Stories of remarkable men and women.

The people I have interviewed have experienced both life’s joys and difficulties, and they have come to know their central purpose or the essence of their being, and were following their true passions in life. I recalled conversations I had had with two women, ages 99 and 87, and realized that although their bodies looked every bit their chronological age, their spirits were like women in their thirties. They were aging from the inside out. The lines and gray hair had not changed their inner core.

In fact many were reaching their full potential as human beings in their latter years and were more amazing now than when they were younger. Because of it’s numerous difficulties and complexities, life is not an easy task, however I feel a sense of hope for myself and others. Despite wars, starvation, illness, loss of children and loved ones these remarkable men and women were still continuing to find meaning and purpose in life.

Each person in my two books are heroes - each story needs to be told.

I will introduce you to two people that I have interviewed and photographed. Fred Dunn is in “Treasured Legacies - Older & Still Great” and Eddie Siman is in “Aging Is Living - Myth Breaking Stories From Long Term Care”.

Frederick “Fred” William Dunn

Carpenter, peace activist, poet, adventurer, philosopher, jogger, friend
April 24, 1923, Toronto – November 13, 2008 Toronto
Died at age 85

Fred lived a life of creativity, passion, curiosity, environmental awareness and adventure.

Fred Dunn had been alone during much of his earlier life. He was born out of “wedlock,” to a young woman from a working-class family and the son of a wealthy livestock merchant. His father refused to marry his mother and risk his reputation. When Fred was two, his mother was institutionalized for tuberculosis. She died four years later, in a sanitarium, leaving Fred quite alone. He lived in foster homes but the relationships did not last long. Fred did work at a lab with Banting and Best but as he grew older he left the job and he had no income to support himself with.

In earlier years he felt inferior because of the way he was raised, but his self-esteem improved as he grew older due to a sense of independence and awareness that developed over time.

Fred had made his home in the Rosedale Ravine, off the Bayview extension in Toronto. He lived there for fourteen years; in a dwelling that he constructed for himself. He named his home “Camp Goodwill”. He made this choice because he did not want to take money from the government. Although Old Age Pension is available to Canadians at age sixty-five, Fred did not take any money until he turned seventy-nine, at which time he felt he could use a little help. He ate at various community outreach facilities, and received medical treatment from a street-based health unit.

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When asked about religion, he said that he believed that “God is a feeling of oneness with humanity and with the earth.”

Fred managed to maintain good health despite adverse living conditions. Surviving a brutal Canadian winter while living outside isn’t easy, but he believes that the body adapts to colder temperatures when necessary. The house he grew up in was not well insulated, and this has helped him adjust to the inclement weather he had been so often exposed to. He felt that the body fares better in a cooler environment.

Terry Fox was a role model for Fred as he jogged daily and carried weights that he built from scrap wood. He also read the newspaper every day, to help keep his mind active and alert. He attended peace rallies and made his opinions on local and international affairs known to politicians whenever he got the chance. He was a poet and he kept his writings in a binder beside his bed. He would read his poetry to anyone who would listen and when his vision began to fail as he grew older he memorized them. As Fred grew older he said that he was aging in his body but not in his mind and his advice to others was to keep physically fit and to be as independent as possible.

Fred had many friends who will always remember his determination and creativity that sustained him throughout his long life. A social worker helped Fred move out of the ravine and in the latter part of his life he lived in an apartment over a coffee chop at Broadview near Danforth. He was surrounded by his poetry and numerous newspaper articles that had been written about him. Fred had love in his life- from others and for others.

This was one of Fred’s poems.

In this world With its multiplicity of faces, Of foreign tongues and races, War is stupid, its humanity gone wrong. Life for all people should be, could be as delightful as an enchanting song.
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Edward (Eddie) Siman

Woodworker, milk-deliveryman, electrician, entrepreneur, father, grandfather
Currently residing at The Village of Erin Meadows, Mississauga
Born in 1934 in Toronto

Keys to enjoying his latter years: Positive attitude to life, exercising, continuing his passion for woodworking, a strong belief in God, being involved with the lives of his children and grandchildren, seeing old friends and making new friends.

Why in a nursing home:  Proximity to previous residence and family, need for assistance as a result of various infirmities arising from Parkinson’s especially the inability to verbally communicate, social activities and interacting with other residents.

Eddie went to public school in Toronto. His mother was Maria and his father was Ferdinand. He had one brother named Jerry and another brother, Emil, who died at the age of one. When Eddie was 12, the family returned to their native to Slovakia for 18 months but came back to Canada.

When Eddie returned from Slovakia, he was able to speak English and Slovak. His first job was at age 14 and he did electrical work- rewinding motors. He worked in a factory with electrical motors. After that job, he delivered milk for Silver woods Dairy and he was the top sales man for 5 years. Then he was involved in a business that sold safety shoes. He did that for 35 years and he was very satisfied with his work. The family and Eddie himself feel that his job satisfaction and pride helped lead to his positive outlook in the latter years of his life, as he is very challenged due to his inability to speak.

Eddie met his wife Mary in 1952 at a church dance in their neighbourhood of Dundas and Roncesvalles, and they were married in 1954. They had two sons, Ron and Jim. There are also two daughters-in-laws and 3 grand children.

He retired at age 63, as he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in his mid to late 50’s.

Mary died in 2003. She suffered from kidney problems. She had a kidney transplant and a knee replacement. Mary and Eddie were still living in their home when Mary passed away. They did have some services from a home support agency to help with Mary’s care. Eddie lived on his own with supports for a year but then moved to the Village of Erin Meadows; Mississauga nursing home.  The need became obvious as the rest of the  family went on a holiday together and when they were with Eddie for 24 hours a day they saw how much difficulty he was having trying to manage on his own and they realized that he needed more care.

Mary had checked out the nursing home prior to her death and the family chose The Village of Erin Meadows as it was close to the family and felt like a community.

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Eddie lost his ability to communicate verbally due to his Parkinson’s.
Now he uses both a computer and a card with letters and a pointer to communicate.

The family found the nursing home to be progressive. There is an atrium with gardening facilities, arts and crafts, and a dining area where friends can join for a meal. The staff is genuinely supportive and helpful; there are residents of all ages and volunteers of all ages. The family feels that the staff is passionate about what they do.

There are fundraising events and Eddie sells some of the woodwork that he does. He donates the proceeds to the Parkinson’s Society. In the summer the facility has events outside on the lawn. Grandchildren are involved, families, friends.

Eddie started his woodworking passion while he was living at home and he had a workshop area at home. Now in the nursing home, the wood is cut for him because it is too difficult to cut the wood himself due to his Parkinson’s. The facility is concerned about the safety of the residents due to the odours from the paints that he is using and the facility may build another area where paint can be used.

Eddie lost his ability to communicate verbally over the last 2 years. Now he uses both a computer and a card with letters and a pointer to communicate.

He has found meaning in life by doing his woodworking, being involved with the lives of his children and grandchildren, seeing old friends and making new friends. He also enjoys going to social activities and interacting with other residents.

Eddie has always been a positive person. For him the glass was always half full. Eddie’s son, Jim, feels that some of the reasons his father has always had a positive attitude are the fact that his mother was at home when he was young. Also, he had a positive experience in his work life and he found meaning in the work that he did. He worked for the company for 35 years and got along very well with his boss. He had a loving wife and two loving sons.

Eddie did participate in exercise classes and still exercises. Sometimes he leads the class.

Having a strong belief in God and being active in the church has helped Eddie throughout his life and especially now with his inability to communicate verbally. His strong faith has helped him and still does. Also Eddie’s loving and supportive family is very important to Eddie. Although he does communicate with a board with letters on it and a pointer to make his immediate thoughts known, he uses a keyboard and a computer so his more involved and detailed messages are heard. Eddie explained that he believes that the world would be a better place to live in if we all stopped the fighting and the wars.

links to books by Irene Borins Ash

• Treasured Legacies - Older & Still Great
• Aging Is Living - Myth Breaking Stories From Long Term Care