Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined

When Patricia (Pat) Koko, age 82, reflects on her life’s work as a young homemaker turned consummate volunteer and community change-maker, she often says things like, “that was kind of fun,” or “there just was a need”—-simple phrases that belie an extraordinary legacy.Driven by a lifelong love for older people, Pat has spent more than 50 years helping to create, grow, and sustain programs and services that support older adults. What began as local, grassroots efforts in and around Oak Park, IL, evolved into initiatives that attracted state and federal funding and ultimately became models for nationwide programs serving older adults.Pat’s impact continues today. In addition to being a volunteer extraordinaire, she is the owner of RBC Jewelry Designs, where she creates stunning gemstone pieces—many of which she generously donates to fundraisers benefiting older adults."The services I helped create many decades ago are enduring and robust, and I’m still here to help where help is needed." - Patricia KokoConnect with PatEmail: patriciakoko@hotmail.comPat Koko: for 50 years, a volunteer extraordinaire in & around Oak Park - Inside Edge PRThanking Our Sponsor—-Plymouth Place, LaGrange Park, IL. Discover the extraordinary at Plymouth Place—a vibrant community designed for active adults. Elevate your retirement living experience with tailored independent options, premier amenities, and a full continuum of care. Explore diverse living choices and embrace the joy of a life well-lived. http://plymouthplace.orgRecognizing the Age-Wise CollectiveWomen Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-Wise Collective, comprised of women-led podcasts for women 50+, featuring women’s stories and addressing topics that promote the pro-aging movement.MEET: Sally Duplantier, gerontologist and founder of My Zing Life, who’s mission is to help older adults live their best lives longer. Sally hosts Wellness Wednesday, an online program featuring cutting-edge researchers, best-selling authors, and health professionals. https://myzinglife.com

n writing her memoir, BROKEN PIECES (and the fun things you can do with them), Reedy is hopeful that her life's missteps might help others. When she began studying Method Writing with a brilliant teacher, “her life's stories came pouring out like a waterfall", she said. It took a few decades to complete her manuscript to her satisfaction. She found searching for a publisher tedious and finally chose to self-publish with Paper Raven Books. In her book, Reedy shares the many phases of her life, the ups and downs, successes and failures, in a raw honest account. Through her publication journey, she met three other first time published memoirists, all women in their 70s, and now they are collaborating on a book to inspire future memoirists. Academics was not Reedy’s strong suit, but she excelled in the arts, ballet and acting. Unfortunately, she had a much older mentally troubled brother she had to contend with. Her desperate attempt to escape family dysfunction took a traumatic turn causing her to lose her footing and stumble down a dark path. But there was light at the end of the tunnel and a happy ending in sight. "It doesn’t always help if your friends sympathize with you when you’re in a bad situation." - Reedy Gibbs CONNECT WITH REEDY: E. ReedyGibbs@sbcglobal.net Memoir: Broken Pieces and the fun things you can do with them https://www.amazon.com/s?k=broken+pie... A special thanks to our sponsor Plymouth Place in LaGrange Park IL where senior living is redefined with options and opportunities to fit individual needs and preferences. A shout-out to Age-Wise Collective member Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, host of Wisdom at Work: Older Women, Elderwomen and Grandmothers on the Move, features energizing and inspiring conversations with older women activists and artists the world over. Https://www.wisdomatworkpodcast.com