Merrilyn Anthony's Update

Once again, she is having a hard time eating and drinking anything. She says it just hurts too bad. They had taken the IV out Sunday, will probably have to put another one back in. However, they have re-directed the radiation so the throat issue should get better - hopefully! She is doing a lot of sleeping.
Asked about the tumor shrinking - about if this would change the prognosis - and the answer was no. Please keep on praying that her tumor will go away.

Valentine's Day Party ~ 2008

Left to right, Joan Donovan, Ina Lott Whittington, Katherine Turcotte and Vera Marshall Brown.

June Emerson and Pat Stamm

Myself, Marian Love Phillips by the pretty Valentine Tree.

Pat Stamm serving drinks for Chris Patin, June Emerson and Joan Donovan.

A Valentine feast!

A pretty tree dressed up with Valentine Hearts!

A pretty centerpiece.

Vera Marshall Brown, Fran Miller, Chris Patin and Myrtle Curro Alvarado getting some treats from the table.

Fran Miller and Olivia Lee

Anita Hossley and Myrtle Curro Loviza

Our PAK, Omega Chapter, held our Valentine's Day Party at the Cannongate Apartment Club House in February 2008. Here are a few pictures that were taken from this event. Next month we will again be hosting our Valentine's Day Party at the Cannongate Apartment Club House on Wisconsin Avenue. We are all looking forward to a festive evening!

E-mail from Nancy

Dear Sisters,

This is probably the longest email I have written in years and I sure hope I have everything correct.

Katherine called and gave me the information for Founders Day and To Vicksburg With Love PAK Concert and Fund Raiser. We are fortunate that we can combine the two since our chapter is responsible for Founders Day. The date is Tuesday, February 10th at the Southern Cultural Center.

Our Chores: (1) Someone to Collect the money at the door. (2) Table decorations. (3) Assemble salads.

Story Book will provide casseroles and they will have the makings for the salad. All we have to do is assemble and serve it. If anyone would like to bring a Bundt cake, brownies, etc. it would be very nice.

This is not a mandatory meeting but your presence would be appreciated. The price is $10.00 per person. Please call Katherine to make your reservations. (601-636-3229)

Jane Byrd and Norman Joseph will perform a musical concert.

Thanks, Nancy

PS. Our regular meeting will be Wednesday, Feb. 11th at Cannon Gates Club House, Vera and Pat are hostesses. The philantropic is Haven House Family Shelter.

To Vicksburg With Love

Picture Show Outing

Yesterday afternoon a few of us sorority sisters got together for a afternoon of fun taking in a movie called "Marley and Me". It was so enjoyable, funny and sad. Here is the official site of the movie Marley & Me, starring Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston as owners of the world's worst dog, Marley, a yellow lab. Directed by David Frankel. This is a must see! Take your hankie!

News from ~ Omega

We were deeply saddened by the death of Omega sister Barbara Helen Ables Kinnebrew on December 15, 2008. Barbara was known for her lively spirit and infectious smile. The 1958 Homecoming Queen at Culkin Academy, Barbara went on to work as a beautician before becoming a successful realtor. She will be deeply missed.

Vera Brown had cataract surgery on October 27, 2008 on one eye and will have the other one operated on November 17, 2008. She commented that she can now see the gas prices at Kangaroo! Wishing her a speedy recovery.

Anita Hossley's daughter, Marcia Shingleton, and family moved to Durham, North Carolina this summer. Anita rode to NC with Marcia and her 3 children, Rob, Meg, and Mary Elizabeth, when they relocated there. Later in the summer Anita, Mike and Margaret Piazza and their 3 daughters, Ashleigh, Anne Stewart, and Elise, flew to NC for a vacation. Marcia and her children joined them at Top Soil Beach on the Atlantic Ocean. While there they visited the Turtle Hospital where they learned about the Loggerhead Turtles and efforts to rescue them. Anita's granddaughter, Ashleigh Piazza, was elected to be one of the Freshman Class Maids of the St. Aloysius' Homecoming this year.

Katherine Turcotte's grandson, Anthony, has come to live with her and husband, Roy. Anthony is working at McDonald's and is also working on his GED. Good Luck Anthony on your GED! Katherine and husband Roy went to St. Louis, MO, in September for Roy's ship reunion. All Roy's shipmates were so glad to see him since they had not seen him since his stroke in June 2007.

Marian Love Phillips flew into Richmond, VA and motored on to Fredericksburg, VA, for her granddaughter, Emma's, first birthday on July 25. All grandparents and friends were invited to attend. It was a very special occasion and she got so many presents. Her birthday cake was a Hugh pink castle and of course she was the PRINCESS! Marians daughter, Kathleen Day (Kathy) has been hired by RIVERWALK, our new Casino, as Supervisor of Maintenance. Congratulations Kathy! Michael "Ethan" Kelly, Marin's grandson, has been promoted to master Sergeant in the Jr. ROTC. Ethan is in the 9th grade and wants to make the Air Force his career when her graduates from high school.

Joan Donovan and her husband Mike took their camper up into the Smokey Mountains this past October. She said the leaves were changing and very pretty. They saw and took a lot of pictures of wildlife and was exciting to see three bear cubs in a tree. The weather was just beautiful and they had a really good time.

Ina Whittington's son, David, got a promotion from Assistant Manager to Manager of the Food, Deli and Beverage at RAINBOW Casino. Daivd has worked for RAINBOW for the past 7 years now. Rhonda, Ina's daughter, has a new job working at AT&T Retail Store on Pemberton Blvd. She has been employed for approximately 3 months now. Good Luck in your new job, Rhonda!

1959 Classmates in Omega Chapter: Marian Love Phillips, Ina Lott Whittington, Myrtle Loviza Alvarado, Katherine Meyer Turcotte, Vera Marshall Brown were recognized at the St. Aloysius Homecoming Mass and Reception on October 24 honoring the Class of 1959. They will be celebrating their 50th year high school class reunion together on April 25, 2009. You can view more of this event on their Class of 1959 Blog at: http://marian-classof1959.blogspot.com/

Omega Chapter Rush - November 1, 2008, at 3:00, a Rush was hosted by our chapter in Connie Greer's lovely home in Marian Park. Vera Marshall Brown, our 2nd Vice President, sent out invitations to seven ladies. They were, Jane Laboda, Pam Melsheimer, Katie Hossley, Janie Seabergh, Shannon Curro, Cathy Lee, and Laura McCallum. Everyone seemed to enjoy the wine, cheese and finger sandwiches, etc., that the members brought to celebrate the occasion. You can view more of this event on PAK Omega Chapter Snapshots Blog at: http://pakomegachaptersnapshots.blogspot.com/

Our Omega Chapter celebrated our Christmas Party at Toney's Restaurant on Mission 66 on December 6. Members-at-Large were also invited to come and bring their spouses.

News from ~ Vicksburg Delta

Tricia Copelin's son, Jamie, and Michelle Hoffman, both of Denver, Colorado, got married October 25, 2008, at The Church of the Holy Trinity in Vicksburg, MS.

Mary Lee and her family had an exciting November as their son Jacob got married in Dallas, TX. Mary made the wedding cake and decorated it after arriving. She also did the flower arrangements. Jacob and their new daughter-in-law Heather spend the Christmas holidays with them. She and Dan stay busy running their bed and breakfast, Belle of the Bends.

Helene Benson has returned to school, attending Spring Hill College, which meets in Jackson, MS. She is pursuing a Masters in Theological Studies, which requires a lot of work, but she is enjoying the stretching of her mind.

Joanna White attended the Vicksburg Music Teacher's piano Recital where her grandson, Michael White, performed. In the Warren Centrals Fall Choral Festival, her other grandson, Paul White sang with the Madrigals and Total Sound. Paul carolled for many Christmas events, including the Koestler's Christmas Tree Lane mural unveiling. She visited with her two sisters in Holly Springs, MS, and enjoyed the First Baptist Church's "Sounds Like Christmas" sinner theater. Her son, Barry White sang with the Trinity Baptist's Singing Christmas Tree. Her other son, Ronny White, has been busy designing banners and signs for Mistletoe Mart, etc., in Jackson. Also, for Operation Christmas Child for Highland Church, Vicksburg. Daughter, Brea, passed the Board Exam and is now an R.N.

The Chapter's annual Christmas Pot Luck was held at the beautifully decorated home of Josephine Peterson. After a delicious dinner, members played Dirty Santa.

To all our Sorority Sisters and their families, in the New Year we wish good health, a more peaceful world, and happy memories shared with loved ones.

News from ~ Beta

Bonny Bruce and her daughter (and fellow Beta sister) Barbara Applebaum will be traveling to Florida for the January 17 wedding of Barbara's son Chad to Angela Snyder. The wedding will take place at a castle in St. Augustine. Chad works at Disney world. Bonny, Barbara, and Bonny's sister-in-law Betty Joe Backstrom (also known as "The Three Amigos") traveled to Branson in October.

Sorority sisters Tracy Trichell and Linda Christian have been inducted to the Daughters of the American Revolution. Thomas and James Trichell made their 1st Reconciliation and swam in their 1st Swim Meet. The twins have made their Accelerating Reading Goals every month since school started and Thomas received 3rd Place in the Reading Fair at St. Francis. Over the summer the twins baseball team "The Vicksburg Billies" won the Governor's cup for their age group. Alexandra Trichell qualified for State and has lettered fro the 2nd year in swimming at Warren Central High School. She is a Rebelette Pledge and has been volunteering with other local charities like United Way Teen Help, American Red Cross, What Up Wit Dat?, and Total youth. In October, she helped out with the Centennial initiative Program that was held at Vicksburg National Military Park where she met the Secretary of the Interior, the Director of the National Park Service, Trace Akins, and other distinguished guests. All three siblings sang in the Christmas Caroling Contest that was held the 1st part of December.

News from ~ Vicksburg Alpha

Frances Koury and husband Ellis enjoyed having daughter Kathy and granddaughter Dayna, who line in Sand Francisco, home for Thanksgiving. Its always exciting to have those two home regardless of the difficult air travel! They stayed in Connie and David's recently renovated "cabin on the lake" (We plan to have our Alpha Chapter PAK May meeting there!) Frances reminds us of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra's performance on Friday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m. we continue to enjoy this is a free concert so let's support it and the sponsors who continue to make this possible.

Bernett Tucker and husband Guy spent Thanksgiving in Collierville, TN, with daughter Debbie and Glenn Livingston.

Sue Rowlett is the new great-grandmother of twin girls born December 2, 2008, to Taylor and Krisa Rowland.

Pam Gee enjoyed Thanksgiving in Atlanta with her son Scott, his wife Robin, and two sons Blake (5) and Alex (1) and their 5-month old puppy, Sammie. It was a lively scene.
Weddings have been a big part of Florence Amborn's life lately. Her granddaughter Casey Amborn, a Jackson lawyer, married Sam Creasey, another Jackson lawyer, this past summer. Coming up on February 9, grandson Robert Amborn who works at United Cleaners will marry Jordan Bell here in Vicksburg.

Upcoming Alpha Chapter meetings include a meeting at Art & Soul, February's "To Vicksburg with Love," a meeting at the new Mississippi Audubon Society building, and the May meeting at the Connie (Frances' daughter) & David Hosemann's lake house.

News from ~ Denver Delta

The last Chapter meeting was in October. November's Thanksgiving dinner was cancelled due to members being ill. Heavy snowfall and icy streets kept us from meeting in December. Our older cars to not care to be driven on such day.

Gennie McCloskey has decided that, as of December 15, she must resign her membership due to the long drive to Chapter meetings. We will all miss Gennie's quiet demeanor and warm smile.

Betty Shea still manages to produce many wonderful handmade crocheted and knitted items that are raffled to raise money for their church. Betty also mailed our Christmas donations to the Salvation Army and Denver Rescue mission. With this cold spell, the missions are full and some of the homeless were sent to motels on the coldest of nights, so money was greatly appreciated.

Elly Danko baked her Christmas cookies as usual for her friends and relatives. She attended the Christmas party at the Edelweiss Club. She also visited the Christkindel Markey with her daughter Christine, a yearly tradition.

Walburga Salazar went to the Christmas party at the Edelweiss Club with Elly. Walburga continues to help elderly and disabled people in her building by driving them to various appointments. This was hampered this month when her card broke down.

Isoide Meyer and daughter Heidi kicked off the Christmas season with their annual Madrigal dinner in Fort Collins. In keeping with the time period, a traditional English dinner is served with only a spoon provided with which to eat. The evening is sprinkled with Madrigal music that is used to "sing in" each course of food, and culminates in a candlelit room where everyone sings "Silen Night."

January 2009 ~ Keynote

From your National President.....Pam Gee

Can you believe 2009 is already here? Where did the months go?

We in PAK have had a difficult year, losing several of our members. In 2008, we bid a final farewell to Margaret Stephens, Wanda Duvernet, Helene Walley, and Barbara Kinnebrew, as well as PAK Rats John Danko (Ellie, Denver Delta) and John Anderson (the late Mary, Vicksburg Alpha.)

We are glad to see some of the chapters rushing and inviting friends to join them. We hope this results in a growing membership. PAK is too wonderful not to share!

Convention time is coming up. Note the dates below and mark them on your calendars. you will also be getting more information our Founder's Day celebration in March put on my Vicksburg Omega Chapter.

First Sorority Meeting

We are having our first sorority meeting tonight at El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant, which is a a very popular resturant in town. It is located on the south frontage road next to I-20. They are very friendly and have very good food and fast service. It is a good as it gets! We are all looking forward to a nice meeting and seeing everyone in our New Year!