Q: Please tell us a bit about yourself and your family.
I have lived in Holland since 1979. I have been a single mom to my 3 children, two sons and a daughter since my daughter was pretty young. We moved here when my oldest son was in 1st grade and my youngest son was only 2. They went to Holland Elementary and Council Rock Highschool. My oldest now runs an organic landscaping company in North Carolina and his wife runs a successful psychology practice. They have a son who is 10 and loves to play flag football. My younger son is in IT management, and he lives in the Pottstown area with his wife and 2 children- my 18-year-old granddaughter and 15-year-old grandson. My granddaughter loves softball and is currently receiving her college acceptances. Her goal is to be a lawyer one day. My grandson is very interested in fitness training. My daughter lives in the Downingtown area with her partner. She is a scientist and runs a chemistry lab at a college. She has worn many hats in her lifetime: She used to be the head of a brewing lab, she helps people through career transitions, she has been involved in the culinary arts, and she is just about to finish her MBA.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career.
In 2017 I retired from counseling in the Springfield school district. I also taught at St. Bedes, and worked at St. Basel Academy for a time. I have taught 7th and 8th grade, social studies, reading, and even physical education. Since retiring I have found myself involved in many different things. Currently, I am teaching mindfulness classes at the Southampton Library. The goal of these classes is to teach people to be kind to themselves so that they can in turn be kind to others. My classes focus on the pause and just giving people some quiet judgement free moments for themselves.
I am involved in quilting for kids through a local church. They provide kits for people to make quilts for children in need. I have also been involved in the Northampton Library as a secretary, a friend of the library, and a liaison between the library board and the friends of the library. I belong to a book club at the library that I love. I truly did not realize how much you could benefit from the library until I was retired!
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I would love to go back to Italy and specifically Sicily. I would also love to see Greece sometime soon.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
I will usually turn on NPR to listen to some classical or jazz music. I got to go to the symphony recently and loved that. I also enjoy getting to see live theatre whenever I can.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why?
I would love to have lunch with Steven Hawking. His books really made an impression on me. I would ask him more about his theories about the beginning of the world and God. I have done a lot of research and would love to keep picking his brain.
