#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench
Society & Culture
Episode #38 - Erin Davis & Doug Robinson sit on the virtual green bench with Anna Piccoli and daughter Franca Smith to continue the conversation on our theme of connection, family, and service.
Anna lives with her husband of 62 years, Aldo, and her sister Josephine at The Village of Glendale Crossing in London, Ontario.
"I love everybody, especially my children and my grandchildren ... and nobody smokes." -Anna Piccoli
Anna left Italy to live with her sister Josephine in Canada. While writing back and forth with Aldo for a year, she convinced him to come over to Canada and got married.
Why Canada? Tony and Josephine moved to London, Ontario as there were lots of job opportunities. As more family arrived in Canada, the whole family stayed close in the same neighbourhood.
“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city” - George Burns
What is your favourite Italian dish to cook/eat?
Anna's answer - Lasagna.
She continues to cook at The Village of Glendale Crossing with the recreation team.
Il pane apre tutte le bocche
Bread opens all mouths. If you want to get to know someone, invite them to eat with you. Good food can bring good conversation.
Everyone gives Anna yarn so that she can crochet items for them.
Franca shares about the Art Show: Home and Away, asking local artists to share their art about where they came from and what brought them to Canada asking the question which felt like home and which felt like away.
Interested in getting a book? Reach out to elderwisdom@Schlegelvillages.com and we will connect you with Franca.
"Family comes first. Everything revolves around family, and food." -Franca Smith
"When you learn about where your family came from and what they have been through to get us to where we are. It is quite amazing." -Franca Smith
Anna shares scary memories from being 14 years old and living through the war. Her uncle understanding the German language supported them to be able to get away as they jumped home to home to survive.
Grazie
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The Green Bench is a symbol of elder wisdom. Physically or virtually, the bench invites us all to sit alongside a senior, share a conversation, or give and offer advice.
It challenges the stigma seniors face; the ageism still so prevalent in society. It reminds us of the wealth of wisdom our elders offer and in doing so, helps restore them to a place of reverence.
"The greatest untapped resource in Canada, if not the world, is the collective wisdom of our elders." -Ron Schlegel
This podcast is brought to you by Schlegel Villages, retirement & long-term care homes in Ontario, Canada.
#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench is produced by Memory Tree Productions
Learn more about our host, Erin Davis, at erindavis.com
Learn more about #ElderWisdom at elderwisdom.ca
Benefits of #ElderWisdom and the Role of a DLO with Branka Matijevic
Raising a musical family and quirky gardening with Angela Willis
BONUS | Resident Voices in Long-Term Care with OARC’s Melissa McVie & Devora Greenspon
Critical thinking, long-distance relationships and reading with Evelyn Brindle
Public Speaking and Being a Grandma with Shirley Arthur
Bucket Lists, Family Trees and Moving to Glendale Crossing with Ivan Siriani
Dr. Bob Bell - Expert on healthcare for an aging population and prolific author of fiction
Virginia Barry on swimming, canoeing, and being a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi
Hildegarde Bolter on resilience in life, leaving her husband, and being a German child in the war
June Campbell on Newfoundland joining Canada, 2 marriages and lots of traveling
Joyce Stankiewicz on caring for a loved one with dementia and the buddy system at University Gates
100 Years of Wisdom with Aunt Reta
Meaningful relationships and growth in spirituality with Jack Paleczny
”Who are you, anyway?” with The Right Honourable David Johnston
A part of our Family - Pam Wiebe’s story of changing careers and family culture at Schlegel Village
Corrine Richard on meeting the Dionne Quintuplets, working the carnival and family relations
Trailer - #ElderWisdom
Reflections, gratitude, and tribute to the wisdom of Season 1
Rita Munro - How does your garden grow? Gardening, Nursing, and Journalism
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