a knack for telling and retelling stories.

For over 20 years, she served as a “ghostwriter” for many clients who wanted assistance writing autobiographies. Marj

traveled to the home or office of her clients for countless sessions of interviewing and recording, sometimes up to 25 hours per client. She then transcribed, edited and shaped the interviews into logical written works. Once both she and the client were satisfied, illustrations were chosen, and Marj worked with an editor, book designer, printer and bookbinder to produce an end product that later received an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and copyright.

Prior to her history book experience, Marj was a correspondent for various newspapers, including The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era and The Patriot-News, and she wrote articles for magazines such as The Penn Stater and Writer’s Digest.

Marj stepped down from leading the group after the pandemic, and resident Dennis Strain (shown above) now coordinates the bi-monthly Life Story Writing group. Dennis was a litigation coordinator, a career which

included writing case summaries and briefs, or “story creating,” for trial attorneys. Upon his retirement, he needed a new creative outlet, so he started writing and storytelling.

He and his wife, Shannon, moved to Masonic Village in 2018, and while they initially planned their move for five to 10 years in the future, they knew they wanted to come here while they still had the time and energy to get involved in all the activities. In addition to the Life Story Writing group, Dennis takes part in the Geriactors, Courses for the Curious, the Inquisitives and leading storytelling programs on campus.

The group is open to writers and those with no experience at all. People are encouraged to share one episode of their life story, not their entire life story at once, which makes it less intimidating. They can then build the rest of their story from that one episode. Dennis even invites people to just come and listen if they want, and maybe they’ll be inspired to start writing. Participants connect with one another and often feel as if “you’ve known them your whole life,” according to Dennis.

“There’s definitely a variety of writing. Some people are writing stories about things that have happened recently, and other people are sharing memories from 30, 40 years ago,” Dennis said. “They often find that other members’ lives contain some of the same memories as their own. Some of the stories are really funny, and it’s just a delight to hear them.”

Her love for storytelling and drawing remained throughout her life. As an early childhood educator and owner of a nursery school for more than 20 years, she loved sharing stories with the children at her school.

In 2018, she took a “Storytelling for Beginners” workshop led by Dennis after his move to Masonic Village. He taught her the process of storyboarding, or drawing out her story, before sitting down to write it. This technique combined her two passions with a new one: writing.

During Life Story Writing meetings, each participant is invited to read a 5- to 7-minute story that gives “a brief insight into a life event, which helps to revisit fond memories, keep the mind sharp and create keepsakes for future generations,” Dennis said.

“The focus of the group is simply to make it easier for people to tell their stories. We don’t work on writing technique, and there’s no criticism on your storytelling skills. The feedback you get is people sharing similar experiences or reactions to yours. That’s probably one of the strongest attractions to the group, since it’s just a large group of people sharing stories rather than some kind of performance.”

MARILYN’S STORY

Growing up, Marilyn Varnum always had a love for drawing and storytelling. Her sister filled the role of the writer in the family, and Marilyn would tell her sister’s stories with much expression.

Marilyn and her husband, Rick Hansen, moved to Masonic Village in 2017. She joined Marj’s Lancaster County Life Story Group in 2018. Writing became an outlet for her, and she has since written over 97 stories. She keeps them in binders, along with photos and newspaper clippings, covering her life story, her children’s lives, her grandchildren’s stories, her spiritual journey and her life together with Rick.

While she hopes her family reads the stories in the future, her true purpose was to write her life story. Writing helped her cope with being a caregiver for Rick, who had Alzheimer’s prior to his passing two years ago. She wrote about his daily life, care and schedule. These stories were helpful for her to share with nurses who cared for him once he was in the Masonic Health Care Center.

“They got to know the real Rick,” she said, “and they appreciated knowing his routine.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone into isolation, her writing gave her a renewed focus.

Continued on page 20

“When I got here, I thought, here’s a group of people with a ton of stories. Bringing those out is so valuable,” Dennis said.

“The group is so accepting,” participant Marilyn Varnum said. “Everyone claps when you’re done reading. They may ask a few questions, but there’s no pressure. You really form a bond with each other.”

“My lonely hours were filled with the creativity of writing. I wrote to my heart’s content to get through this difficult time,” she said.

She shared her stories with her husband, hoping to keep some of his past memories alive, as well as with her husband’s caregiver, Terri Koehler, also a resident who works with Masonic Village Home Care. Terri was very supportive of Marilyn’s efforts.

“These stories have given me new memories of the past while adding the present to them,” she said. “It helps me work though feelings of the past, present and future. Every time I do something now, I think ‘I can write a story.’”

Marilyn’s latest stories highlight her trips taken with the Masonic Village Travel Club. She also keeps a pen and pad by her bed in case an idea hits her in the middle of the night. She encourages others

to join the Life Story Writing group and emphasizes to people that it’s about writing their own story.

“You don’t have to think up the plot,” she said. “It’s already happened. You can start with when you were born and go anywhere you want.”

Marj has spoken with many who often express regret about moments they didn’t record.

“For my own sense, regardless of whether they get published or read, it’s the sense of going back and remembering the most important moments of my life and reconnecting with those past events,” Dennis said. Shown left, members of the Life Story Writing group: Carol Bosserman and Linda Boozer. Above is one of Marilyn’s illustrated storyboards.

“If you feel you’re ready to let your story be told, do it now and don’t put it off,” Marj said.

“Help generations who never knew you understand your story.”

The Office of Mission Advancement and Development provides assistance to residents in need of estate planning services. What services do we provide? It depends on what your needs are. Let me give you an example of a recent meeting I had with a resident couple and how we helped them update their estate plan.

John and Mary recently moved to Masonic Village from sunny Florida to be close to relatives in Pennsylvania. They called me to see if we could meet to discuss the current status of their estate plan and what they should do now that they live in Pennsylvania. They provided me with copies of their estate planning documents and a list of their assets. I reviewed everything and made some recommendations after listening to their concerns and questions about their estate plan.

EXECUTOR AND POWER OF ATTORNEY (POA)

John explained that he and Mary had no children and needed someone to serve as the backup Executor and POA for them. I shared with them a list of providers

Nee d Estate Planning Services?

WE CAN HELP!

By Alvin Blitz, Esq., Chief Development Officer

in the area who serve as Executors and POAs to consider. I also went over the details of how each provider can help them and what their fees were.

ESTATE PLANNING DOCUMENTS

Mary asked if they needed their Wills, Financial POAs, Medical POAs and Living Wills updated. I explained that although the current documents from Florida were probably okay, there were limitations since the current documents referred to Florida law. I suggested they see a local attorney who could draft new documents based on Pennsylvania law that would be more acceptable. I also went over our provider list of attorneys and explained to them the backgrounds of those I was familiar with.

ASSETS

John and Mary had assets consisting substantially of traditional IRAs, brokerage accounts and life insurance on John. They indicated they wanted to help the Masonic Village through their estate plan and asked the best way to do so. I stated charitable planning is what our office focuses on and gave them some suggestions:

Traditional IRAs are taxable to the heirs, but not the charity, so I suggested they designate part of the IRAs upon the passing of the surviving spouse to Masonic Village. I also suggested if they want their heirs to receive income for a period of 20 years from the IRA proceeds, they could designate the IRAs to a charitable remainder trust managed by Masonic Village. At the end of the 20-year period, Masonic Village would receive what is left in the trust.

Continued on page 22

Since the brokerage account is not subject to income tax at their passing, I suggested they have it pass to their heirs through their Wills, with proceeds being used to pay for executor fees, attorney fees and PA inheritance tax first.

The life insurance policy was not large, and John said they really didn’t need it, so I recommended they direct it to their heirs upon John’s passing since it is the only asset in PA that avoids both income tax and PA inheritance tax.

NEXT STEPS

After going over their estate plan with me, John and Mary decided on a local attorney to help them complete their documents. I agreed to call the attorney and let them know what we discussed and asked him to reach out to them to set up an appointment. The rest is history.

You, too, can get access to the same great complimentary services John and Mary received by calling our office at 800-599-6454 and asking for a gift planner and scheduling an appointment. You may also return the enclosed business reply envelope.

These services are available at all our Masonic Village locations throughout Pennsylvania. You do not need to consider the Masonic Charities in your estate plan to receive our complimentary services.

Financial information about Masonic Charities can be obtained by contacting us at 1-800-599-6454. In addition, Masonic Charities is required to file financial information with several states. Colorado: Colorado residents may obtain copies of registration and financial documents from the office of the Secretary of State, (303) 894-2680, http://www.sos.state.co.us/. Florida: SC No. 00774, A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-HELP-FLA. Georgia: full and fair description of the programs and activities of Masonic Charities and its financial statement are available upon request at the address indi-cated above. Illinois: Contracts and reports regarding Masonic Charities are on file with the Illinois Attorney General. Maryland: For the cost of postage and copying, documents and information filed under the Maryland charitable organizations laws can be obtained from the Secretary of State, Charitable Division, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, (800) 825-4510. Michigan: MICS No. 11796

Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Masonic Charities may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888236-6167. New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHAR-ITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY CALLING (973) 504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp.htm#charity. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT. New York: A copy of the latest annual report can be obtained from the organization or from the Office of the Attorney General by writing the Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-888-830-4989.

Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Masonic Charities may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Virginia: Fi-nancial statements are available from the State Office of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218.

Washington: The notice of solicitation required by the Charitable Solicita-tion Act is on file with the Washington Secretary of State, and information relating to financial affairs of Masonic Charities is available from the Secretary of State, and the toll-free number for Washington residents: 1-800-332-4483. West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. REGISTRATION IN THE ABOVE STATES DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION OF MASONIC CHARITIES BY THE STATE.

Thanks to Our Donors

Memorial Gifts

The following memorial gifts were made Nov. 1, 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023. Below is a list of individuals (names shown in blue) whose loved ones have made a gift in their memory to one of the five Masonic Villages. We have taken great care to ensure the accuracy and thoroughness of the names listed below. If an error has been made, please call the Office of Mission Advancement and Development at 1-800-599-6454 or 717-367-1121, ext. 33434; or email giving@masonicvillages.org. Thank you.

The following memorials were inadvertently missed in the Winter 2023 issue. We apologize for this error.

Malvern C. Keifer, Sr. Mary Lou Keifer

Malvern C. “Mac” Keifer, Jr. Mary Lou Keifer

Margaret M. “Peggy” Adams

John T. Adkinson

John W. Albaugh

John D. and Jean C. Albright

Betty Amour

Ronald C. Anderson

Hans D. and Ruth E. Andrae

Catherine A. Anstine

Gaylord N. Arnst

Vincent W. Attaviano

Pheobe J. Babel

Marie C. Backeris

Ronald and Ardeelou Adams

Cheryl Adkinson

Suzanne Wojewodzki

Robert Fulton

John Grezlak

Carol Anderson

Renate and Steven Hylinski

Roland and Carol Anstine

Paul and Susan Allen

Marion Attaviano

W. Allen and Doris Babel

Dean Backeris

Lena M. Baker Russell and Lena Baker

Robert J. Balogh

Peter and Anna Barber

Bertha Barber

Irene A. Bardsley

Betty Ann Beaman

William F. Bechtel

M. June Beears

Carl R. Beidleman

Howard A. Beiseigel

Janice L. Belk

William E. and Ruth K. Best

Nancy Biehl

Kay B. Bigley

Keith G. Billig

Donna Gehm Puchino

Jo-Ann and Ray Foltz

Samuel Barber

Ray and Wendy George

Craig Bryan and Patricia Beaman

Joanne Bechtel

David and Delores Walmer

Joanne Beidleman

John and Donna Kay Beiseigel

Arthur and Judith Jervis

Linda Muller

W. Clark Biehl

Geraldine Marks

Brian Billig

Vicki Black Roy and Karen Stern

John C. Blanck

Gary Blass

Olga Bokulic Mendicino

Kathryn Boone

Anna Borek

Charles R. and Jean B. Botts

John W. Bowman

Frank and Ruth Brandon

John Blanck, Sr.

Barry and Karen Chaskin

Mileen Jurcak

Betty Jane Green

Josephine Prince

Karen Botts

John Bowman, Jr.

Brian and Karen Teaman

Irwin W. and Merial G. Brenner Andrew Latschar

Olin W. and Gladys Brubaker Karl Buus

Edward Budman

Oscar and Angila Smith IV

Sara E. Burdan Friendship Chapter No. 551, O.E.S.

Frank M. Burton Stacie and Paul Lewis

David E. Cale Daniel and Gretchen Cale

Michael and Connie McKee

Charles S. Canning Marianne Canning

Anthony Caputzal Frank Caputzal

Richard F. and Margaret D. Case Sylvia and Dennis Ulion

Martha J. Chard Lloyd and Laura Heisey

Alton E. Cherry Karen Cherry

Robert T. Clough, Sr. Dale and Jeanne Haller

Alva G. and Martha Cochran

Thomas and Carol Cochran

Herbert J. Cohen Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 155

Alice Conard T. Edwin Conard

Carolyn A. Connor

Vincent Connor

Delores L. Costanza Debra Miller

Catherine F. Crouch

Wayne V. Dallas

Catherine Crouch

Warren and Donna Dallas

Donald G. and Irma M. Davidson William and Nancy Davidson

Dorothy E. Davis

George Rendell

Jason L. Dean Richard Dean

Mary Dearden

Thomas P. DeFroscia

Bryan and Eileen Hill

Patricia DeFroscia

Anna K. Deik Cynthia and Richard Deik

Walter G. and Nancy H. DePrefontaine Leslie DePrefontaine

Chester A. and Marian E. Derk, Sr. Chester and Barbara Derk, Jr.

Frank J. DeStefano, Jr.

Omar E. DeWald

Vic and Dotty DeWeese

Arthur L. Dinger

John J. and Rose Donati

Teresa M. Donati

Robert L. Douty

William and Kathy Prazenica

Constance DeWald

H. William DeWeese

Darwin and Judith Chilcote

John Donati, Jr.

John Donati, Jr.

Barbara Douty

Rena E. Dressler Dale Dressler

Mary V. Dulcey

Richard E. Dumbaugh

James and Kathleen Dulcey

Richard and Ann Dumbaugh, Jr.

Mary S. Duncan David Duncan

William J. Ebertshauser

William Ebertshauser

Joseph W. and Christina Eby

Marjory Eby

Anna Mae Eiceman Berle Eiceman

Patsy Eichler

Marie G. Elliott

Felix I. Harper

Yvonne Deiter

Garry and Pat Roberson

Walter H. Elvidge, Sr. Walter Elvidge, Jr.

Walter R. Elvidge

John and Laura Enie

Paul H. Eshenaur, Jr.

Clair R. Evans

Lauretta Ezard

Linda K. Fahnestock

Walter Elvidge, Jr.

Carl and Carol Willis

Kenneth and Elaine Bleiler

Betty Deibert

Fred and Imelda Evans

Joan Hurdle

David and Delores Walmer

Amos M. Fenstermacher Centennial Commandery No. 55

Otto H. Ferrari

Mary L. Fertenbaugh

Barbara B. Fine

Knights Templar

Joanne Ferrari

Janet Starner

Richard Fine

Bertram J. Forsyth Mark and Linda Ransbottom

Charity L. Founds Barry and Mary Founds

Ruth E. Franke Rachel Werner

Robert A. Frederick Katherine Frederick

Grace M. Frishkorn Cynthia and Richard Deik

Charles G. Frishmuth

Roy E. Fulmer

Helen E. Fultz

Ronald and Katherine Frishmuth

J. Lorraine Jordan

Jack and Debra Fulmer

Craig Fultz

Larry Gajdek Richard and Barbara Maffett

Michael G. Galay

Hugh J. Gallagher

Rudolf and Mary Galli

Edward J. Gaul

James H. Gaul

Alfred I. Gery

Jacqueline H. Gery

Joan Galay

Eileen Mahan

Nicholas and Andrea Galli

Edward and Carol Gaul

Edward and Carol Gaul

Palestine-Roxborough Lodge No. 135

Robert Gery

Lawrence J. Good Houseman Lodge No. 211

Martin E. and Doris Mae Gotsch D. Jane and Joseph Bruton

Kenneth and Betty Greenfield

Donald E. and Helen D. Gregg

James L. Grimm

Martin J. Grochowski

Robert P. Grogan

Carl Hackman, Sr.

Richard and Geraldine Miller

Amy Fassett

Barbara O’Hagan

Margaret Grimm

Marion Grochowski

Robert and Patrice Snyder

David and Rebecca Gerhart

Evelyn Hackman

Meade H. Hahn II Jeffrey and A. Catherine Mathias

Russell G. Haldeman

Joan H. Hall

Ralph and Dorothy Hamm

Ervin C. Hamme

Richard and Gail Scott-Harper

Leroy Harpster Jeffrey and Lou-Ann Fenstermacher

Joel and Diane T. Harrar James and Ann Harrar

Glenn O. Hawbaker, Jr. Barbara Hawbaker

Gladys R. Heisey Lloyd and Laura Cacenes Heisey

Grace M. Hepford

Nancy Leuschner

Shelton and Julie Smith

Wilbur R. Herr Doris Beane

Jack E. Hestor

Helen Hetson

Nesha Haldeman

William Hall

Dennis and Elaine Hamm

Jenni Fackler

Janet Hestor

Leonard Hetson

Charles “Bud” Hilgeman James and Betty Gotta, Jr.

Robert J. Hirsch

Jerome L. and Kathryn Hitz

Betty J. Hoehn

Frederick W. Hoffmeyer

Matthew Tyler Langer Hirsch

Paul Thompson

Albert Hoehn

William Hoffmeyer

George H. Hohenshildt William and Kathy Prazenica

Bertha D. Hollinger

J. Richard Hollinger

Martha Carter Hoover

JoAnne Hollinger

David and Jane Hollinger

Ralph and Diann Hoover

Ralph C. and Emma V. Horne Mary Anne Cooling

Janice L. Horst

Kay L. Horst

Emil A. Horvath

Marty Houck

Velma G. Hughes

Edward Horst

Edward Horst

David and Susan Horvath

Ronald Robert Norman

Frank Hughes, Jr.

Gene H. and Mary Ellen Huston Jane Huston

Cheryl A. Hutchinson

Louise M. Hutchinson

Esther Jennings

John Hutchinson

Kathryn Barone

Robert Jones

Elmer O. Johnson Anna Johnson

Howard Kane Lisa Myers

Lee R. and Kathleen B. Kegris Judith Edwards-Leese

Donald W. Kemerer

Joseph and Joanie Ondrako

Gerald E. Kemmerer Kenneth and Katherine Burkholder

Richard and Gail Remaly

William and Helen Young

Ronald J. Kerstetter Jeffrey and A. Catherine Mathias

Anne M. Kinkle

Patricia R. Kinsey

Sarah A. Kinzey

David E. Kleinfelter

Earl M. and Mae Kline

Albert and Mary R. Kling

Helen Cope Knelly

Mary C. Knight

Joanna Kohl

Janet Kovac

William and Donna Kinkle

Paul and Jane Kinsey

Masonic Village Travel Club

Elizabethtown Masonic Village Shrine Club

Eugene and Anna Kline

Albert Kling

Denise Dougherty

C. J. and Kathleen Knight III

Roger and Cheryl Friedman

Steven John Kovac

Marion H. Krecker Baird Krecker

Joan D. Kuhn

Kim and Michael English

Frederick T. Kull, Sr. F. Thomas and Margaret Kull, Jr.

Linda L. Kurtz

George and Viola Lance

William R. Lange

Robert O. Large

Arlene R. Laubach

Grace E. Laubach

Alice A. Lawless

M. Frank Lawrence

Marjorie Learn

Patricia Lefever Miller

Roland and Ruth Lenker

Kay Duffy

Lester W. and Mary L. Moll

Southampton Square Club

Camilla Anderson

Nancy Blakeway

Kenneth and Katherine Burkholder

R. Donald and Eloise Dreese

Kay Fertich

Keith and Andrea Hand

Kitty Large and Family

Patricia Rudy

Mary Yeager

Mary Yeager

Michele Griffiths

Virginia Lawrence

William and Kathy Prazenica

Patricia Pisarek

Judith Rankin

Rebecca L. Lenz James and Betty Gotta, Jr.

Albert O. Leonhard

Helen B. Libhart

Lee and Helen Lindermuth

Gary Albert Leonhard

William and Kathy Prazenica

Gary and Linda Lindermuth

Arthur and Edith M. Linington George and Kathleen Gonzalez

Mary Lou Livingston

Edward R. and Dorothy P. Lloyd

Lonnie L. Logan

Faye A. Lokey

E. Russell Long

Carol A. Longenecker

Harry K. Longenecker

Jerry F. Longwell

George and Anna Margaret Lubic

Arthur T. Lukens, Jr.

Elaine Lukens

John T. Lutz

Mildred J. Lutz

Robert H. Lyons

Rowland B. Mahany

Martha B. Marks

Earl H. Matz Forrest and Dorothy Shadle

Audrey J. McBride

Clair E. McCall

Thomas Livingston

Christine Petrucci

Masonic Village Travel Club

Kenneth and Doris Beane

Bryan and Eileen Hill

John Lokey

R. Richard Wright, Jr.

James and Erin Tierney

Vicki Gillmore

Jack Longenecker

David and Delores Walmer

Ronald Swope

Jill Swartz

Rita Vorkapich

Arthur and Debra Lukens

Jean Logan

Arthur and Debra Lukens

Mahlon and Christine Fuller

Cynthia Reddington

J. Jack and Grace Sherman

Richard and Pamela Mahany

Friendship Chapter No. 551, O.E.S.

Joseph C. Martin Francine and Richard Desmarais

Lance and Amy Martin

Lisa McBride

Eva McCall

William J. McCann James and Joan Walters, Jr.

Norwood A. McDaniel

Patrick J. and Audrey J. McGough

Louise Weber

June Kupstas

Michael C. McGovern Judith McGovern

Jane K. McKnight

Arline E. McKrell

Jane W. Meister

Robert R. Melisko

Jenifer Bush

David Keep

Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett, P.C.

Ronald and Judy McKnight

Charlene Nies

Marilyn Vansteelant

Janice Winschel

Sally Smiley

John Meister

Judith Melisko

Paul R. and Anna L. Mena Thomas and Claudia Stephens, Jr.

Phil and Adele Mendelsohn Judy and Larry Marcus

Paul E. Meyers

Donald Meyers

Andrew Micio III Whitfield Lodge No. 622

Ann E. Miller

Harvey R. Miller

John B. Miller

Joyce Hemphill Miller

Patricia A. Lefever Miller

Ruth Ellen Miller

Lillian Milliron

William A. Monahan

Mary Miller

Rachelle Miller

John Frederick and Dorothy Miller

Jo Anne Malone

Patricia Pisarek

David and Delores Walmer

Eric and Lois Milliron

Frank and Ginny Hartlage

Edward H. Monefeldt Anne and Alberto Gaglianese

James R. Moore

Frank Murawski

Gertrude K. Myers

Leon C. Myers

Michael P. Nass

James C. Nickle

Ann D. Nixon

Marie Massa

Walter and Mary Masters

Michael and Rebecca Maxwell

Susanne Nesmith

Howard R. and Betty Nolf

Ruth Forbes

Lorraine Murawski

Stephen and Kathy Kiessling

Jay and Bonita Myers

Christine Nass

Thomas and Terry Kamerzel

Thomas and Deborah Nickle

Susan Conner

The Diggin’s Families

Kimiko Fuhrmann

The Nixon Family

Nancy and Richard Talley

Hedwig (Hedy) E. Noll Hargis and Helen Knoechel

James E. Olson

Nancy J. Parke

Roy H. Parker

Nancy J. Parry

James D. Pearce

Gloria Olson

Donna and George Hunter

Shirley Lou Thomas

Susan Parker

Catherine Shultz

William Pearce

Thomas B. Peck

Catherine and Robert Hallin

Paul M. and Florence G. Peet Cynthia Reddington

Lewis P. Penman

Kenneth and Darla McClain

Ronald D. Pennebaker Houseman Lodge No. 211

William T. Penny Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 155

Mariel Penoyer Elizabethtown Masonic Village Shrine Club

William A. (Billy) Peoples Michael Curtis and Suzanne Beidleman

Doris B. Peters Kenneth and Katherine Burkholder

Joseph and Leona Petrosky

Thomas C. Phillips

Edward D. Potter

John P. Rahm, Jr.

Jack E. Rankin

Linda L. Rankin

Harriet F. Senkinc

Paul and Cheryl Skiviat

John M. Shaud, Jr. Mary Shaud

Dolores E. Sheehan

Bonnie M. Shellenhamer

Edwin J. and Sarah Shellenhamer

James G. Sholly

Michael and Eileen Sheehan

Kenneth Shellenhamer

Kenneth Shellenhamer

Betty Sholly

Melvin E. and Lucille M. Shroyer Nancy Baker

Cynthia Lee Sibole Rich and Sandy Johnson

Jack S. Silar

John Donati, Jr.

T. Edwin Conard

Masonic Village Travel Club

John Bowman, Jr.

Judith Rankin

Judith Rankin

H. Stanley Redline Duane and Doris Redline

Louise J. Restagno Rick and Barb Huff

Ted and Sharon Pauley

Mildred C. Rider

Ruth M. Rissmiller

William F. and Elizabeth E. Ritz

William A. Roberts

Richard and Sandra Daniels

Edward and Ann Horting

Harry and Deborah Ritz

Whitfield Lodge No. 622

Ralph T. and Mildred C. Robinson, Sr.

James R. and Betty Jane R. Rodisch

Gloria A. Rolston

Martha C. Ros

Debra K. Rosensteel

R. Thomas and Elizabeth Robson, Jr.

James Rodisch

Michael and Trudy Failor

Alberto Ros

Kenneth and Katherine Burkholder

Robert W. and Natalie H. Roth

Walter F. and Elisabeth P. Ruffer

Charles P. and Elinore Ruhl

Mabel Ruhlandt

Robert and Jean Saam

Helen Saintz

William N. and Rose Samans

Vernon C. Sanders

Billie J. Savickas

George and Gertrude Saxman

Douglas C. Schaefer

Karen Martin

Carolyn Ruffer

Mary Berlage

Eric Luznar

John and Marian Evans

Kerry Saintz

Steven and Beth Weiner

Thomas and Carol Sanders

John Savickas

Linda Saxman

Alison Schaefer

Esther L. Scheuermann John Letsch and Adalena Wilson

David M. and May Schirm, Sr.

George L. Schmitt

Arthur J. Schneider

Bradley M. Schriver

Rosalyn Marie Schwartz

Kenneth A. Seamans

Jack O. Searle

Charles H. and Evelyn S. Seekamp

Herbert W. and Barbara S. Selman

David and Debra Schirm, Jr.

Margaret Shelley

Eleanor Schneider

Matthew Mayo

Jayne White

Kay Seamans

Edward and Madeline Searle

Faye Loughridge

James and Susan Selman

Gretchen Silar

Earl C. Skiles Centennial Commandery No. 55 Knights Templar

Anna M. Smith John Smith, Jr.

Mr. and Mrs. Ralph H. Smith William and Judith Kauffman, Jr.

Albert Snyder Allen Snyder

Melvin G. Snyder Robert and Patrice Snyder

Pauline Spangler

Delbert and Fern Skinner

Ruth W. Speer Laurel Grant

Earl J. Speicher George and Sandra Martin

Ruth P. Sperry Stanley and Susan Mach

Stephen Staman

James F. Standish, Jr.

Ruth E. Steeb

Gordon M. Steer

Donald L. Stefl

Jean M. Sterner

William and Jane Staman

Nancy Standish

Peter and Mary Steeb

John Hunsberger

Timothy Troha

Thomas Emig

Hanover Hospital Laboratory Family

Bryan and Eileen Hill

Elaine Hoffman

Ralph and Brenda Kile

Paul and Patricia Troutman

Calvin W. Stevens Stephen and Caroline Williamson

A. Kenneth Stevenson Andrew and Gale Stevenson

Claude A. and Dorothy M. Street Regis and Donna Hastings

Kenneth L. and Jean L. Strohm

Evelyn Marie Stromberg

John and Thurley Stromberg

Thomas Strohm

Sally Kinnamon

Sally Kinnamon

Robert L. and Irene M. Stuebner Constance Firing

Herbert B. Stump and Christie Carol Stump

June T. Suhanin

Donald N. Sweet

Robert L. and Marie Swift

George Watson

Timothy Sweet

Sandra Bingaman

Ruth Tarman Donald Meck, Sr.

Annetta G. Terreri Peter Terreri

Charles Thomas William and Jamie Spero

Robert I. Thomas, Sr. Robert and Pamela Thomas, Jr.

Nancy Thompson

John Lokey

Paul Thompson

William A. and Margaret W. Thorpe Caryl and Daniel Waters

Frank M. Tresler

Ronald and Jan Shafer

Ronald C. Troy Masonic Fund Society for the County of Allegheny

Ruth E. Turpin

Dale E. Vaughn

Doris E. Wagner

Miriam S. Waller

William C. Ward, Sr.

Alan D. Warnick

The Diegel Family

Diane Vaughn

Nancy and William Kaper

Lynette Waller

Elizabeth Severino

Alan Warnick

Robert E. Watkins, Sr. Robert and Annette Watkins, Jr.

Vincent C. and Rheba E. Webb

Kristine Webb

Walter J. Weber Houseman Lodge No. 211

Ralph J. Weiss

Ralph Weiss, Jr.

Richard F. Werner Whitfield Lodge No. 622

Elsie K. Weyrauch William and Alexandra Weyrauch

Evelyn G. Wheeler Bryan and Janet Boosz

Elizabethtown Chapter No. 407, O.E.S. Bryan and Eileen Hill

Paul and Heather Trower

Honorarium Gifts

William C. White Peter and Carolyn White

Thomas Whiteley

Andrew and Doris Zelez

James E. Whittington Thomas and Phyllis Cercone

Margaret Ann Wightman Barbara Wightman-Freeman

Henry M. Wildasin

William O. Wilkins

Ann Wildasin

Carolyn Wilkins

Samuel C. Williamson Thomas and Ginny Labagh

Scott and Patricia Van Sickle

James H. Wolf, Jr. Dorothy Wolf

Judith B. Wollenhaupt

Erika Wollenhaupt

Raymond R. Wright, Sr. R. Richard Wright, Jr.

Joseph Zelez William and Teresa Wahlsteen

Michael W. Zelinski

Patricia Zelinski

William E. Zick Richard and Patty Zick, Sr.

Douglas H. Zima Concetta Zima

William J. Zimmerman Catherine Zimmerman

The following honorarium gifts were made Nov. 1, 2022 - Jan. 31, 2023 Below is a list of individuals (names shown in blue) whose loved ones have made a gift in their honor to one of the five Masonic Villages.

All Masons

Curtis Beidleman

Helen K. Bell

Miriam Bennett

Beth A. Berney

Milana “Mimi” Bizic

Robert C. Black

Jane M. Cale

Evaline E. Conner

Craig and Yvette VanDunk

Michael Curtis and Suzanne Beidleman

Paul and Donna Alpaugh

Barbara Racki

Christopher Berney

Paul Belosh

Robert Yates

Daniel and Gretchen Cale

Michael and Connie McKee

William Goodman

Laura, Susan, Peggy and Lynne Dean and Brenda Miller

Joanne E. Libhart

George B. Lohr

David J. Lutz

William and Kathy Prazenica

Jacob Beal Lohr

Cynthia Reddington

Isabel Martin Lance and Amy Martin

Thomas R. and Ruth M. Mason

Scott Mason

Gregg D. McBride, Jr. Lisa McBride

Military Veterans Richard and Alice Temple

Dolores M. Muller Frank and Susan Conner

Henry E. and Nan C. Dreher

Ethel C. Eshleman

Robert L. Fackler

Ruth E. Franke

Yvonne M. Frey

Jean C. Frishmuth

Elizabeth V. Hahn

William C. Hall

Karen L. Hammond

Bridget Harris

Roger Hehemann

James H. Heidler

Jeanine D. Hendrie

Harold E. Herr

Carl F. Jaymes

Joanne M. Kerridge

Kara LaFreeda

Denise Lamlin

Cory Collister

Kim and Michael English

William and Kathy Prazenica

Heather Trupia

Rebekah Whirledge

Diana Sarver

Ronald and Katherine Frishmuth

J. Lorraine Jordan

Louis Hahn

Karin and Deborah Hall

Rita Kramer

Carl Tarbell

Carl Tarbell

Anne and Alberto Gaglianese

Carl Tarbell

Robert Herr

Nora Beyers

Beatrice Kerridge

Carl Tarbell

Carl Tarbell

Office of Mission Advancement and Development Staff Luther and Kimberly Zarfoss II

Wayne Pence Barbara Brown

Trudy L. Plunkett

Carl Tarbell

Linda P. Rohrer Donald and Beverly Wimer

John B. Satterthwaite

Mary Ann and Edwin Stasiak

Stephanye Smith Heath and Holly Mackley

St. Alban Lodge No. 529 Marion Grochowski

Jane M. Strock Anne and Alberto Gaglianese

Gail S. Stump Rodney Stump

Melissa Sudduth Carl Tarbell

Tacony Lodge No. 600 John and Miriam McMaster

A. Preston Van Deursen Bryan and Eileen Hill

Deanne Molinari

Nancy Webster

Brenda L. Van Deursen Deanne Molinari

Margaret Von Derau John Frederick and Dorothy Miller

Joyce K. Wadsworth Milton Coll

Paul J. and Shirley A. Weaver William and Sandra Burns

Susan Weaver Lynn Sawyer

Calvin Wingfield Carl Tarbell

MASONIC VILLAGES

One Masonic Drive

Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2219

OUR MISSION: To empower and inspire our Masonic Community to achieve their potential and enjoy the highest possible quality of life by being a Center of Excellence in providing person-centered residential, health care and wellness services, home and community-based services, outreach services and ancillary operations.

Masonic Village at Warminster