PARISH GROUP PLAYING A VITAL ROLE

Their hair may be silver, but their hearts are gold -- and their combined energy and productivity debunks most myths about growing old.

They are members of the St. Ambrose Young At Hearts Club in Latham; and, as their name implies, these retirees are too busy living life to the fullest to worry about their biological ages.

Born largely between the presidencies of Woodrow Wilson and FDR, the 160 members took their group's name from the song made famous decades ago by crooners like Frank Sinatra.

Full calendars

Like many in the Young At Hearts, the calendars of president Ellen Zimmerman and trip coordinator Doris Walion are so packed that they often wonder how they ever "found time to go to work" prior to their retirements.

"That whole notion that you're footloose and fancy free [when you retire], with more time on your hands than you know what to do with -- forget it! It's a myth!" exclaims Mrs. Zimmerman.

In addition to being active in Young At Hearts, both grandmothers are Eucharistic ministers at St. Ambrose. Bringing Communion to the homebound and hospitalized reminds them to stop and count the blessings of their own good health. Rather than taking it for granted, the vibrant grandmothers view good health as a gift that enables them to bring comfort -- and joy -- into the lives of others.

High spirits

Few things make them happier than hearing the sounds of laughter that resonate when members of the Young At Hearts gather under one roof: be it in a church hall -- or on a chartered bus or plane. In the six years since the group began, members have journeyed to such diverse settings as Boston, Cape Cod and New York City.

Upcoming "bus stops" include Montreal, Canada; Mystic River, Connecticut; and Pennsylvania's Amish Country. Last year, the Young At Hearts flew to Ireland and are now planning an autumn flight to Scotland.

Other annual highlights include luncheons and a clam bake. Always at the top of the guest list is Rev. Francis DuBois, pastor. Not only is he credited as the one who got the Young At Hearts ball rolling, but his parents, Eve and Ernest, are members.

Diversity

An aspect of the group that Mrs. Walion, a retired Ward's employee, and Mrs. Zimmerman, a retired legal secretary, find especially fascinating is that members come from so many different walks of life.

The membership roster (which also includes some parishioners of nearby Our Lady of the Assumption Church) runs the gamut from retired educators and medical professionals to carpenters, plumbers and electricians.

Observes Mrs. Walion, who is also a lector: "Were it not for the Young At Hearts, I'm sure a lot of these retired people would be no more than nodding acquaintances at church. Instead, they've become genuine friends."

Support system

In a sense, Young At Hearts is helping to build a support system to supplement the one that is so often weakened during the retirement years.

"We share in a lot of celebrations together, like 50th wedding anniversaries and the births of members' grandchildren," explains Mrs. Walion. "But we also share in a lot of losses, like the deaths of spouses, siblings and other close relatives and friends. We're there for the sad times as well as the happy ones."

Another component of the Young At Hearts group entails monthly meetings during which a guest speaker usually comes to talk about a topic of shared interest, such as life insurance. The group also helps support outreach projects like the parish's food bank. They also recently contributed to the school's expansion pot.

'Vibrant' group

Sister Mary Catharine Ryan, CSJ, pastoral manager of St. Ambrose, said the Young At Hearts have breathed new life into the parish.

"They are a very vibrant, conscientious group of individuals, and an enjoyable group to work with," she says. "Not only do they enrich one another's lives, they also enrich the lives of others in the parish."

A prime example is the occasional child care services they provide for young mothers in the parish so they can enjoy some quality "time out" with their friends.

In that way, the Young At Hearts help to recharge the batteries of the "Young In Body."

(The Young At Hearts group meets at St. Ambrose Church in Latham the third Thursday of every month. For more information, call Ellen Zimmerman at 785-1552 or Doris Walion at 273-2747.)

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