Wichita Presbyterian Manor announces Art is Ageless® winners
Wichita Presbyterian Manor recently announced the 2023 winners of the annual Art is Ageless® juried competition. “We are honored to exhibit artwork by seniors,” said Amy Watson, life enrichment director. “Art is Ageless is unique in featuring only the works of artists age 65 and older. Our artists prove that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.”
For the competition, works must have been completed in the past five years. Started in 1980, Art is Ageless is an extension of PMMA’s wellness programs, which focus on mental, physical, social and spiritual health.
Best of Show professional: John Ellert, “Between Sea and Sky”
Siblings find perfect new home for beloved big sister
The oldest of six children, Karen Loehr played an important role in the lives of her younger siblings.
“Karen was a great older sister, she thought it was her job to teach us things—she was a natural teacher,” said Karen’s sister, Joyce vonEhrenkrook.
Sculpture/3-D professional: Deb Thomas, “St. Francis of Assisi”
People’s Choice: Richard Haden, “Sitting in Spring”
So, when Karen decided it was time to move from the family home where she had lived for the past 68 years, Joyce, along with her brother, took it upon themselves to find a place that would offer Karen the life they felt she deserved. While the siblings were already familiar with Wichita Presbyterian Manor from Karen’s time as a manor employee in the early 2000s, they decided to stop by for a tour and were immediately sold.
“It was an easy choice for us,” said Joyce. “My brother and I went, and we loved the place! It’s just so lovely and everyone is so friendly. It was just a good fit.”
Best of Show amateur: Donna Walter, “Birds”
Fiber Arts amateur: Deborah Derber, “Friends”
Drawing professional: Patt Sharpe, “Kansas Sunshine”
Art is Ageless – continued on page 3
When the time came in February for Karen to make the move, it wasn’t a long commute either—Wichita Presbyterian Manor is less than a mile from the home Karen grew up in.
The siblings’ only other concern was how long it would take for Karen to make
Welcome – continued on page 4
People across the world celebrate Mother’s Day every year and there are many different stories about its origins.
According to history.com, celebrations of motherhood can be traced as back as ancient Greece when people honored the mother goddesses. Later on, it’s traced to “Mothering Sunday,” a Christian festival.
Eventually, the holiday left its religious roots and became to honor and show appreciation to mothers.
In the United States, the story goes back to 1868 when an activist named Ann Reeves Jarvis, of West Virginia, organized a “Mothers’ Friendship Day” for mothers of both Union and Confederate soldiers to gather and promote peace after the Civil War. But the creator of the modern Mother’s Day in the U.S. is Jarvis’ daughter Anna Jarvis. As a memorial service to her mother after she died in 1905, Anna came up with the day as a way to honor mothers for the sacrifices they make for their children. Anna made it her life goal to put this day on the national calendar – she argued the holidays were often biased toward men. Her hard work paid off when in 1914 President Woodrow Wilson officially established the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
Sadly, Anna Jarvis eventually ended up protesting against Mother’s Day, arguing that it had become too commercialized. She publicly urged people to stop buying flowers, cards and candies and spent most of her money filing lawsuits against groups that used the name “Mother’s Day.” In other parts of the world, Mother’s Day comes with different traditions. In Thailand, it’s celebrated in August,
Hindus in India celebrate in October with a 10-day festival, and Ethiopians hold a three-day feast.
Despite all these differences, it’s clear that most cultures around the globe understand the hard work and sacrifices of mothers everywhere and find it worthwhile to pause and celebrate.
Sources: www.history.com www.cardology.co.uk
Tips for Staying Active by Aegis Therapies
1. Play with your grand (or great grand) children! Play games that get your bodies moving — Wheels on the Bus, Pretend We’re Animals, play keepy upon with a balloon (Bluey reference) and Hide-and-Seek.
2. Swimming/water walking is a great, low-Impact exercise that allows your body and joints to be able to use muscles in ways you might not be able to on land.
3. Older adults should also include stretching and balance exercise/activities as part of their weekly activities. Not all exercise needs to be done standingsitting is a great modification for those who might not be able to tolerate standing for long periods of time.
Community Matters
Did you know? Mother’s Day began as a memorial service.
Art is Ageless – continued from page 1
Winners in the Wichita Presbyterian Manor Art is Ageless juried competition were:
Best of Show professional: John Ellert, “Between Sea and Sky”
Best of Show amateur: Donna Walter, “Birds”
Drawing amateur: Maria Engelhardt, “Oaklee” Christmas amateur: Carolyn Jean Stahl, “Dashing through the Snow”
People’s Choice: Richard Haden, “Sitting in Spring”
Christmas professional: Janet Butler, “Christmas’ Glow”
Christmas amateur: Carolyn Jean Stahl, “Dashing through the Snow”
Christmas professional: Janet Butler, “Christmas’ Glow”
Drawing amateur: Maria Engelhardt, “Oaklee”
Drawing professional: Patt Sharpe, “Kansas Sunshine”
Painting professional: Skip Kreibach, “Partial Eclipse’”
Mixed Media/Crafts amateur: Carolyn Jean Stahl, “My Favorite Memories”
Painting amateur: Mary Jane Ihde McNeal, “Knocker #1”
Fiber Arts amateur: Deborah Derber, “Friends”
Mixed Media/Crafts amateur: Carolyn Jean Stahl, “My Favorite Memories”
Needlework amateur: Karen Funcheon, “Hermosa Handbag”
Painting amateur: Mary Jane Ihde McNeal, “Knocker #1”
Painting professional: Skip Kreibach, “Partial Eclipse’”
Photography professional: LaVerne Klassen, “Covered Bridge”
Photography amateur: Charles Cummins, “Ring Neck Pheasant”
Photography amateur: Charles Cummins, “Ring Neck Pheasant”
Photography professional: LaVerne Klassen, “Covered Bridge”
Quilting amateur: Karen Funcheon, “Peggy Sue”
Sculpture/3-D amateur: Phillip Lovchik, “Moving Camp”
Sculpture/3-D professional: Deb Thomas, “St. Francis of Assisi” u
Sculpture/3-D amateur: Phillip Lovchik, “Moving Camp”
Quilting amateur: Karen Funcheon, “Peggy Sue”
Needlework amateur: Karen Funcheon, “Hermosa Handbag”
Employee Spotlight: Celeste Martinez
Our new Dining Services Director, Celeste Martinez describes in her own words how she got here and why she’s so proud to be working at Wichita Presbyterian Manor
In 2018, my health care journey commenced as a dietary aide in my hometown of Garden City, setting the stage for my professional development. Later that year, I relocated to Wichita to pursue an alternative area of study and seized a role at Wichita Presbyterian Manor as an Independent Living server.
My tenure as a server presented me with an opportunity to build enduring connections with residents, granting me moments of fulfillment every day. Following my year-long stint as an Independent Living server, I was offered a cook position at Presbyterian Manor, a decision I embraced enthusiastically. The Manor has provided me with avenues for career progression, enabling me to acquire proficiency and expertise that impacted my decision to embark on a new path.
As the newly appointed Director of Dining Services at Wichita Presbyterian Manor, I am fortified by the opportunity to uphold the proud tradition of fundamental principles and benchmarks that both residents and leadership hold in high esteem. u
some new friends and get acclimated, but that concern was soon put to rest as well.
“Karen tends to be on the shy/quiet side,” said Joyce. “It’s been amazing to me that people have reached out to her. Her next-door neighbor even asked her to have lunch with her and make introductions.”
And the results of that kindness were evident.
“Early on when I called and asked about her day she’d say, ‘great!’ and I had never heard her say her day was great before—that told me things were going well,” said Joyce. For that, Joyce and her siblings are grateful.
“Kudos to the staff at Presbyterian Manors and the residents. They have just been wonderful … so welcoming and open,” said Joyce. u
