Farmington Presbyterian Manor
We rise MAY 2022
Jeanette Bishop continues Art is Ageless® winning streak Jeanette Bishop can’t remember exactly how long she’s been entering PMMA’s Art is Ageless® juried art competition, but it seems like every year she has, she’s won an award. “Every year, I think I’m not going to win and then I’m shocked,” said Jeanette. Most recently, her colored pencil drawing, “Butterfly on a Flower,” was named a masterpiece-level winner and was featured on a spread within the 2022 Art is Ageless® calendar. Jeanette began dabbling in art more than 30 years ago when a change in environment prompted her to take up a new hobby. “I had recently moved to Farmington and needed something to do, so that’s one reason I took up painting,” said Jeanette.
Jeanette Bishop with “Butterfly on a Flower,” her masterpiece-level winner featured in the 2022 Art is Ageless calendar.
Initially, Jeanette took classes in oil and acrylics, but she attributes her development as an artist to fellow Art is Ageless honoree, Vada Galvan. “Vada and I go to the same church and were friends,” said Jeanette. “She was teaching and one day I asked if I could join her group and that was probably 15 years ago.” Through Vada, Jeanette began experimenting with other mediums including colored pencils and Genesis paints, which are similar to oils but require the use of a heat gun to dry. Jeanette calls art her “therapy,” and while she enjoys having her work
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Editor’s Note: In a nod to our Presbyterian heritage, we regularly feature a column from a PMMA® chaplain in our newsletter. This month’s column comes from Rev. Dinah Dutta, chaplain at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor® The month of May brings memories of the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Memorial Dinah Dutta Day 2022 will occur on Monday, May 30. Many of our resident friends are sharing their thoughts and experiences of World War II since the war against Ukraine started. As a chaplain and pastor when I counsel people I hear a lot of anxiety and fear. Many wonder if there will be a World War III. While we are getting ready to start a new normal after COVID, we are plunged into a different situation. How can we cope with all this? As a Christian believer, my faith encourages me to trust in the risen Christ and remember His word: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, We rise – continued on page 2
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Bishop – continued from page 1 recognized through Art is Ageless, she says she also just enjoys seeing the work created by other seniors. “I enjoy entering my paintings at Presbyterian Manor as we are able to view other painters’ work and this inspires me to keep painting,” said Jeanette. And Jeanette encourages others to enter Art is Ageless because, as she says, “it’s just something that makes you happy.” u
We rise – continued from page 1 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35, 38-39, NKJV). My dear PMMA family, I want to encourage that no matter what goes around us we will rise. While I think of what it means to rise Maya Angelou’s encouraging poem, “I Rise” comes to my mind that I want to share with you. Let us continue to rise with hope, let us continue to remember those who sacrificed their lives to build this great nation. Let us Rejoice and Be Glad! Happy Memorial Day! Welcome Summer! u
I rise. by Maya Angelou
You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my haughtiness offend you? Don’t you take it awful hard ‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines Diggin’ in my own back yard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I’ve got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.
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Community Matters 573-756-6768 ◆ Fax: 573-756-6014 500 Cayce St. Farmington, MO 63640-2910 FarmingtonPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | May 2022
is published monthly for residents and friends of Farmington Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: kjameson@PMMA.org Jane Hull, executive director Keely Jameson, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Create A financial roadmap before your spouse dies By Bart Astor
I don’t even know where to begin,” Sindy Steinberg told me after her husband died. “I’m just trying to stay on top of the bills. I don’t even know all the passwords for the bank accounts and investments.” I heard this repeated from all the recent widows — and widowers — I’ve spoken to. While the family is deeply into grief and mourning, life around them continues on. And keeping up with it all can be overwhelming. Steinberg’s husband, Steve, died at 62 after a short illness, leaving her to not only deal with crushing grief, but confused by the intricacies of how their finances were handled. “Steve was meticulous about how he organized everything,” Sindy said. “He had set up everything and managed the day-to-day business of our lives and also the strategy for our future.” Like most families, the Steinbergs had settled into separate roles, with Steve responsible for all the family finances. Picking Up the Financial Pieces of a Family Running a family is much like running a business. There is income and there are expenses. There are investments and accounts to keep track of and bills to be paid. Although sometimes the tasks of running the household are shared, often there is one Chief Operating Officer, or COO, who keeps it all humming smoothly. I am personally well aware of the fragility of life, having seen friends leave us through illness or accident. So I am embarrassed to admit that
this shoemaker’s children do not have shoes: I have been in charge of the administrative and business life of my family, but have not fully shared enough with my wife or heirs to ensure a smooth transition.
“By knowing who all the advisors are in a client’s life, that includes financial advisors, CPAs, tax preparers, and attorneys — my client can make one phone call and have the quarterback take over,” he Gabe Caponetto, a certified financial said. planner with the Alpha Legacy The plan he advises clients to create Wealth Management group of UBS will keep track of assets and in Red Bank, N.J., emphasizes the liabilities, sources of income, importance of creating a roadmap expenses, estate plans, and how that “connects all aspects of your accounts and assets are titled. “And,” financial life.” he adds, “the great thing about the plan is that once you start it, you’re A Plan Provides Security able to continuously update it as He also points out that “Having a your life changes.” plan in place will provide both individuals a sense of security that their financial lives are in order.” Sindy Steinberg, now 64, knew she would ultimately be fine financially, but not knowing the day-to-day tasks she had to take on led to her receiving late payment notices and administrative roadblocks that added to the stress she was already feeling. Caponetto likes to think of his role as the quarterback, guiding the game for families.
8 Tips For Transitioning to a New COO 1. Access. Make certain all user IDs and passwords are accessible. Keep an up-to-date list on your passwordprotected phone or computer, or on a piece of paper in a locked safe. Those are easy and secure ways as long as the new COO knows the password to the phone and the combination to the safe. Be sure to also keep the partner’s email account
Roadmap – continued on page 4
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Roadmap – continued from page 3 active so notifications can still be received. For some assets that are valuable but may not have a monetary value, such as frequent flyer miles and points, the survivor can continue to utilize them by accessing the account online. 2. Sharing Accounts. Make sure both parties have legal access to accounts or safe deposit boxes if one person dies. This may require changing the ownership of some. For accounts with significant assets, consult an attorney to be sure ownership is set up the best way. 3. Automation. Arrange to have repeating bills such as mortgage/rent and loans, credit cards, and utility bills made automatically every month directly from your bank account. And be sure that both party’s names are on the account.
Make a list of all the recurring bills you have and how they are paid, that is, through a manual process or an automatic withdrawal or credit card. 4. Experience. Sit down with your partner and together pay the bills for a month or two. 5. Prearrangements. In the midst of grief, the last thing mourners want to deal with is making decisions about what to do with the body or what kind of service or memorial the decedent wanted. 6. Short-term planning. Prepare a simple, estimated budget for the next two or three months and share that with your partner. Often the clearest way is to divide the expenses into discretionary vs. non-discretionary so if the incoming COO sees a shortfall, he or she can easily determine where cuts can be made. 7. Longer-term planning for the
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | May 2022
year. If there are large expenses that will happen later in the year, like taxes or insurance, or expected income such as a bonus, make sure the budget notes that. The current COO can set aside or notate where the funds will come from to pay the upcoming large expense. 8. Long-term planning. If you have a financial advisor, broker, attorney, or tax advisor, each should have contact information for the others. It is essential that everything is set up for an easy and legal transition of assets when one partner dies. Goals and plans will likely change later but knowing the original plan and the advisors will make the transition smoother. Once the dust has settled, the new COO can meet with the advisors to review the goals and plans to make sure they reflect the current needs. u