Adele was born in Salatiga, Indonesia. After WW II, at age 18, she left by boat to travel to Breda, Holland. There, she studied to get her bachelor of nursing degree. She and her husband and two-year-old daughter took another boat trip in 1962 and immigrated to the USA, making Columbus their home. Adele worked in the labor and delivery department at the local hospital for 30 years. Her daughter, son, grand-daughter and great-grandson are a daily part of her life. She would prepare wonderful Indonesian foods, and also took on Hoosier cooking. Her family had the best of both worlds when it came to her cooking. To her family, she has been a symbol of kindness and strength. “Lemons?” She would question. “I’ll make lemon pie” ❤️

Thrive Alliance will closed for business on Monday, May 29 as we join in commemorating the lives of those who died in service to our Nation.

Louise is the mother of 10 children: five boys and five girls, many of them in the photo she’s holding. Her caregiver attests that she is a delight to spend time with and always seems to look on the bright side of things. She was a hard worker, raising five children as well as working for a group home for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She enjoys weekly church services and keeping up with her large family.

William, best known as “Sonny,” is 92 and lives at home with his wife, Dorothy. He worked for RC Cola and also on a Dairy Farm. His proudest achievement is being married to his wife for 71 YEARS and raising two sons together.

Nancy is in her seventeenth year residing on one of Thrive Alliance’s properties. She was born in Indianapolis but was raised and lived her life in Bartholomew County. Nancy wore more than a few hats through the years working for local business, nurseries, factories, the hospital, and as a city dispatcher. She returned to school during these years, graduating from Ivy Tech in 1979. Nancy raised five children, has 11 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Though she is reluctant to admit it, she has quite the green thumb, contributing her time (as she calls it, her “stress therapy”) to maintaining the beautiful landscaping to the front of one of Thrive Alliance’s properties. Nancy has found Proverbs 3:5 to be words of wisdom she relies on and shares with other. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

May is Older Americans Month. The theme for 2023 is Aging Unbound. In the next few weeks, we will highlight some special folks who make use of Thrive Alliance services and learn more about their stories and their thoughts on how to enjoy a full, long life.