MAREA meets

The Marshfield Area Retired Educators (MAREA) held their regular meeting on June 16 at The Country Aire in Stratford. President Sally Lucas introduced several new members and called the meeting to order.

Ruby P. reported on the brat fry held on June 12. The funds raised were lower than last year due to poor weather. The proceeds benefit the scholarship fund. Pictures of the winners were displayed at the brat fry.

Health issues chair Kathleen H. discussed the vagus nerves, which are part of the body’s nervous system. This system controls various functions such as digestion, heart rate, and immune response. These are involuntary nerves, meaning they cannot be consciously controlled. The health of these nerves plays a crucial role in making daily life easier. Vagus nerve conditions can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the affected area, including abdominal pain, acid reflux, swallowing difficulties, dizziness, or unexplained weight loss. Current treatment involves vagus nerve stimulation, which uses electrical impulses. As with any health concern, it is important to consult a primary care physician as the first line of care.

This month’s food pantry donations went to St. Vincent’s in Marshfield. In August, donations will be directed to the Stratford Food Pantry. Sally also acknowledged Ann T. as an Honored Member of the Wisconsin Retired Educators Association.

The guest speaker was Greg Jackan, a funeral director from Rembs Funeral Home in Marshfield. After an introduction by Carol B., Jackan shared his journey into the mortuary profession, beginning with his desire to become a mortician at an early age. After graduating from high school, he attended mortuary school, obtained his degree, and has been with Rembs Funeral Home for the past 42 years. Greg spoke about the importance of planning for end-of-life decisions, including writing one’s obituary, selecting music and readings for a celebration of life, and communicating specific wishes to loved ones. While many delay such planning due to its emotional difficulty, the more one prepares in advance, the easier it is for the family to find closure.

During the question-and-answer session, topics included funeral costs, funeral trusts, burial options, what can be included in a casket, and current trends in funeral planning.

All MAREA meetings are held at 10 a.m. on the third Monday of each month at The Country Aire Restaurant, followed by lunch. For more information about MAREA, contact Sally Lucas at sally.lucas@yahoo.com.