SHAMOKIN DAM — Maria Joseph Manor residents Vera McGuire, 99, and Mary Ann Richards, 87, led an armada of seven kayakers on a one-mile trek on the Susquehanna River Friday morning. "We been taking our senior residents kayaking on the Susquehanna River for almost nine years," Dawn Orzehowski, Maria Joseph Manor's director of Mission Advancement and Marketing, said. "It's one of their highlights of the year.
" McGuire and Richards were among the most excited to be on the River, as they waited to get into their kayaks set onshore at the Shady Nook Boat Launch. "This is a chance for them to be doing something they love," Orzehowski said. "Vera went on the trip the first few years, but due to some health issues she stopped going," Orzehowski said.
"She is an avid outdoors person and we wanted to make sure she got out on the river before she turns 100." "I've kayaked, and it's a beautiful day, not too hot, and the water is as smooth as glass," McGuire said. Richards, who recently received a hip replacement, is an avid kayaker.
"One of the things she wanted to do after her surgery was to join us and be able to kayak," Orzehowski said. The kayakers finished their trek at the Isle of Que, in Selinsgrove, where they met with 16 other Maria Joseph residents for an outdoor picnic luncheon and social. Orzehowski and her husband Andrew, who live on the Isle of Que and are avid kayakers, host the event every year.
"When I first joined Maria Joseph, I was asked if I would be interested in doing this for the residents," Orzehowski said. "I thought it was a good idea, but we had to be concerned about liability, so I talked to the powers that be and they said sure. We've been doing this ever since, with the exception of the COVID year, and having bad weather.
" Only once has someone tipped over — the resident was fine and had a good laugh — and there have been no incidents other than that one. "The residents love this and look forward to it every year," Orzehowski said..
