Page 3 - NBY News April 2020
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Senior in Action:
          Senior in Action:                  Rhea Zakich                                                                      Living Her Purpose
          Senior in Action:
           Senior in Action: Rhea ZakichRhea Zakich
          Senior in Action: Rhea Zakich
                                             Rhea Zakich
                                                                                                                              Living Her Purpose
                                                                                                                              Living Her Purpose
                                                                                                                              Living Her Purpose
                                                                                                                              Living Her Purpose
                                                                                                                          restricted due to the Corona virus
         Senior in Action –Rhea Zakich       when most of my meditations focused
         As told to Marilee Marrero Stefenhagen  on letting things go.  I thought of                                      pandemic.”
         Rhea Zakich, age 84, does not go by the  people in the Bible whose names were                                      When asked how she stays active,
       name her parents gave her.  Born in Akron,  changed when their purpose changed,                                    Rhea replied, “I’m editor of the Town
       Ohio, her birth name was Marilyn.  The  and realized Jesus had called me for a                                     & Country Manor newsletter. I take
       second oldest of 5 siblings, she became fed-  greater purpose.  Since that day, I have                             photos of people participating in
       up with baby-sitting her younger brothers  used the name Rhea.”                                                    activities and submit stories for the
       and by the time she turned 18, mom                                                                                 newsletter printed by staff.  Seven
       announced she was pregnant with baby    In her mid-30s, Rhea lost her voice                                        years ago, I was one of a handful of
       sister Luanne. Marilyn could hardly wait  and was told by doctors she might                                        residents who owned computers.
       to get out of the house. She got an   never speak again. Needing a way to                                          Now more than 80 of the 200 senior
       apartment and a job at Goodyear Aircraft  communicate in a meaningful way                                          residents have computer access and
       where she met and married Daniel, a   with her family, she created a deck of                                       tech support. My computer also
       fellow Ohioan. When Daniel got a job offer  conversation cards called the                                          allows me to easily communicate
       at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft, they   UNGAME.  The conversation prompts                                            with my siblings and two
       headed for the ‘unknown land’                                                                                      grandchildren via email or Facebook.
       called Long Beach, California.                                               Rhea said, “I never thought of myself as a  My bicycle is gathering dust because
       Friends told them, “Those                                                  writer.  My first book, Everybody Wins was  of hazardous conditions from nearby
       people out west are strange.”                                              published by Tyndale House when         construction. I walk instead, either
       But at age 23, they packed up and                                          UNGAME started to take off.  It was my  indoors, or to the pharmacy, a nearby
       settled down in Garden Grove                                               story about how God walked with me      park, or the mall.”
       and raised two sons; Darin and                                             through times of crisis. Everybody Wins
       Dean.                                                                      includes my experiences after the Watts   Here is Rhea’s advice to NBY
                                                                                  Riots, when I decided to put my faith into  readers:1) Do not isolate yourself!
         Are you wondering why                                                    practice by living in burned-out areas of LA  How can you avoid isolation during
       Marilyn changed her name to                                                to provide desperately needed help.”    this pandemic?  Stay in touch with
       Rhea? It happened during her                                                                                       family and friends.  Pick up the
       early faith journey.  She and                                                In June 2019, Rhea met a memoir writer  phone, or use your computer. Find
       Daniel were not raised in                                                  from Indiana who insisted she write another  people with whom you share
       religious households.  By age 24,                                          memoir.  They emailed stories and feedback  interests or hobbies.  I’m part of a
       Marilyn had two baby boys.  A                                              back and forth until Rhea completed her  ukulele band and we perform for
       neighbor invited her to attend                                             second memoir, titled He Called Me Rhea.  residents in the skilled nursing area.
       church.  She asked Alice, “What                                            This spiritual autobiography explains how  What a hoot!  I also joined jewelry-
       do you like about church?”Alice                                            God led her throughout life’s journey. Rhea  making and craft groups.  2) Find a
       replied, “They have free                                                   said, “Just like childhood “follow the dots”  purpose.  I’ve led over 500 retreats in
       childcare in the nursery, so                                               puzzles, I couldn’t see the entire picture  my lifetime.  Often retreat attendees
       adults can worship in the                                                  until I looked back at my nearly completed  would say, “I don’t know what my
       sanctuary with no distractions.”                                           path.”                                  purpose is!”  I would reply, “Pick
       That sounded really good to                                                                                        something you like to do, and do it
       Marilyn, and she liked the word sanctuary.  were so effective, she decided to share  Seven years ago, Rhea and her husband  for God.  That will give you
       It sounded restful and peaceful.  After a  UNGAME with a wider audience to  moved to Town & Country Manor, a       purpose.”
       slow start, she attended church regularly.  encourage people to talk about their  Christian senior community in Santa Ana,
       One day, during a guided meditation,  feelings and ideas, and listen.  After  CA. Rhea described the change, “Living here  For more information about the
       Marilyn experienced a vision.  She shared,  numerous tries, she found someone to  feels like being on a cruise ship with choices  UNGAME, visit her website
       “I visualized Jesus as if in a movie.  Jesus  publish it.  The UNGAME has sold nearly  of activities and meals prepared for us. My  www.rheazakich.com  Rhea Zakich’s
       called me Rhea, as if we were old friends.  5 million copies without any advertising  husband’s health deteriorated and he died in  new book He Called Me Rhea is
       Rhea is a Greek word meaning ‘flowing  and has been translated into more than 14  2019. Sons Darin and Dean, now age 60 and  available for sale on Amazon.
       stream.’  I thought about the prior months,  languages!                    59, visit me weekly, but visits are now




                NOT BORN YESTERDAY! publishes APRIL 2020 on line ONLY

          edition for the first time due to the pandemic.

               Call for more information about how you can access the

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