#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
Felix Rommens - Living with hearing impairment, keeping hands busy with art, and growing up during WW2
Dr. Rea Brown - McGill University student, professor & athlete, remarkable medical career and surgeon during the Montreal massacre
Donna Duncan - reimagining long-term care, building community, and combatting ageism
Sheri Noecker - A story of sudden illness, inspiration after a stroke, and the Program for Active Living
Korleen Schmidt - the full circle of life, combining love for geography & theology
Ross C. Morton - Stories of a one-room schoolhouse, importance of sharing history, and reflections of time in the RCAF
BONUS | Jamie Schlegel - What is long-term care, an inside look at the Schlegel Villages organization, and the importance of community
Betty Anne Millar - A fairytale career in the shopping mall industry, dressing to raise your spirits, and planning for later stages of life
Annie Whittle - connection to Harry Styles through a passion for knitting, keeping busy, and how to eat a pomegranate
Brendan Rossiter - Dublin to Canada, wisdom about work, kicking habits and being resourceful
Steve Smith - a fascinating career as Red Green, stories from beyond the show and goose control
Beth Goodwin - Caring for a loved one living with dementia and being in the moment
Kathe Kleinau - Importance of storytelling and a collection of interviews among neighbours
Patricia & Dennis Bayley - A pursuit of passions, hobbies, poetry, traveling and laughter
Deborah Bakti - Author of Now What? Managing the Emotional Journey of Long Term Care for Families
BONUS | Kaye Brown & Jeff Studman - Experience of Covid-19 in Long Term Care at The Village at St. Clair, Windsor
Trish Baird & Merry Snider - roles of RPN & PSW in senior living, relationships and grief
Margaret Collard - a life given to ministry & outreach work, respect and care for everyone individually
Bruce MacNeil - Growing a garden, a community and friendships through volunteerism
Ruth White -Canada road trips, living and sailing in Bermuda, and a spirit of trying new things
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