NEIGHBORS

A N NI V E R Y R SA

Memory bears are 86 year old’s passion for those who grieve

BY LINDA JUMP

Every time Pat Miner, 86, hugs her Little Willy teddy bear, she remembers her late husband Will.

The comfort it brings is what led her to volunteer with VITAS Healthcare Brevard County and, so far, she has sewn more than 600 memory bears from the clothing of deceased loved ones.

“The bears are part of the bereavement process. You want to hold onto your loved ones, and to remember their smell,” said Jennifer Cooke, the VITAS volunteer services manager. “The bear is something they can hug anytime to remember that they were loved.”

Cooke isn’t sure who started the memory bear program at VITAS or when it began, but last year more than 600 bears were sewn by 55 unpaid volunteers of all ages. “Pat might be our oldest.”

After Miner’s husband died in 2007, a VITAS chaplain mentioned the bear project.

“They gave me a bear with one of Will’s T-shirts and I later made Little Willy from Will’s bathrobe.”

She decided to share her talent.

“I’d been sewing since I was 10 and didn’t know what to do with myself after Will passed, so I volunteered.”

When she began, she cranked out six a week “when I didn’t have anything else to do, but now I’m busier” with a Bible study, knitting group, helping an elderly friend and keeping track of her five children, nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Miner sews six a month.

Each bear takes about four hours to complete. She places a pattern on the interfacing and cuts that out, then carefully takes apart the clothing provided and puts the 11 pattern pieces on it. It takes her an hour to sew those pieces together.

“After I’ve stuffed it, I do the hand stitching while I’m watching TV,” she said.

The Rome, New York transplant also has made memory bears for family and friends through the years. “I’ve never charged anyone a cent. That’s not the purpose.”

Cooke said the VITAS volunteer sewers also will make community bears for anyone who has lost a loved one but are not VITAS clients.

For information, call 321-752-2553. SL

It’s time to begin preparing for hurricane season

SPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE

If you are new to the area, you should learn what you need to do for hurricane preparedness. If you are a longtime resident, then you know that we cannot be complacent about being ready in case a hurricane hits the Space Coast.

Hurricane preparedness means doing a series of things to make sure you are ready to protect your family and property. A disaster preparedness kit or hurricane kit is integral to that preparation.

Disaster preparedness checklist: • Important medical, family contact and insurance information • Food and water, one gallon per person per day, two-week supply at home, three-day supply if evacuating • Non-electric can opener • Battery-powered radio • Flashlights, extra batteries • Two-week supply of prescription medications, including dosages and allergies • Mosquito repellant • First aid kit • Water purification kit — (tablets, plain chlorine and iodine) • Pre-moistened towelettes • Hand sanitizer • Wheelchair, walker and other medical equipment (determine what is needed for batteries for powered wheelchairs; check to see if power is needed for oxygen for special needs). SL

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When a meniscus issue caused avid runner David Farrall to curb his running, he turned to walking — power walking.

Farrall’s power walking took him to the National Senior Games last month in Fort Lauderdale, where he earned a medal for the Humana Game Changer Award.

“It was overwhelming,” said Farrall, 73, of Melbourne Beach. He finished seventh in the 1,500-meter Power Walk for his age group, 70 to 74, increased his speed and earned the award.

“I took 40 seconds off my PR time,” he said.

Farrall participated in the Florida Senior Games in 2019, but this was his first National Senior Games. He is already thinking about next year’s event in Pittsburgh.

He was one of hundreds participating in the National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale. Several senior athletes from Brevard County competed.

Essie Faria was banged up in an accident while returning home from the 2016 Games in Clearwater. The Melbourne resident also competed in Fort Lauderdale.

“Thank God I’m back,” Faria said as she waited for her next competition.

Faria’s time of 45 minutes, 29 seconds in the 5K Power Walk was good for a silver medal in the 85 to 89 age group. She also won a gold medal in the Table Tennis Mixed Doubles with John Shults and a gold medal in the 1,500 Power Walk.

“I didn’t think I had a chance,” she said.

The 87 year old said she participates in the Games because she can and feels sure she will remain active.

“The day that I die, I will be standing up,” she said.

Taylor Malishenko of Viera was confident going into her 20K Road Race after taking the bronze medal in the 10K Cycling Time Trials. Malishenko, 77, finished eighth among a group of 21 in the Women’s Golf 75 to 79 age group. She shot rounds of 93, 96 and 95 to total 284.

“The course was very nice and the women were friendly,” she said. “It was nice.”

Malishenko, a who served 32 years in the Air Force, plays golf regularly with the Viera East Ladies Golf Association and at Suntree Country Club. She also cycles about 100 miles a week. She has loved both sports since she was a child.

“I’ve been physically active for a long time,” she said.

Farrall usually is cycling or running in a race each weekend — 5K, 10K or a half marathon. His doctor has advised him not to run after meniscus problems sidelined him.

“I’m a longtime runner. Not running is hell,” he said. “I used to be tops in my group.”

In fact, he has run 54 marathons and around 40 half marathons. He has cut down on his running.

“My mind says I can still run, but my body says if you run I will hurt you,” he said. His wife, Lisa Farrall, who doesn’t do much running, sometimes cycles

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Nick Gandy

Essie Faria was banged up in an accident while returning home from the 2016 Senior Games in Clearwater.

SENIOR LIFE SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Nick Gandy

David Farrall, who usually is cycling or running in a race most weekends, received the Humana Game Changer Award at the National Senior Games.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Taylor Malishenko

Viera resident Taylor Malishenko, left, won the bronze medal in the Cycling 10K Time Trial.

with her husband of 46 years. She was pleased that he received the Game Changer Award.

“I am just so proud of him for getting that award,” she said. “He is a real encouragement.”

He often will help other runners or power walkers by encouraging them and cheering them on.

“My biggest thrill is at the end of the race when someone says ‘thank you for helping me along.’” SL

Viera resident celebrates 102nd birthday

BY NANETTE HEBDIGE

Mary Louise Estes’ advice is to keep moving to attain a long life. Estes was born in Battle Creek, Michigan the same year women gained the right to vote in the United States and the first commercially licensed radio station began broadcasting.

Estes turned 102 on May 8 surrounded by friends at The Brennity at Melbourne Senior Living Community.

Estes has a firm, no-nonsense approach and attitude to life. She attributes her longevity to always staying active, playing golf and cards.

“You gotta keep breathing, no matter what,” Estes said with a smile.

Estes has lived an exceptional and exciting life. She decided she was going to become a shorthand whiz because she knew the life-long skill would translate to future success. It also helped her excel at the top of her class. She was hired as an administrative secretary at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Subsequently, she became part of the war department and the secretarial pool for President Truman.

She had an interesting life traveling during those years, and it was during her travels that she met Raleigh Quinton Estes, an Army master sergeant from Mineral, Virginia. They both were working at the 118th Station Hospital in Fukuoka, Japan. They courted and married in 1951.

As it often happens with marriages overseas, there were two ceremonies to commemorate the union. A civil joining was conducted at the American Consulate in Japan on April 27, 1951. Their marriage was blessed during a religious ceremony on June 1.

They both enjoyed a long and happy marriage until Raleigh (she called him Mike) passed away in 1997. They did not have any children.

Mary Estes always enjoyed cooking for her husband.

“I’ve not cooked in a long time, but I enjoyed it,” she said. “I love eating pretty much everything, but the only thing I’ve never cared much for is fish.”

She enjoyed playing cards until recently and, at 95, she still was exercising and working out in the gym at Patrick Space Force Base.

Since 2012, Estes has lived at The Brennity at Melbourne, a senior living community that provides assisted living and offers memory care for seniors.”SL

SENIOR LIFE photo

Mary Louise Estes, who attributes her longevity to staying active, played golf when she was a younger woman.