Carol Frazer met several woman she now regularly travels with
Published in the July 23 – August 5, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Robert Airoldi
Photo by Robert Airoldi
Cecelia Mathews, program assistant, and Centennial Senior Center volunteer Carol Frazer work on the computer.
As a regular at the Senior Center, Carol Frazer meets a lot of different people. Some in their 60s who play cards, some in their 70s and 80s who just come for lunch and some who enjoy socializing. In fact, she met several women with whom she discovered she had a lot in common with.
“It’s fun,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of neat people here.”
The group of friends she met at the center now take weekend trips together.
“We’ve been to a Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Ore., and Morro Bay,” she said. They also enjoy playing cards and going to Margarita’s Mexican restaurant for a beer on occasion.
“These women are all interested in exercise, not everybody is,” she said. “When you see someone often, you get to know them. What it is they enjoy. I also enjoy the social interaction.”
The center is a hub of activity, opening from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with lunch at noon. One can often find a group of elderly men playing pool, or others playing Wii bowling. Frazer, who turned 78 July 21, said the center affords anyone the opportunity to meet a lot of different people.
In addition to the socialization aspect of the center, the regular exercise, she said, helps her feel better. “I’m trying to avid the aches and pains of getting older,” she said. “The exercise pays off.”
She also volunteers Tuesday’s at the front desk keeping roll sheets up to date and doing whatever else needs to be done.
“It’s good to do something to keep your mind active,” she said.
Denise Melroy, senior center program coordinator, said Frazer sets an example to everyone here by truly enjoying life.
“She is an inspiration to all older adults by her participation in fitness classes, her friendship with many members and her volunteerism at the Senior Center.”
Frazer and her husband moved to Morgan Hill in 1979 when she and her husband of 56 years built a home. She worked as a secretary then an administrative support manager at IBM before retiring. She has three children and six grandchildren.
She said she began attending the center in 2009 when her youngest daughter Susan Fent began working there.
“(Susan’s) passion for seniors reflects on me,” she said. “It’s not only an important part of the community, it’s a vital part.”
Once people see and understand all the things the center has to offer, she said, they find something they enjoy. A friend’s mom has dementia and gets support at the center, and then there are people like Jay Torres (featured in a previous story) who are so much fun, she said.
“They all have stories that have so much history,” she said.
She said she’s seen tremendous growth since she’s been attending.
“I’ve watched the center grow over the past five years,” she said. “Now it is so busy here.”
