Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

Octogenarian Pat Anderson, 89, retired from her lifelong career as a textile studio craftsman - spinning, knitting, sewing and weaving. Leaving her daughter in charge of the studio, she embarked on an unusual retirement project: creating and providing hand-knit prosthetics for mastectomy breast cancer survivors.  As a lifelong textile studio craftsman,  Pat was well versed in the legal, professional, and ethical challenges this project presented. Once everything was in place she filed a copyright. We could see the excitement in her when she proclaimed, “To date, 1500 pairs have been lovingly gifted, from one survivor to another.” 60% of all recipients offer to join the project as co-sponsors with donations. Each pair of Busters that goes out is paid for. At the end of the year there is a surplus which Pat generously donates to the Breast Cancer Support Program at Sharp Memorial Hospital in California. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Women Over 70 has committed to donating 20% of all contributions we receive to the Busters Project during the month of October. Contributions are the only form of funding for this important project. “We are blessed to know that we are really creating something that has a positive impact on someone else’s life.” Connect with Pat:Email: spinshuttlestudio@gmail.com

Only 12% of U.S. adults are metabolically healthy—a sobering statistic Christa Rymal wants to change. With her background in nursing and holistic health, Christa brings both clinical expertise and a whole-person perspective to women’s wellbeing. In this episode, she breaks down what “metabolic health” really means and why it matters as we age. From the science of sleep to the power of protein and muscle strength, Christa translates research into practical steps for everyday life. She also shares how her nonprofit We Care—through the Minnesota Holistic Health Group, wellness retreats, and conferences—supports women and even health professionals in prioritizing their own health. This conversation offers clear, empowering strategies for building resilience, preventing disease, and thriving at every stage of life.Connect with Christa:Email: Christa.r@wecarenonprofitfoundation.orgWebsite About Us | WeCare ----------Thanks To Our Sponsor, Center for Gerontology, Concordia University Chicago. Tracey Gendron will speak on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, on Ageism Unmasked: Exploring Age Bias and How to End It. Free online event, 12:00 p.m. CT. https://AgeismUnmasked.eventbrite.comFeaturing Age Wise Collective collaborator, podcaster Wendy Green with Boomer Banter This isn't just another podcast about retirement or getting older. Wendy Green invites you into real conversations about what it means to age with purpose, vitality, and ...[more] https://heyboomer.biz

At 85, Anna Rappaport continues to defy expectations of aging. Once uncertain about her relevance, she went on to earn five lifetime achievement awards, including Trailblazers in Actuarial Science. Beyond her groundbreaking work in retirement research and policy, Anna embraces new chapters with creativity and purpose. After decades of balancing career, caregiving, and family, Anna rebuilt her life following her husband’s death, moving to The Admiral at the Lake in Chicago. There she discovered the joys of “families of choice,” balcony gardens, and vibrant community life. Anna is also a passionate urban sketcher—an art form she has practiced since the 1960s—with the goal of one day seeing her work in a museum. She sells her art to benefit charities, advocates for solo agers and people with disabilities, and is writing a book on “how I’m aging well.” Her story is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the power of pursuing passions no matter the limits. I have to use every minute of every day; I’m not sure how many minutes I have left. - Anna Rappaport Connect with Anna: Email: anna.rappaport@gmail.com Website: Anna Rappaport Consulting | Strategies for a Secure Retirement ---- Thanks to this episode’s sponsor: PRODUCTION PLUS From custom-printed graphics and scenic designs to event rentals, Production Plus makes any event a visual masterpiece. To truly engage your attendees and make a lasting impact, add a touch of custom flair. Your business meeting, product launch or gala event deserves to be extraordinary. Visit productionplus.com to learn more. Meet This Month’s Podcast CollaboratorWendy Green, host of Boomer Banter, Real Talk About Aging Well. https://heyboomer.biz/podcast/. Women Over 70 is a member of The Age-Wise Collective, comprised of ten women-led podcasts that are redefining the narrative around aging. We empower adults 50+ with authentic stories, expert insights, and inspiring voices.

Jeannine Bryant is expert at helping seniors move. After you have lived in your home for so many years, you accumulate possessions that seem to identify who you are. Losing a partner or spouse certainly changes our lives. Leaving the place that we called home, together, can be very difficult. Jeannine understands every aspect. Through her website, EasyRightsizing.com she provides all the resources, classes and videos you, and other family members, can use to guide you and make you feel she is right there helping you to manage the move. If you are lucky and live in Lincoln, NE, you can hire her team to be there with you every step of the way. On this podcast, Jeannine shares meaningful ideas that change our very approach to getting this monumental event done. Suggestions such as how best to sort, the power of counting, how to deal with sentimental attachments, and setting priorities will right size this daunting task so it no longer feels like you are eating an elephant."Letting go of our possessions does not change our value." - Jeannine Bryant CONNECT WITH JEANNINE:Website: EasyRightsizing.comEmail: Jeannine@changingspacessrs.com

"Movement is the thread that weaves Jacqui Neurauter’s life together, even at 80. She believes movement has the power to transform life. Ever curious, her many pursuits often began with a comment, a book, or a conversation among friends. The suggestion of a new approach to movement would spark her curiosity, making her an avid researcher and lifelong student. Yoga led to belly dancing, which in turn led to her exploration of Feng Shui and the harmonious movement of energy, ultimately culminating in her love of the Argentine tango. Her studies and travels—encompassing spirituality, psychology, philosophy, and anthropology—have only deepened her appreciation for the importance of movement. Having experienced muscular pain much of her life, Jacqui was always searching for natural relief. She read a book on Hanna Somatics and developed a personal practice. With such great results, she became trained and certified. She now teaches private clients and group classes. Jacqui’s belief in staying vibrant, alive, and curious leads her to be part of a community with others. And that leads to a satisfying life."I continue to learn as I teach others." - Jacqui NeurauterConnect with Jacqui:Jacqui NeurauterBodyMind Somatics CoachHanna Somatics EducatoriRest® Meditation Facilitator847-359-6391, Cell: 630-656-7737www.HarmoniousPathways.com

During her tenure as a successful entrepreneur and podcaster, Ande Lyons’ advice to young start-up founders was: “Don’t Be Caged by Your Age.” At age 66, she took her own advice. Ande shifted her focus to older people, especially women, with the mission to redefine what it means to thrive after 65. Ande exposes internal ageist beliefs and debunks myths that older women are no longer visible, connected, and contributing. Ande’s podcast, Don’t Be Caged By Your Age, features interviews with women whose stories are about “liberating life changes [that] shatter age-related stereotypes.” Ande hears from younger women—the 40-50 year-olds—that “these stories help them see that growing older can be something to look forward to.” Driven by her own passion for fostering intergenerational relationships and community, Ande founded the New England Podcasters Group in early 2024, and today it's a thriving, ever-growing network of podcasters connecting, collaborating, and amplifying each other’s voices.“Don’t Be Caged by Your Age.” - Ande LyonsConnect with Ande:Website: https://www.dontbecagedbyyourage.comEmail: ande@dontbecagedbyyourage.comThe Age-Wise Collective consists of podcasts that promote older women, including Women Over 70. Meet collaborator:Beverley Glazer, host of Aging with Purpose and Passion, helps women over 50 reignite purpose, power, and bold reinvention. https://www.agingwithpurposeandpassion.com

Beverley Glazer, MA, is an ICF-Certified Transformational Coach,Psychotherapist, and Strategic Consultant with over 35 years of experienceempowering individuals, companies, and communities navigate change.She is the founder of Reinvent Impossible LLC, the umbrella company forher services, including individual coaching, strategic consulting, and herInternationally acclaimed podcast, Aging with Purpose and Passion, a boldplatform that amplifies the voices of trailblazing women redefining midlifeand far beyond. A recognized thought leader, Beverley has served onadvisory boards and contributed to publications including PsychologyToday and Kuel Life, with syndicated features on networks like MSNBC andABC. Through a unique blend of clinical techniques and strategic coaching,Beverley guides high-performing women over 50, reclaim their voice, owntheir value, and redefine their purpose on their own terms.“Your legacy starts now - in the choices you make and the truths youlive by today.”  - Beverley GlazerConnect with Beverleyhttps://reinventimpossible.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/beverleyglazer/https://www.facebook.com/beverley.glazerhttps://www.instagram.com/beverleyglazer_reinvention/

Jean Olson, age 70, describes her 13 years in the Foreign Service as an “odd and torturous path,” that included a successful class action suit against the federal government. Jean left the Foreign Service (stints in Europe and South America) for her hometown in Wisconsin to be her mother’s caregiver and to serve as (volunteer) President of the Village Council. At age 57, and ‘unemployed’ for seven years, Jean created a path to retirement. She rejoined the Foreign Service for seven more years, having to start over as a “baby diplomat” — a “lesson in humility.”  Jean choice of Las Cruces, NM. as her retirement home affords her access to a university, a cluster of good friends, affordable housing, and excellent Mexican restaurants. Best of all--no snow shoveling! Since her move, Jean has served on the Board of the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, worked with a Refugee Resettlement project, and is currently engaged with a children’s Literacy program. When I retired from the Foreign Service, I found a home in New Mexico with a university, good friends, affordable housing, and great Mexican restaurants. - Jean OlsonConnect with Jean Email: jean.olson@yahoo.com 

Beverly Schlotte, age 76, loves living on her farm near Webster, South Dakota, where she and her late husband, married 53 years, “worked and planned together” as they raised their family of four. After retirement from many years of teaching “kids that I loved,” Beverly hosted a foreign exchange student from Madrid, Spain during the 2024-2025 school year. Beverly and her family were chosen as one of the top four Education First host families in the nation. Beverly plans a trip to Spain, perhaps after her trip to Turkey where she will be shopping for a wedding dress with her grandson’s fiancé. Traveling with her adult children are special journeys that have taken them to Greece and more recently to Norway, the land of her ancestors. Beverly, 100% Norwegian, felt like “Norway was home—these are my people.” Beverly connects with people in her community through reading, cards, quilting, and church groups. She finds that growing older offers freedom “to focus on what’s important, to worry less, and to love the children.” I choose what hurts and I choose to be happy. - Beverly Schlotte Connect with BeverlyEmail: lbschlotte@itctel.com Sponsor AppreciationWomen’s Connection is a nonprofit women's group with chapters around the country. Members are vibrant, accomplished women, age 50 and forward, who connect around common interests, empower each other to thrive, and stick together as they travel through the stuff of life, no matter what comes their way. https://womenconnecting.org Podcast Collaborator—Member of The Age-Wise CollectiveRecommending Host Beverly Glazer, Aging With Purpose And Passion, a weekly podcast inspiring women over 50 to embrace bold life shifts, and unlock their potential, through captivating stories from trailblazing senior women. https://www.agingwithpurposeandpassion.com   

As a young academic professional, Mary Ellen Jukoski, age 75, wondered: “Where are the female college presidents? I want to become one.” So, she did, serving the first 20 years as President of Mitchell College in Connecticut where she transformed a struggling two-year institution into a thriving four-year college, inspired by her feminine leadership style of inclusiveness and collaboration. Her special mission has been to mentor young women to seek and succeed at leadership roles. She credits her husband, Matt, for supporting her cherished career while they raised their daughter. In 2024, Mary Ellen and Matt moved to an independent living community where they can be closer to their daughter and her family and enjoy social and intellectual stimulation. Meeting many women in their 90s, Mary Ellen expresses new appreciation for the notion that “age doesn’t’ define the person.” As she contemplates retirement, Mary Ellen looks forward to a new purpose. She says, “It’s all about having a positive attitude and being open to opportunities.” As a leader, I come to serve, not to be served; I am a presence, being there for others. - Mary Ellen JukoskiConnect with Mary EllenEmail: maryellen.jukoski@ctstate.eduMary Ellen Jukoski, Ed.D. - CT StateSponsor AppreciationPlymouth Place, LaGrange Park, IL., where senior living is redefined with options and opportunities to fit individual needs and preferences. https://plymouthplace.org Plymouth Place is the Diamond Sponsor for our Symposium, October 8, 2025.Podcast CollaboratorThis month’s podcast recommendation (member of Aging-Well Collective) is Host Beverly Glazer, Aging With Purpose and Passion, a weekly podcast inspiring women over 50 to embrace bold life shifts, and unlock their potential, through captivating stories from trailblazing senior women. https://www.agingwithpurposeandpassion.com

You are in for a special treat as Dee Greer displays her creations of exquisite weavings from Alpaca yarn and amulet bags woven Japanese seed beads. She also enjoys watercolor painting. She learns in order to create. This is bolstered by degrees and certifications in the arts, financial planning, hand weaving, and interior design. Dee has created five businesses in rehab housing, five in Alpaca-related products and services, and a unique hand-weaving loom. Hurricane Helene completely destroyed her condo interior and precious belongings, including a specialty loom. Dee has rebuilt and redesigned her unit, along with helping 60 other residents facing the same challenge. She still makes the time to volunteer with arts programs in her community and to enjoy the rich arts culture with her partner, John. Dee’s constant ‘drivers’ are “doing good in the world” and “being in relationship with people, young and old… to enjoy life from completely different perspectives.” Hoping to help find a cure, she has now been accepted into a study sponsored by Eli Lilly to study a new drug for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Because I have so many interests and very high energy, I’ve had to compartmentalize and prioritize. It will come to me what to do next. - Dedrea (Dee) GreerContact Dedrea (Dee) GreerEmail: deeagreer@hotmail.com Former alpaca farmer finds tranquility while weaving | Your Observer  Sponsor Appreciation  Our heartfelt thanks to Women Over 70 sponsor Wells Fargo. Podcast Collaborator This month’s podcast recommendation (Aging-Well Collaboration) is Host Beverly Glazer, who asks: Are you ready to ignite your next chapter? Aging With Purpose and Passion is the weekly podcast inspiring women over 50 to embrace bold life shifts, and unlock their potential, through captivating stories from trailblazing senior women. https://www.agingwithpurposeandpassion.com 

When you listen to Victoria (Vickie) Rock, 73, you would believe her life has never seen a difficult day. Yet, the truth is, at times it has been rocky. Turning lemons into lemonade is the perfect phrase to attribute to Vickie. Always upbeat, charitable, and giving, she works tirelessly to elevate each person, client and company that become part of her network.A career in court reporting led her to create a business of her own. When working until 2 or 3 a.m. in the morning became too much she sold out, along with her 75 member- team of court reporters and again could enjoy the basics of the business - meeting with clients, being in the courtroom and building her vocabulary with new and interesting words. Having been in this world for so many years, Vickie now teaches businesses how to tell their stories and win clients.Vickie is quick to give credit to those organizations along the way who have helped her grow: National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program. Her church and Center for Disabilities & Elder Law remain important organizations she supports.Enjoy our lives: How many Thanksgivings do we have left? - Victoria RockCONNECT WITH VICTORIA ROCK:Email: victoria@victoriarock.bizWebsite: Victoria Rock

David Horton approached us to do an interview with him, and we did not know how to respond. We listened and, after hearing his story, it became clear that this was a story we wanted to share with you. David’s wife, DeeDee Horton, died of brain cancer. She was an accomplished athlete, middle school teacher, and college basketball coach. In the final six years of her life, she poured herself into writing Layer Upon Layer, a novel exploring the challenges faced by ambitious women. Before she died, DeeDee asked David to finish the editing and share her book with the world. Through David, we learn about DeeDee and her life of empowerment, courage, and contribution. As this testimonial by Rita Frey says of the book: “Layer upon Layer is poignant, full of passion and chock full of amazing lessons for women and an overall feeling of hope.” We also learn from David what it means to lose your loved one. (Thank you, David, for your courage in telling DeeDee’s story.)"What if the people most important to you, fail to see and celebrate you?"Connect with David:Email: David@LayerUponLayer.comBook: Layer Upon Layer by Deedee Horton

Maria Cristina Torres, born in Mexico, studied medicine there and has three decades of experience in pharmaceutical-oriented medicine. She continues to work with people in the United States, finding solutions for chronic conditions and assisting individuals in reclaiming their health through alternative methods. The individuals she treats respond well to Chinese medicine, including acupuncture and herbs. Hypnosis is also effective for lifestyle conditions. Maria is thoughtful and progressive. You can expect to spend 1½ hours with her during your first meeting."These are transformation times when we choose to become the best version of humanity, all with the use of science, herbs and food."CONNECT WITH MARIA:Email: ctorres@integral-clinic.com Websites: IAmVitality.club (coaching)                    integral-clinic.net (in person)Calendly - Book a phone call with Dr. TorresLinked In: Profile

Donna Younger, EdD, age 72, has dedicated her professional life to mentoring and teaching diverse people in various higher learning settings. These experiences expanded her world view and fed her “rabid curiosity about what binds us together—the sparks that connect us.” Donna’s intentional spiritual journey began at age 50 when she set out to resolve a critical religious question: “What’s the big deal with Jesus?” While staying connected with a church and working with a spiritual director, Donna’s question evolved to “What binds religious systems together?” She sees spirituality as the canopy and religion as a dimension of spirituality that can be a useful tool for those who choose it. Donna is now immersed in guided instruction for Spiritual Direction, a role congruent with her faith that “everyone has a spiritual side, whether they attend to it or not.” Her goal is to help people experience the gifts of spiritual awareness. "As a spiritual director, I want to be a companion to people as they open up to their spiritual nature." Connect with Donna Email: dsyounger70@gmail.com  

Josephine (Jo) Alexander (1909-1993) was Nancy Manahan’s dearest friend and Natalya Lukin’s beloved grandmother. The world knew Jo as a prize-winning journalist and photographer, social justice advocate, and author of America Through the Eye of My Needle (1981), a critical analysis of business conglomerates. But no one knew details about the fourteen years Jo spent as an impoverished Arizona homesteader and rancher during the Depression—-that is, until after Jo’s death, Natalya found Jo’s “messy” unpublished memoir among boxes of unpublished essays. Natalya and Nancy (also Jo’s literary executor)formed a bi-coastal collaboration to edit and publish Jo’s memoir: At Sea on the Range: From Berkeley Radical to Arizona Homesteader 1934-1948. Nancy “fell in love with the story of this extraordinary woman who was courageous, adaptable, self-confident, and capable of surmounting impossible barriers.” Natalya values her grandmother as a timeless role model for courageous, capable, and enterprising women. At Sea on the Range won Best Memoir in the 2025 Great Southwest Book Festival."We felt compelled to share the story of how a city girl with studies in literature and anthropology fell in love with an impoverished rancher in Arizona, adapted to grueling circumstances, and grew to appreciate the desert and its people."Connect with Nancy and Natalya  Email: atseaontherange@gmail.comBook:  At Sea on the Range: From Berkeley Radical to Arizona Homesteader 1934-1948. (2024) by Josephine Alexander, Natalya Lukin, & Nancy Manahan. Thanks to our Sponsors for this episode:Compass Navigation Group, Steve.Nasralla@compass.comSkintensive, creams for mature skins, https://www.skintensive.com/

During 15 years in menopausal transition, Carol Remz, age 80, experienced increased vaginal dryness and decreased libido. She and her younger husband mourned their waning sex life. Upon researching relief from radiation treatment for breast cancer, Carol’s discovered sea buckthorn for skin protection and its added benefit of improving the integrity and function of women’s vaginal epithelium.She also found that medical cannabis stimulated her libido. After eight years of research and revival of her sexual pleasure, Carol wrote a book to empower “postmenopausal women who want to continue having sexual pleasure’s well-being benefits.” Written with help from medical health writer and intimacy coach, Molly Carter, Best Sex Ever After Menopause “unlocks empowering knowledge and skills and how to actualize them with love.”Sexual pleasure can be arousing, sensual, erotic, orgasmic, blissful, transcendent—-What do YOU want? - Carol Remz, PhDConnect with Carol:Website https://drcarolremz.comBook Best Sex Ever After Menopause: Transforming Your Sexual Pleasure Through Mindset with Healing and Aphrodisiac Plants (2025) Acknowledgements:Sponsor: Compass Navigation Group. Steve.Nasralla@compass.comPodcast Collaborator: Jennifer Fink. http://www.fadingmemoriespodcast.com

Michelle Kalisz started studying piano at the age of 4. Today she owns a piano studio and delights in teaching older adults. She extensively studied chemistry and psychology, all the while playing music which added depth to her understanding of how we learn and benefit cognitively from studying piano. She believes that brain plasticity needs an update. Science shows we can learn new skills well into our 90s because the process of learning leads to growth in brand new neurons. “Chords are like chemical compounds - they have predictable behavior.” Additionally, the current wisdom of the importance of muscle mass aids in providing the dexterity needed to use our hands to play piano.We hope you enjoy learning from Michelle."Chemistry, Psychology & Music - Older Adults Benefit from Playing the Piano"CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:Email: michelle@michellekmusic.ioLinked In: www.linkedin.com/in/michellekaliszMichelle’s Newsletter: https://www.michellekmusic.io/newsletter

Ann Lousin, 82, the first woman in the United States to be appointed staff parliamentarian for the Illinois House of Representatives, as well as the first woman parliamentarian for any American legislature, continues her fierce journey to remove women’s cloak of invisibility. Since 1970, Ann has been recognized for her work with the IL Constitution and ongoing activism. She has taught commercial law at the John Marshall Law School, now UIC Law School, for 50 years, and holds classes on the IL Constitution. Ann believes dearly in helping pass into law the legal provision for the medical right to die. Her powerful statements attest to her commitment to all these causes and inspire us to act.I like group decision-making when people can openly express different views and accept that the final decision can be one’s 2nd choice. - Ann Lousin Connect with Ann:Email: ALousin@uic.eduCauses Ann cares about:1970 IL ConstitutionKitihawa DuSableMedical Aid in DyingIf you enjoy Women Over 70-Aging Reimagined, we recommend Jennifer Fink, host of Fading Memories, a podcast for caregivers of loved ones with dementia. It provides insights and guidance on communicating effectively, managing stress, and coping with grief and loss. Home - Fading Memories Podcast

[spp-player]Gail Straus is mostly retired, meaning that in addition to volunteer work, she remains open to the occasional client project. In 2021, Gail joined the Communications Team at AARP Illinois as a volunteer. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Guest House Chicago, donates time and expertise to the Moran Center for Social Justice in Evanston, is on the Ambassadors Advisory Committee to Steppenwolf Theater Company, and volunteers for the Taproot Foundation.We asked, “How did you become involved with AARP-IL?” Gail was clear of her intent to use her expertise and skills in an organization which would recognize her value as a volunteer. AARP IL’s Director of Communication was delighted to tap into her experience. As an active volunteer member of the communications team, she brings insight into connecting marketing and outreach strategies to the most effective communications vehicles. More importantly, she serves as the voice of the older adult for the communications team. Gail also writes a monthly column on older adults for AARP-IL and says, “Don’t call me elderly!” A big reason Gail is volunteering for AARP is their advocacy for older adults in the country. As Gail described, AARP advocates for programs such as social security, provides information and sponsors events on topics that are important to keeping older adults viable and vital and provides an extensive array of both virtual and in-person recreational, informational and entertainment resources such as fraud protection, yoga, cooking classes, ethnic celebrations and arts programming. You can easily get involved by checking out your state chapter at AARP.orgCONNECT WITH GAIL:Email: Gailkstraus@gmail.comLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gail-straus-57ba311/