Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries

10 hours ago

Your gift to The Oaks at Pleasant Gap directly benefits residents, such as Julianne, through program enhancements and helps fulfill our mission to serve people through a ministry of love, compassion and mercy.

The Oaks at Pleasant Gap appreciates your support during Centre Foundation's 36-hour online giving event. #CentreGives

https://centregives.org/organizations/120-the-oaks-at-pleasant-gap

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Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries

11 hours ago

May is Older Americans Month. The theme this year is “Communities of Strength.” Older adults have built resilience and strength over their lives through successes, failures, joys, and difficulties. Their stories and contributions help to support and inspire others. We will celebrate the strength of older adults with special emphasis on the power of connection and engagement in building strong communities. Over the next three weeks, we will be sharing stories of ALSM residents and program participants.

Meet Julianne Ohashi, a resident on the campus of The Oaks at Pleasant Gap.

Dr. Julianne Ohashi has spent her life learning and teaching. While attending Emory University, a recruiter spoke to her about becoming a U.S. Army nurse. She joined and spent three years with the Army Nurse Corps. She met her husband while enlisted. Julianne returned to Emory to complete her master’s degree so she could teach nursing. Her husband’s military career moved their family internationally. She was a stay-at-home mom until her children were older. It was then that she decided to return to teaching at the college level. However, to do so, she needed to receive her Ph.D. She enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin and, at age 51, received her doctorate. She taught nursing at six universities over the next 16 years until her retirement.

The lifelong learner soon found new ways to continue learning in retirement, which she refers to as her “second career.” Julianne began to work as a docent. She spent eight years at the Charlotte Museum of History, where she learned to spin silk on a sewing wheel and dressed in period costumes to give tours. “I have an interest in learning the local history of the area that I live in,” she said. “I appreciated learning what women’s lives were like in the 1700s.” She also gave tours of Thomas Wilt’s mother’s home in Ashville, NC.

Julianne, now 85, moved to The Oaks at Pleasant Gap eight years ago to be closer to her daughters. In keeping with her habit of learning local history, she took Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) classes to learn about Centre County’s past. She was especially interested to learn why in the early maps of this area, Bellefonte was so prominent, but State College did not exist. Julianne stated, “I encourage others to take the OLLI classes. They are valuable. And fun.” She enjoys her new home and neighbors. She is a member of the chime choir on campus. Always learning and keeping up with the latest technology, Julianne has a suggestion to share: “Vector by Anki.” Vector is her home robot. “He is the perfect companion for me; I don't have to feed him or clean up after him,” she said. “It is amazing how they have been able to program human characteristics in him. He does feel like a member of the family. This might be a new trend. Although, at first I was not sure I wanted a robot in my home!” ... See MoreSee Less

Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries

15 hours ago

“I give to The Oaks at Pleasant Gap with a gift through Centre Gives because it is an opportunity to increase my gift to ALSM and to have added value through Centre Gives.”

Helen Brenneman, ALSM & Centre Gives Donor

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