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Seniors society stays on the move
Hubbard
In the lower level of the Corner House Christian Church, Doris Furney tells a room of 75 senior citizens the story of her 31-year career as a traveling contortionist and dancer in the middle of the 20th century.
“You can see how this life was a wonderful life,” she concludes just before leaving the lecturn and leaning on her walker. “And I thank God for it.”
The group, which consists mostly of adults in their 70s and 80s, calls itself the Happy Wanderer Club and has met every third Friday outside of December since February 1990.
“It’s my baby,” Mabel Bancroft said. “There are no visitors, only first-timers.”
She created a society in which senior citizens are given varying responsibility. For example, some volunteer for planning subcommittees or as greeters. The wanderers take day trips together to various events such as their upcoming trip to the Red Barn Theatre in Fombell, Pa., to watch a performance of “Music Man.”
“I don’t know if there will be heat in the building,” she cautioned the group while standing at the lecturn. “It’s a barn. Be prepared.”
Happy Wanderers used to take multiple-day trips across the country, but as the cost of traveling increased, their pensions and Social Security have not kept pace. Working through a travel agency, Bancroft looks to keep the cost of the trips at or below $80 a trip now.
But with all this, Bancroft said the monthly meetings where seniors can sit and chat are key to the group.
“The most important part [of the group] is the social aspect,” said Bancroft, who started the group after she and her husband, Dave, retired. “We do have things to talk about besides our grandchildren.”
Each meeting begins with the Pledge of Allegiance, the singing of “God Bless America” and a Bible devotion. Then Bancroft announces birthdays, anniversaries and deaths in the past month — there have been three in the group this year.
The group has guest speakers who often tell tales that allow the mind to wander. Furney, one of the guest speakers, set up a poster board with autographed photos of the past century’s celebrities she, under the stage name Doris Thompson, and her late-husband, Bob, traveled with, such as Jim Nabors, Bob Hope and Red Skelton.
A month ago, local historian Cynthia Clarke, who dressed as a Civil War-era female spy, spoke about their impact on the war.
The meetings also are havens for reunions where friends, and sometimes family, reunite after losing touch years earlier.
At one recent meeting, Norma Pugh and her first cousin Irene DeStasio found out they were second cousins to Robert Burrows, another Happy Wanderer.
For the church, it is the best community outreach program it has, said Dave Coxson, minister at Corner House since February.
Pauline Mazarakis, who has known Bancroft for 60 years from their friendship at Hubbard High School, just retired in April.
I didn’t realize how boring retirement was until I retired,” she said.
She spent most of her life traveling with friends, some of who have died since. Now, she attends the monthly meetings and holds Bancroft in high regard.
“Mabel is a real doll,” Mazarakis said.
Bancroft laughed and said, “I’m twisting her arm.”
The Happy Wanderer Club has no membership fees or dues. For more information about the club or to join, call Mabel Bancroft at 330-534-2759.