How long have you worshiped at Saint Philip’s?
I’ve been a parishioner since 1986.

Were you raised in a faith tradition?
Yes. I grew up in the Congregational/United Church of Christ (UCC) but it was really a multiple faith community. People from many Protestant faith traditions worshipped there until their own denominations built churches in our town.

My family lived in Orinda, CA—a small suburban town near Oakland and San Francisco with three churches. If you weren’t Christian Scientist or didn’t go to the Catholic Church, you went to the UCC. It was wonderful because I never received the message that ours was the one, true faith. Ours was a very white town but with progressive opportunities.

How did you find your way to the Episcopal church?
By being curious.

I dated a boy in high school from a neighboring town who was Roman Catholic. He and his friends were told they weren’t allowed to visit other churches. I visited the Catholic church in our town out of curiosity so didn’t understand why I couldn’t visit other churches, too. So I did.

Several of my friends attended the Episcopal church in Orinda after it was built so I went with them to a few services. There was something about the liturgy that I really liked.

But it wasn’t for another 22 years that I began attending any church regularly. Maybe the fact that my great-grandfather was an Episcopal priest and that my father was raised in the Episcopal church worked on me unconsciously.

What about Saint Philip’s appeals to you?
The very first time I walked into the church I thought, “This is home. This is where I belong.” I attended Sunday service the next week and never left.

What makes you feel that you belong to this community?
The people. Everyone is warm and welcoming. I know some people feel like they need to be courted but I tend to be an extrovert so I wanted to get involved and jumped right in. I became an usher and did that for 23 years. I also helped out in other ways as needed. I served on the Vestry for 3 years, the Outreach Committee for 3 years, and served as a Lay Eucharist Minister for 13 years.

How are you involved in the parish now?
I represent the Outreach ministry, “Laundry Love; I’m one of the people who helps count Sunday donations; and I help with the Come & See service on Sundays at 4:00pm.

What would you like readers to know about Laundry Love?
So much! It’s a national non-profit that began in 2003, and has registered partners (like Saint Philip’s) across the country.

It’s mission is to give dignity to people who are struggling financially by helping them have clean clothes. I collect donations that help us purchase gift cards and buy supplies that are then put into individual packages and distributed.

Each package contains a sheet with six Earth Breeze detergent sheets (ecologically friendly) and three dryer sheets. Gift cards currently worth $4.25 are distributed separately since some clients have access to laundry products but not washers and dryers and vice versa. That allows people to have flexibility about when they do their laundry.

The gift cards we distribute are redeemable only at Northgate Laundromat. All the products and gift cards are distributed by ICS (Interfaith Community Services) at their office on Craycroft just north of Broadway.

How do you receive donations?
However people like to give them! They can mail a check, put donations in the Sunday offertory basket, or hand me loose change. I’m not fussy—except I take only US currency! Canadian quarters don’t work in the washers and dryers.

I’ll be at the Ministry Fair this Sunday (in the Murphey Gallery) so I’ll be grateful for any donations people share there, too.

What did you do professionally before retiring?
I was a Registered Nurse in many different roles. I loved being of service, and would do it all over again. Plus, nursing skills are useful in everyday life.

I joined the Navy Nurse Corps right after college graduation and worked in a variety of areas including pediatrics, recovery room, ambulatory care, inservice education, and recruiting duty. After 7 years of active duty I transferred to the reserve component from which I ultimately retired.

As a civilian, I served in a rural community hospital in South Carolina and at a US Army Hospital in Germany. My final position was as a Nurse Researcher at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Regardless of my location, my experiences were amazing! Being on the front lines of health care and helping people was an extraordinary gift.

How do you relax?
I love to read murder mysteries. I like real books that I can hold—not a Kindle. Some of my favorite authors are John Sandford, Michael Connelly, Louise Penny, and Linda Castillo.

What’s something you’re proud of?
I’m proud of entering the Navy Nurse Corps as a clueless innocent (who was talked into applying for a commission by a roommate) and rising to the rank of Captain.

I was the Private Benjamin character of the Navy Nurse Corps. Truly. My parents were shocked; they said, “You don’t even make your own bed!”

If you had told me as a young girl that I would join the military, I would have just laughed. But I’m incredibly proud of that now.

What about the military captured your heart?
Besides the people with whom I served, the Navy gave me access to the world. I could fly on military hops.

My first trip from the states was a 10 hour trip to Hawaii on a DC-6. The entire four-day trip cost me only $35. What a deal! I took two trips to Asia, and another one to Europe. I could afford to do that only because I flew for free.

The adventure was terrific, and I’ve often said I didn’t know exactly where I’d end up or when I’d get there!

The Navy also taught me assertiveness and how to be a responsible adult.

When I joined, there was no such thing as calling in sick. If a Navy Nurse was sick he or she had to go to sick call in uniform. The Navy Nurse Corps had an almost 0% absenteeism rate. Of course, it helped that we all had to be relatively young and very healthy to join.

I had to learn to grow up. Saying no to an assignment was not an option. When I was pulled to another department I grew into what was challenging. I was forced to become a responsible adult and a leader.

What’s something you’re passionate about?
Volunteering.

I volunteer at AZPM, our southern AZ NPR/PBS affiliate. My four hour shift on Wednesday afternoons is one of my weekly highlights.

I love AZPM because it forces me to listen to opinions I don’t always agree with. I enjoy being a representative when I’m at the front desk and meet people either on the phone or in person. I stuff a lot of envelopes—I’m really good at that. I get to tell stories of my life adventures and make people laugh.

What’s something you find challenging?
I find packing and traveling very stressful. I’m always worried I’ll forget something I need. Once I arrive at my destination, I’m happy. It’s just getting there that’s challenging.

I also dislike having to learn new things on the computer. My father was a mechanical engineer but I’m definitely not a techie.

What’s one of your core values?
Integrity. I grew up with parents who really instilled in me the importance of honoring my commitments.

What’s one of your guiding principles?
The golden rule. My parents taught me that by modeling it.

What’s something you’re grateful for?
My family and my husband, Tom. I have the best husband in the world! I was given advice as a young woman to hang out with people who will make me a better person. Tom does that for me.

What’s one of your super powers?
I’m very intentional about trying to make people feel seen. Just greeting someone warmly can help make that happen.

What do you think inspires that?
My parents—especially my mother. She tutored high school kids and was often the “Mother Confessor.” I remember two brothers who were having trouble with their dad and she would listen to them for hours while feeding them cookies.

What’s something you dream of doing?
Winning a mega-millions lottery and buying a second home in San Francisco. Just a small condo would suffice as long as it was between Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf with a view of both bridges. I really love that city.

Tom and I would also love to start a philanthropic organization. It would be such fun to give money away!