Myrna recently lost her son in a tragic accident. When she met with Friends & Co staff, she was writing thank-you cards to those who attended the funeral. Drawing on deep reserves of resilience developed over a life marked by spousal abuse, she raised three children as best she could with the support of her mother.
Today, she chooses joy, as displayed in the vivid watercolors decorating her apartment. In addition to painting, she enjoys visiting the Blaine Senior Center twice a month and playing dominos and board games on Friday nights with friends she’s made in her building, where she has lived for just a year. Originally from Marshall, Minnesota, Myrna is farm-girl-tough with a heart of gold. She shares that arts and crafts projects like assembling decorative boxes and painting ceramics “make my heart sing.”
Two of Myrna’s three children were born 10 months and 20 days apart, and she raised her granddaughter, Brooke, who is now 19. A caring spirit, Myrna worked as a home health aide for many years in adult daycare and smilingly says, “I loved them all.”
Myrna had a passion for Square Dancing, and though she now uses a walker, she is very mobile and walks easily. She grew up with a learning disability and says, “My sister helped me get through school, so I didn’t learn to read.”
Myrna looks forward to finding a new friend and taking walks in nearby parks while sharing stories about each other’s families. Respectful of boundaries, she chooses not to discuss politics or religion. Seeking only companionship, she does not expect a volunteer to run errands, drive her places, or perform tasks for her.
