St. Germain with a few of her award winning paintings and  buddy Goldie .

by Jill Forman

“When I’m painting, I feel like I’m alive.”
~ Jeanne-Marie St. Germain, Ventura artist

For most of her 96 years, St. Germain was a professional violinist/viola player.  About 10 years ago, arthritis and bursitis were affecting her arms and she had to stop being a musician.  She had played everything from classical to the Boston Pops to accompanying some famous pop singers (Tina Turner, Sammy Davis Jr., Peggy Lee,) so this was a crushing change in her life.  She felt she was not doing what she was meant to do, not being creative or artistic.

She tried other instruments, continued to teach and perform through her students.  But she was looking for something personal, her own creativity.  Her daughter Michelle Nosco, an artist herself, kept giving her art kits and supplies.  One day St. Germain was sitting at home looking at a plant, and said to herself, “I could draw that!”  She had a pencil and a sketchbook, and started using them.  She still has that book, and the viewer can see that even at the beginning she had a feel for shapes, and an uncanny ability to capture the spirit of a person or animal or even a still life.

Since her son and daughter live in California, she had moved to Santa Clarita after living in Boston, Maine, Canada, New York, Detroit, among other locales.  In Santa Clarita she discovered Lorelle Mille, a famous chalk artist and started to take lessons.  An amusing sidelight, while living at Bouquet Canyon Villas she wrote a column for the Senior Center newsletter named “Pet Talk;” whenever a new person moved in, she would interview them about their pets!

A purist, she stayed with pencil drawings for a while because she didn’t want to try color unless it would be “perfect.”  She still has her first attempt at a color picture, reddish flowers with some nice shading.  After that, she was ready to take the next step.

A year ago she came to Ventura, and lives with her daughter and their two dogs, Jack and Goldie, in the Working Artists’ Village(WAV).  She began watercolor classes at Ventura Adult Education with Judy Klement.  At a reception at the Ojai Museum, she discovered the work of Ojai-based Alice Matzin, who does paintings of older people; she was motivated by Matzkin’s art to go into watercolors more deeply.  She and Matzkin met later, at an exhibit at the Government Center (St. Germain had an Honorable Mention) and she was able to explain how she was inspired.  That was a memorable meeting for both.

This influence shows in her vivid portrait of Mother Teresa, for which she won a First Prize with a cash award at the Ventura County Fair.  St. Germain is happy with her accomplishments and only wishes she had discovered painting earlier in her life because “there are so many more things to paint.”

The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) has declared

May 14-20 National Senior Move Managers Week. During this recognition week NASMM members around the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia are promoting the value of Senior Move Management and Senior Move Managers’ commitment to assisting older adults and their families with later lifestyle transitions.

Senior Move Managers assist adults and their families with both downsizing to remain in their current home, as well as the entire process of moving to a new residence. Senior Move Managers specialize in helping their clients with the emotional and physical aspects of sorting through a lifetime of memories in the transition process, while providing them with effective options and resources to increase efficiencies and reduce stress. The theme of this year’s celebration, “A Circle of Experts,” underscores the unique skills and professionalism Senior Move Managers® offer their clients and families throughout the downsizing, relocation or aging in place process.

“For adults who have lived in their homes for 30 or 40 years, it’s far more than just a move: It’s a lifetime of memories being uprooted. Most of my clients are also relocating to much smaller living situations so there’s a lot of downsizing to do. This means that a lot of possessions need to be sold or given away. Although, sometimes people don’t want to let go of all their valuables so we have to find an Alpharetta storage unit for them! We’re often considering floorplans of the new home and determining what furniture will fit,” said Beth Sutherland, Founder of Your Estate Assistant, LLC.

“Whether you’re moving or downsizing to stay in the home, the organizational and physical tasks of this process can be overwhelming. In my experience, both Clients and families find it a great relief to bring in a neutral third party who specializes in Senior Move Management. “

Founded in 2002, The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) is a not-for-profit, professional association of organizations dedicated to assisting older adults and their families with the physical and emotional demands of downsizing, relocating, or modifying their homes. As the only professional association of its type devoted to helping the rapidly increasing 55+ population with middle and later lifestyle issues, NASMM’s 900-plus members are committed to maximizing the dignity and autonomy of all older adults.

NASMM is internationally recognized for its innovative programs, leadership and expertise on issues related to

Senior Move Management, aging in place, and transition and relocation issues affecting older adults. Before achieving full general membership, all NASMM members are vetted for experience and insurance and must pass four certificate classes. Additionally, all NASMM members sign and adhere to the NASMM Code of Ethics, and agree to the guidance and oversight of NASMM’s Ethics Compliance Commission.

For more information about your local Senior Move Manager and how she may assist you please contact Your Estate Assistant at 861-8341.

For more information on Senior Move Management or NASMM, visit www.nasmm.org.

-#-

The Ventura Parkinson’s Disease Support Group will meet Wednesday, May 10 for a “Round Table” discussion at 1pm at the Lexington. They welcome all of their members and their care-partners for this meeting. Everyone is welcome to come and share a little about themselves and their history with Parkinson’s Disease. Get to know and support each other better by sharing common problems, knowledge, experience and coping solutions to the daily challenges of Parkinson’s Disease.

The meetings are every second Wednesday of each month from 1- 3pm at the Lexington Assisted Living, 5440 Ralston Street in Ventura. Please check in at the front desk for directions and sign-in at the meeting. Extra parking is graciously available across the street from the Lexington in the Baptist Church parking lot. Call Patty at 766-6070 for further information. Reservations are not required.

Zumba Gold classes held during day and in the evening.

Check out the schedule at Ventura DANZAR’s website at venturazumba.com.

Zumba Gold Toning and a chair class called Zumba Sentao.
These classes are low impact and also good for those starting their fitness journeys.
Classes are low cost and affordable.
You will have a blast while getting fit and healthy.

Ventura Danzar  2640 E Main St.

A Senior Song Circle is held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the SCAN Health and Wellness Center, 6633 Telephone Rd., Ste., 100.  The next one is May 9 for those 55+ and guests, Marty Capsuto will guest sponsor all song makers under 55. For more information contact Marty at 658-0365 or [email protected].