The Rockin’ Red Hat Sisters came together in 2012. The current repertoire includes six dances with costume changes and they perform for Red Hat Chapters, Independent and Assisted Living organization and Senior Living parks.
Anne Seppala
My name is Anne Seppala and I am a proud member of the Rockin’ Red Hat Sisters Dance Troupe. I was very close to my grandparents and my grandfather in particular. He was the reason I chose Florida as my home. I have three grandchildren – Lucas (7 yrs.), Elliot (5 yrs.) and Alexa (almost 3 yrs.). The boys live in Marietta, Georgia, are home schooled and belong to my son and his wife. My granddaughter lives in Gladstone, N.J. with her parents who are my daughter and her husband.
Lucas and Elliot refer to me as Grandma while Alexa calls me Isoaiiti, the Finnish word for grandma. It warms my heart to hear their voices and see them run to me each time we visit. Alexa and I have a special connection with yarn. Ever since she was a baby, I have been crocheting, letting her play with the yarn. Now she keeps a small ball of yarn in her room to remind her of Isoaiiti. Lucas and Elliot each have blankets lovingly crochet by Grandma, while Alexa will get one as soon as she can identify her choice of colors. I LOVE BEING A GRANDMA!
Donna Fluno
While growing up in a single-parent household, and being the oldest of five siblings, I was never fortunate enough to take dance or music lessons. That is, not until I was much older, and country line dancing became the rage. The new country rock music (not my mother’s stuff!) was too much fun to pass up. Since retiring to Florida and joining the Red Hat Society, I have been able to combine both my love of dance and the Red Hat friendships I have formed, in the Rockin’ Red Hat Sisters’ Dance Troupe.
I am very proud of my seven grandchildren, Adam, Derek, Lacey, Brandin, Kayla Rose, Brittani, and Logan, who range in age from 28 to 19 years; and who live all over the country. Derek is the proud father of my great grandson Jericho, age one; they live in Pittsburgh, PA. Lacey is mama to my two great-grandsons Lucien, age four and Trent age one; they live in Florida. Logan recently became a father to great grandson, Jacen. Three grandchildren are still in college. They all love to find unique Red Hat gifts for me; most recently a hand-made full size cat of Red Hat material, found in a thrift store.
My grand kids call me G-Ma, Grandma Donna, and Grammie “D”. My great grandchildren call me GG.
Edda Jenkins
I have only one grandson, he is now 10 years old and lives in Vienna, Austria. I see him very often on Skype and he call me “Oma”. I visit him once a year in Austria. He is a very sweet and easy going boy.
I grew up in Vienna, Austria, went to school and worked there for 40 years as an accountant till I retired.
I was married for 30 years and have two sons. My older son is married and from him I have my grandson. My younger son has no time to marry.
I liked always to travel and so I came to Florida for a tour. I liked it so much, that when I retired, I lived for a half year in Florida and a half year in Vienna till I met my current husband, Tom.
I’m happy to be a Red Hatter because I’ve met so many nice women.
Elizabeth Calloway
I was born near Winston Salem, NC where all my family of origin lived their entire lives. My former husband (now divorced) and I moved to the Washington DC area in the fall of 1962 when our only child, daughter Sonya was only six weeks old; we witnessed the very snowy inauguration of President John F Kennedy in January 1963.
In 1980 I relocated to Florida from Washington DC when Sonya started college. In 1985 I became a grandmother when her only child, Lauren was born (she calls me Nana) and in 2012, I became a great-grandmother to another girl in our family, Madison Elizabeth. She calls me GG. My granddaughter Lauren will deliver my first great-grandson, in March 2016. My daughter and her family have all remained in the DC metro area and my daughter teases me that I am the one who ran away from home to Florida. Once I felt the sand between my toes and the 75 degree weather that first winter in paradise, I knew I would be a permanent Florida transplant. I have worn a coat less than a dozen times in the past 35 years.
My life became much richer and certainly more fun in 2001 when the Red Hat Society came into my life through a dear friend. Ever since becoming a member of RHS I am able to take a recess as much as time allows. In 2012, we formed the Rockin’ Red Hat Sisters Dance Troupe of which I am one of five original dancers.
In 2011, I retired from the State of Florida as a licensed behavioral health counselor with responsibility for monitoring compliance with Florida Statutes of over 200 programs providing behavioral health services, within 11 counties.
Travel has always been my favorite hobby and since retiring I have enjoyed planning cruises & events in other states, especially Red Hat Society activities where I continue to meet incredibly talented ladies in our RHS sisterhood.
Kathy Traina
Between my husband and me we have 10 grandchildren between the ages of nine and 30 and a one-year-old great-grand baby. I am called, Grandma. I’m in a second marriage and we’ve been married 20 years. My husband has two sons and I have three sons. He is a Tampa native who I met shortly after moving to Florida from Massachusetts…..Been a Red Hatter since around 2005.
Linda Bremer
I’m the grandmother of three grandchildren. Michael, age 17; Lauren, age 13; Christian, age 13. They call me Grandma and other “funny names” when they are teasing me. We have spent a lot of time together, which I’m very thankful for.
I was born in West Virginia and raised in Ohio. I lived in many states but was in New Jersey for thirty years before moving to Florida. While in New Jersey, my husband Michael, and I restored a 1860’s home. I’ve also owned an accounting business for sixteen years and was active in my town by volunteering and participating in local functions and being on the Historic Preservation Committee. I led and mentored women business owners through a national women’s business organization.
I’m a widow and have two grown children, Vincent and Tuesday.
I’ve enjoyed dancing since childhood. I went with my parents to dances in grade school and continued dancing in high school. As an adult my experience has been western square dancing, ballroom dancing, and country line dancing.
Pat Beach
I migrated to Fl. from Escanaba Mi. 10 years ago. I have a daughter, son in law and 2 grandchildren still residing in Marquette, Mi. My grandchildren call me just Plain Grandma. My grandson is 23 years old and my granddaughter is 15 and both the delight of my life.
Carol Rendon, Assistant.Director
I am a wife, mother of three great sons, two beautiful daughters, and proud grandmother of ten (They call me Grandma). I’m a crafter, a Red Hat Vice Queen member, Assistant Director to the Rockin’ Red Hat Sisters, and former Apple Computer Technician.
Marilyn Waltz, Director
I’m a proud Nana to seven grandchildren, Shanna, Amanda, David, Laura, Jennifer, Samuel, Andrea and Great-grandchildren, Jaunty, Kadin, Blake & Natalie.
I grew up in Lynn, Massachusetts during the 40s and 50s graduating from Lynn English High School in 1959. During those formative years, I was deeply involved in Girl Scouting, choir, dancing lessons, volunteering and all the things young girls do before they become women. I started entertaining while I was still in grade school and had many wonderful experiences with the Police Athletic League (PAL) raising funds for the sports teams. Whether dancing or singing I was happy to go where ever there was a chance to perform.
Working at various jobs and growing a family took over the 60s, and 70s. I have three lovely daughters from a broken marriage and life just goes on. In the mid 80s I met the love of my life and had nearly 20 years of friendship, love and adventure from living in a home that we built on Mount Hope Bay in Rhode Island to living aboard the Lady Waltz, our 60’ Pacemaker in St. Petersburg. My husband, Robert, passed in June 2004 after being my cheerleader and mentor when I decided to become a member of the Red Hat Society.
I became a member of the Red Hat Society in 2001 after I attended a gathering while visiting in Marathon, Florida. The Society was quite new then and I couldn’t wait to get home and get a chapter started in my community. My chapter became a reality with 16 charters member and grew to just over 100. We enjoyed hosting fashion shows, teas, and theater parties.
By 2004 it became evident to me that we needed better communications with our Red Hat sisters along the west coast of Florida. I began the arduous task of reaching out to chapter Queen Mums and formed the West Coast Queens’ Council. The Council consists of all registered chapters in 17 counties, from Collier County (Naples Area) to Levy County (in Florida’s Panhandle). There are no dues and no mandatory attendance. The WCQC gathers formally twice a year; in the spring and fall.
As in most things in life, one thing leads to another. The Rockin’ Red Hat Sisters was founded by Louise Iori. When Louise wanted to move on to other interests, I was asked if I would take over. Music and performing has always been a big part of my life so I happily agreed and the rest, as they say, is history.
These dedicated dancers practice every week – sometimes twice a week. The repertoire has grown from one or two dances to seven with costumes for each dance. We provide an interactive 45-60 minute show with music, dances, stories and sing-a-longs.
It is very rewarding to see the residents of senior living facilities that we visit join in the fun and have an afternoon of merriment.
About the REAL Red Hat Society – Don’t be fooled by impostors!
Most women give their all to family, career, and community. And they enjoy it. But, along the way, sometimes our existing bonds of friendship gradually diminish. Membership in the Red Hat Society is a rewarding vehicle for reconnecting old friends, making new friends and rediscovering the joy of getting together with other woman for the express purpose of having FUN! We whole-heartedly promote periods of “recess” from the cares and duties of everyday life in which Hatters gather for no other purpose than to play.
