Life light: 'Sazzy Seniors' an energetic bunch

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They call themselves Sazzy Seniors.

Whether they are sassy or jazzy or some of each, the 65 members keep busy having fun, learning and helping others.

The men and women are retired professionals from Lucent Technologies, Wall Street, the military, Omaha Public Schools and more, said Christine Merrell, senior service coordinator at Christ Child North Center.

"They're just very involved. They are very, very energetic. They keep themselves in shape," she said.

This is not an exclusive group, however.

"If they are over 50, they can join," she said. The current age span is from 54 to 90, she said.

"The seniors steer this themselves," Merrell said, and they like to keep busy.

Sazzy Seniors meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Catholic Charities Christ Child North Center, 2111 Emmett St. Some of the members even come in Tuesdays and Thursdays for tai chi classes, she said.

Fridays bring a potluck meal.

"On the average, we have anywhere from 40 to 50 (members) on Friday. Anybody and everybody is welcome," Merrell said. Members bring friends and visiting relatives that day.

During the Christmas season, the senior citizens donated more than 150 new toys to Lydia House. "They worked all year on that," Merrell said.

Sazzy Seniors, dressed in matching purple shirts, march in Juneteenth and Native Omaha Days parades. Members also volunteer for bingo at Royal Oaks Assisted Living and Hidden Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Among the members' other activities are a walking group, an exercise group, a yearly history trip (the 2011 trip was to Washington, D.C., to see the Martin Luther King Memorial), speakers on health matters and speakers on financial matters.

To learn more about Sazzy Seniors or to join the group, call Merrell at 402-980-9667.

— Sue Story Truax

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