Merry Christmas PAK, Omega Chapter!

Wishing all sorority sisters a very Merry Christmas!

PAK Omega Chapter Christmas Party

Our Christmas party will be held tonight at ROCA's at 6:30 pm.

Sorority Sister ~ Vera Brown Dies

Vera Agnes Marshall Brown, a lifelong resident of Vicksburg, passed away Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, at Select Specialty in Jackson.  She was 75.  

She was the daughter of the late Lee Carlton “Teddy” and Vera Agnes Marshall.  A graduate of St. Francis Xavier Academy Class of 1959, Vera was trained as a registered nurse by the Sisters of Mercy, receiving her degree from the Mercy Hospital School of Nursing, then she worked in her profession for over 50 years in various areas of nursing.

In 1982, Vera was honored as Home Health Nurse of the Year. Vera was a member of Pi Alpha Kappa Sorority. She was a lifelong communicant of St. Paul Catholic Church, where she served on numerous committees, including the St. Paul Altar Society, chairman of the bereavement committee, St. Paul Choir and several boards, including Parish Council.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Eleanor Bagby; and one granddaughter, Christina Francis.

Survivors include her husband of 52 years, George Brown of Vicksburg; two daughters, Andrea Brown (Owen) Francis of 

Mandeville, La.; Julie Brown (Bill) Walker of Clinton; one son, George (Lara) Brown Jr. of Natchez; two brothers, Lee Marshall “Teddy” of Lexington, S.C., and Charles Marshall of Vicksburg; four grandsons and two granddaughters.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016, at St. Paul Catholic Church with the Rev. Tom Lalor officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Frank J. Fisher Funeral Home with Rosary at 6:30 p.m., and from 9 a.m. Tuesday until the hour of service at the church.

Pallbearers will be Colin Francis, Patrick Francis, Hunter Walker, Michael Marshall, Tim Marshall and Andy Griffith. Honorary pallbearers will be members of Pi Alpha Kappa Sorority, St. Paul Catholic Church Choir, St. Paul Altar Society and members of the bereavement committee

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, 713 Crawford Street, Vicksburg, MS, 39180.

Sorority Sister Died

It is with great sadness to let you know that our Sorority Sister, Vera Marshall Brown, passed away last night.  

May she rest in peace in our Dear Lord's arms!

Omega Chapter October Meeting

Date:  Wednesday, October 5th

Place:  108 Maison Rue (off of Wisconsin Avenue)

Time:  6:30 p.m.

Hostesses:  Lucy Spangler, Katie Hossley and Ginger Berney

Program: None

Philanthropic:  Family Development - School supplies, etc.

Hope to see you there!

Pictures taken at our October 5th meeting at Lucy Spangler's home.

Lucy had a cute witches wreath on her door. 

A spooky cat!

Lucy trying to scare me!

Lucy showing off her witches hat and looking like a sassy girl!

A scary spider table!

Sorority sisters catching up on the news.

Laura Ables and Laura McCallum enjoying a conversation.

Smile for the camera!

Laura and I, with Anita Hossley and Joan Donovan eating at the scary spider table.

Sorority Sisters in the dining room.

Lucy had witches hats hanging on her mantel.

Another witches hat on a table lamp.

Halloween Sorority presents!

Successful September Sorority Meeting

We had our September PAK, Omega Chapter meeting last night at the Vicksburg Senior Center on the corner of South and Walnut Streets and had a real nice attendance of 16 sorority sisters.

We were served delicious food prepared by our hostesses and enjoyed visiting and catching up on our lives since last May.

Missing were sorority sisters Vera Brown, who's in the hospital, Ina Whittington, moving to Greenwood, MS, Pat Stamm, Joan Donovan, Laura McCallum, Dinnie Johnston, Jane Loboda, Frances Miller and Glenda LaGarde.

Tasty square chocolate brownies.

Welcome Back PAK 

A yummy cream cheese strawberry trifle with crushed pretzels to enjoy!

Delicious grapes!

Welcome Friends!

An awesome spinach dip!

Pecan covered cream cheese ball with green onions and ham made by hostess, Louise Herrod.

Some really nice Secret Sisters gifts and Philanthropic supplies for Community Cupboard.  

A lot of catching up to do before our September meeting convenes.  

Myrtle Alvarado, Alice Hebler, Pam Melsheimer and Janey Seabergh enjoying a conservation.

After the meeting and opening up gifts Louise Herrod got a real nice pumpkin table runner with a wire decorated pumpkin to enjoy for Halloween from her Secret Sister.

Katie Hossley with gifts from her Secret Sister.

Lucy Spangler showing off her candy treats with pretty containers she got from her Secret Sister.

Pretty colors!

Pat Tinney with a lovely white pumpkin from her Secret Sister to display in her home for Halloween.

Omega Chapter's September Meeting

Date:  Wednesday, September 7th

Place:  Senior Center

Time:  6:30 p.m.

Hostesses:  Lucy Spangler, Alice Hebler, Louise Herrod and Ginger Berney

Program: None

Philanthropic:  Community Cupboard

Hope to see you there!

Sorority Meeting Voting Time

Sorority Sisters:  

We need to take a vote on when will be the best time of night to begin our sorority meetings starting in September.  Please reply to the time you would prefer and we will go with the most voted time. 

6:00, 6:30 or 7:00

Thanks,

Marian

In Remembrance

Our sorority sisters, Lucy Spangler's Aunt and Pat Stamm's Sister-in-law, recently passed away. With Deepest Sympathy!

Sidney McLaurin “Laurin” Fields Stamm died Thursday, June 16, at home after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, June 21, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church. Following the service will be a celebration of the life of Laurin Stamm at the BB Club, 721 Clay St.

A Vicksburg native, Stamm was married to John Carter “Jack” Stamm for 58 years. She was the daughter of Vaughn and Lucy McLaurin Fields, who preceded her in death, along with her brother, Vaughn, and her grandson Alan Ebersole. 

At the W and Ole Miss she was an active member of the Lockheart Social Club and Tri Delta Sorority, respectively. Stamm was the valedictorian of the Carr Central High School class of 1951. She attended Mississippi University for Women and graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts in English.

After graduation, she began her journalism career, which spanned more than 60 years. For 58 years she served as the Food Editor for the Vicksburg Evening Post through three generations of the Cashman family.

Her weekly column, “From the Kitchen of the Cypress House,” was the catalyst for her cookbook of the same name, published in 2011 after her retirement from the newspaper. She also had many freelance articles published in Southern Living, Southern Style and W Magazine.

Stamm was a volunteer at St. Francis Xavier Academy and St. Aloysius High School, where her five children attended.

She was one of the founders of Play-A-Day-In-May-Away, the Catholic school carnival. She was a life member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary, and served as president.

She also spent many hours helping with the club’s first cookbook, “Vintage Vicksburg.”

The Stamm Family Invitational Swim Meet was established to honor Stamm and her family for their dedication to the sport.Stamm served on the Vicksburg Parks and Recreation Board when the decision to build the new Vicksburg City Pool was made. She spent more than 25 years involved with the Vicksburg Swim Association. She served as president, coach, stroke judge, and state records’ keeper.

She and her family were the 1995 recipient of the Conoco Phillips Outstanding Service Award for invaluable service to swimming.

Stamm is survived by her husband, her five children and their spouses: Carter and Linda Stamm of River Ridge, La.; Story and Bruce Ebersole of Vicksburg; Lauri and Riley Collins of Ridgeland; Craig and Shannon Stamm and Maggie and Greg Langston of Dallas; grandchildren, Ashken and Anoush Stamm, Bern and his wife, Mattie Ebersole; Jase Ebersole, Riley, MariMac and Jack Collins, Sidney and Aden Stamm, Lauchlin, Story, Carson and Vaughn Langston; cousin, George Alexander Stevens; sisters-in-law Janie Selby Fields, Pat Stamm, Dorothy Neill and their families.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Mississippi  Chapter of American Parkinson Disease Association (1040 River Oaks Drive, Flowood, MS 39232), The Bruce Alan Ebersole Memorial Scholarship at St. Aloysius High School (1900 Grove St, Vicksburg, MS 39183) or The Bruce Alan Ebersole Memorial Scholarship at Princeton University (3 Buckhammon Place, St. Louis, MO 63124) (http://www.baescholarship.com/index.php).

Special thanks to her caregivers Alma Parsons and Dorothy Stewart.  

Support For Vera's Family

Karen Harrison talked with the family this morning and Vera was doing a little better. They asked that those who wanted to do something for the family to not bring food to the house. They suggested that gift cards to restaurants, fast food, etc., would be helpful because they are seldom at the house. 

Family also suggested that friends might want to come and stay with Vera after she moves to a room so that George could be relieved since her girls will be leaving to go back to work. 

Sorority Sister In Hospital

I got word this morning that our sorority sister, Vera Marshall Brown, is in ICU on a ventilator at Merit Health River Region.  

Please keep her in your prayers at this time and will keep you updated.

May God be with you and bless you, Vera!


June 26 - Sunday:  I spoke with Andrea, Vera's daughter, and she told me that she is a little better but still sedated and on ventilator. 
June 28 - Still on ventilator with some improvements but still sedated.
June 30 - On ventilator but off sedation and improving per daughter, Julie. 
July 2 - Semi-conscious but still on ventilator per her husband, George. 
July 4 - Just talked to Vera and sitting up in a chair and said to keep the prayers coming and will be starting physical therapy and hope she can put one foot in front of the other. Great news!  Keep the prayers coming! 
July 6 - She may be transferred to a room today and will need physical therapy.  Keep the prayers coming!
July 7 - In Room 587 and getting physical therapy.  A great sign of improvement.  Keep the prayers coming!
July 8 - May be transferred to Heritage House Nursing Home for PT/Rehab next Monday.  Keep the prayers coming for our sorority sister!
July 11- Talked to Vera and sounded really good but had a setback of fluid building up and waiting to get that stabilized so she can go to Heritage House to continue her rehab.  Keep praying.
July 16 - Talked to Vera today and still in hospital room 587 and continuing IV meds for heart and maybe going to Promise Hospital this coming Monday for further nursing care.  Please continue to keep her in yours prayers. 
July 19 - Talked to Vera today and she has been moved to Promise Hospital for further care and will start occupational therapy tomorrow.  You can reach her at 601-883-3234 and she is in Room 127.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers for a speedy recovery.  
July 20 - I got word today that Vera has been moved to another room at Promise Hospital which is the old Vicksburg Hospital on the north frontage road on the second floor.  Her room #132 and her phone number is 601-883-3229.  I know she would appreciate if you have the time to go by for a visit or a phone call.
July 22 - I spoke to Vera yesterday and she told me she had a setback is why she was moved to Room #132 but is stabilized now. Please continue to pray for her. 
July 29 - Went to visit with her and she was in good spirits.  Dr. came in while I was there and said she possibly could go home later next week.  She is still on IV meds for her heart.  Keep praying for her.
August 2 - I talked to Vera today and she is still in Promise Hospital but now running a fever.  Trying to locate what is going on and still on IV meds for her heart.  Please keep the prayers coming for her. 
August 4 - Talked to Vera today and no more fever and may get to go home next Friday if all goes well. 
August 10 - Today I spoke to George Brown, Vera's husband and said she will most likely go home Friday.  She has been taken off of her IV heart meds.  Keep the prayers coming because she will need home care as well.  I know the family appreciates all your prayers and thoughts since all this went down in June.  Praise The Lord!
August 13 - Vera was discharged yesterday and went home! Thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time for her. I know she appreciates all your prayers for her recovery. Wonderful news!  May God Bless and continue to keep her well.  
August 20 - Vera was discharged from Promise Hospital last Friday and home with nurses coming in to check on her.  Just talked to her daughter and said that she is still weak.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers as she tries to recover from her health issues. 
August 21 - Update:  Vera is back in the hospital today being stabilized and resting.  Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  May God Bless and heal you, Vera. 
August 22 - Vera was moved to the Heart Unit for specialized care. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
August 25 - Vera is in ICU now and having a CPAP to help with her breathing. Continue your thoughts and prayers for her and may the Good Lord Blessed and heal her. 
August 31 - Vera is still in ICU.  Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  God be with you Vera!
September 4 - Ina Whittington and I visited Vera today and she is out of ICU and in Room 420 at Merit Health River Region.  She is on/off the CPAP machine but still need your prayers. Hopefully, soon she will be back home. 
September 9 - Vera was put back in ICU this morning according to her husband George to stabilize her vital signs.  Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  May God be with her!
September 13 - Vera will be transported to St. Dominic's Hospital in Jackson, MS, today per her husband George for further rehab. Please keep the prayers coming as she continues to struggle with her health issues.  God Bless her! 
September 21 - Vera is a patient at Select Specialty Hospital in Room 140, Ridgewood Rd., Jackson, MS.  She is being monitored on her vitals so please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  May God be with you, Vera! 
September 26 - Vera is being moved to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS, for more cardiac care according to her husband, George and daughter, Andrea.  Please continue to keep her in your prayers.  May God touch Vera with his healing hands and give her comfort and peace. 
October 2 - Talked to George about Vera today and he said that she is still in Intensive Care at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS.  She is somewhat better, he said.  Please continue to keep the prayers coming and hopefully she will get strong enough to come home soon.  

End-Of-Year PAK Party

We had our end-of-year sorority party at Jane Laboda's lovely home off of Yorktown Road on Wednesday, May 11th.  Everyone had a great time and enjoyed being together again.   

Louise Herrod, Cathey Lee and lady-of-the-house, Jane Laboda.  

Jane's pets hanging out.

Alice Herrod and with her sister, Maggie.

Myself, Marian Love Phillips and Joan Donovan.

Backside of Jane's lovely home.

A nice size swimming pool and lake behind their home.

Joshua

Sorority sisters in the kitchen enjoying being together.

A delicious food prepared by our sorority sisters.

Olivia Lee, Cathey Lee and Lucy Spangler.

It's almost time to chow down.

Lots of food for us all to enjoy.

Great picture of Pat Tinney.

All waiting to have fun playing a game.

LCR® Left Center RightTM Dice Game

Jane's daughter explaining the game to us.

To play the game we had to start off with (3) one dollar bills.

Dinnie Johnston!  The winner of about $66.00.  What a fun evening for all of us to enjoy.  We will meet again in September. Wishing everyone a fantastic summer!