Rita Thomale is always on the go. “I’ll be 90 in June,” says Rita. “I’m feeling good.” Rita is used to a busy life. She paints pastels once a week with her daughter, and spends time with her friends – the Dockettes (like the Rockettes). They meet on the condo dock in nice weather for wine and crackers.
Rita has been volunteering at Foss Home and Village for nine years. She helps with mailing parties and special events. She also volunteers with Christ the King Catholic Church. She visits Foss residents and brings Holy Communion to those who want it. It’s a full life.
And then there is the dancing. “My dad had a fi ve-piece orchestra – he was the drummer. They were called the Green Jackets,” says Rita. “I learned to dance while they practiced at our house.
Several years ago, Rita met another dancer. “Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would find someone I’d be interested in at this stage in my life,” says Rita. “I’ve lost two husbands, but I was terribly lucky to find Hank.
The couple met at church after Rita had been widowed for five years. And Hank is from North Dakota, too. “I think we had help from above,” she says. When Hank learned that Rita liked to dance he said, “I love to dance. That’s all there was to do in North Dakota.” They see each other several times a week and talk on the phone about six times a day, but agree they don’t want to marry. But they love to dance.
We dress up a bit and go dancing about once a week in the evenings. His heart doctor told him, ‘Whatever it is you’re doing, keep it up.’ Hank says the secret to staying healthy is to
keep busy. And to keep dancing!”
But Rita faced a serious setback. She fell in August and injured her hip. “It all happened so fast. Hank and I were enjoying our breakfast at a restaurant when we headed back to the car. All of a sudden I said to Hank, ‘I’m falling.’ It was like slow motion. I remember seeing a black shiny car with chrome on the tires as I went down. I landed on my hip. Hank tried to get me up but I said don’t move me because I thought it was broken.
“And then I saw this man. He had blonde hair and beautiful teeth. He just lifted me up and placed me in the car. It’s like he was an angel, really. I just thought, ‘Oh, what’s happening?’ like it was the end of the world. But I survived it.”
Afterwards I thought, “Gee, we’re not going to dance for a long time.” I spent three days in the hospital and I had to wear this terrible brace for six weeks.”
Foss Home and Village is a wonderful place to volunteer, but Rita didn’t anticipate becoming a patient there herself. After her hospital stay she transferred to Foss for rehab. “I was there for a couple of weeks. Everything was pleasant. They have the nicest people who seem to enjoy their jobs. I would recommend them anytime. I became fast friends with the therapists. They keep you busy, which is my cup of tea.
“I can only say good things about Foss, from the head people to the nurse’s aides. They’d do anything for you. And the food was good! I like to give credit where credit is due. Foss is a good place and you can quote me on that,” exclaims Rita.
Rita continues to work on being able to walk farther and stand longer. “But it doesn’t bother me to dance and dance and dance. Maybe it’s being in Hank’s arms,” she says with a twinkle.
Foss Home and Village is a not-for-profit mission driven organization located at 13023 Greenwood Ave. N. in Seattle. For more information, visit http://www.fosscare.org or call 206-364-1300.
