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Krewe Of Female Pirates Brings Smiles To Seniors

Tribune photo by LOIS KINDLE

Dressed in full regalia, members of Ye Royal Krewe of Charlotte de Berry kicked off their Gasparilla activities with a visit to seniors at the Sun City Center Retirement Residence. From left are Lynn Conlan, Donna Budd, Kerri Otis, Kelly Pederson and her son, Cyrus, and Ann Ring.

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By LOIS KINDLE

lkindle@tampatrib.com

Published: February 11, 2009

SUN CITY CENTER - There were nothing but smiles on the faces of more than 100 seniors recently as six costumed wenches adorned their necks with brightly colored beads.

For some, it was a rare opportunity to visit with someone from outside their home - the Sun City Center Retirement Residence.

Representing Ye Royal Krewe of Charlotte de Berry - a South Shore-based, all-female nonprofit group - the lady pirates included Ann Ring, Lynne Conlan, Donna Thompson, Cindy Ellis, Donna Budd and Kelly Pedersen, who brought along her son, Cyrus.

Each member stopped to chat with residents in the facility's assisted-living and memory-care wings. Ranging in age from 62 to 103, the seniors seemed to enjoy the visit.

"I'm never taking these off," said one white-haired woman wearing the broadest of smiles and several strands of beads.

"She really means it," said a smiling Eva Elsberry, activities director and event coordinator. "Many will wear these beads for days, even weeks."

Men in their 80s and 90s seemed especially to enjoy the attention. Some even worked a bit of charm on their visitors.

"I walked out having been actually asked on a date," Budd said.

The wenches spent more than an hour visiting with everyone before heading off to another community event.

"It was wonderful," administrator Claudine Leget said. "They brought so may smiles to so many faces and gave our residents someone to talk with other than the staff."

Leget said some residents never get visitors, so this kind of event is rather special.

"It makes them feel like part of the community," she said.

"From a health care perspective, the visit was very beneficial," added Chris Etherington of Pacifica Senior Living, the ownership group based in San Diego. "Laughing stimulates the residents' circulation and mental outlook. As they say, laughter is the best medicine."

Krewe members had an equally good time.

"I was overwhelmed with their joy at our being there," Budd said. "I feel these people are so often forgotten and left out of many things.

"I'm so glad they invited us, and I hope they do it again."

"We get as much out of it as they do," added Conlan. "Actually, they are fascinating people with interesting stories to tell, and many were quite willing to tell them. I'm glad they were able to share them with us."

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553. To see a photo gallery of the visit, go to south shore.tbo.com and enter the search words Lady Pirates Visit Seniors.

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