Forever Learning will host a free zoom presentation hosted by Patrick W. Thomas, Director, Notre Dame Tax Clinic on Friday, April 16, 2021, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Join us for this free presentation covering a variety of issues facing seniors in preparing their taxes. Topics covered will include: • Filing a tax return for a deceased spouse • The new Form 1040 SR • How to file a return when your spouse has a cognitive functioning impairment • Credit for the Elderly or Disabled • Social security benefits • How to choose a tax preparer • How to file your taxes for free • Common tax filing errors We will include a question-and-answer period and participating students are invited to submit questions or topic areas of interest prior to the event. Please email any questions to eve@foreverlearninginstitute.org. There is no charge for this event, but please register by clicking on the link above.

Not even COVID can stop education opportunities at Forever Learning. FLI's pivot to a digital format is discussed in this months issue of Senior Life Magazine.

Winter is here and planning is underway for our Spring 2021 semester as we dream of sunnier days to come! Classes will again follow our traditional 10-week format beginning Monday, March 1. Forever is planning to host an all-Zoom semester this spring, but as our community becomes vaccinated, we are ready to pivot to in-person classes as soon as we can do so in a safe environment. Like other area non-profits, Forever has counted on the generosity of our students, volunteers, and community friends for financial support this year. We have received an outpouring of support and have been able to continue offering programming and remain strong as we move through this difficult period. Our Board of Directors has determined the necessity of increasing tuition to $55.00 per course beginning Spring 2021. Amazingly, this is the first tuition increase Forever has instituted since 2006. As always, scholarships are available as we strive to meet the needs of all our students regardless of their ability to pay. We anticipate posting our Spring 2021 catalog of classes on our CourseStorm registration portal on January 25. Registrations will be conducted online. As always, please watch our website and Facebook pages for timely information. If you are not receiving our monthly eNewsletter, you may sign up by submitting the form on this page.

The Psychology Department at the University of Notre Dame is seeking research volunteers in their Memory, Aging and Cognition Laboratory. Dates and times for participating are flexible. If you would like to take part or receive further information about our studies, please call or email us at: Email: koenlab@nd.edu or Phone: (574) 634-0264

We know that many of our students are eagerly awaiting our fall 2020 session! Course Guides will be mailed at the end of July. We will be offering 40 courses this semester however, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, Forever Learning Institute courses will be offered in an e-learning only format, with the exception of our walking program at St. Joseph County Parks. Students are encouraged to download Zoom and familiarize themselves to the application prior to the start of classes. If you need assistance with this, please contact director@foreverlearninginstitute.org or call the office to schedule a meeting time and we will help you get started. Once you register for your class, you will receive a Zoom invitation that you can use each week to meet your instructor and fellow students in a virtual classroom setting. A pdf of the Course Guide is available in the tab marked Forever Classes. All courses will be available for online registration beginning August 17.

Silvertones soprano, Gloria Campanale, passed away at age 92 on Wednesday, January 29. Gloria took great joy in singing with the Silvertones and her smile will be greatly missed. Please see her full obituary by clicking on her name above.

Forever Learning was saddened to learn of the passing of former Executive Director and volunteer, Sister Mary Edith. The following notice was posted on the Sisters of the Holy Cross website: https://www.cscsisters.org/in-loving-memory-sister-mary-edith-daley/

We are saddened to learn of the passing of Fr. Bill Neidhart, C.S.C., beloved priest and friend of Forever Learning Institute, teaching here for many years. Fr. Bill passed away on Wednesday, January 22. A 7:30 p.m. Vigil Service is planned for Tuesday, January 28 at Moreau Seminary. His Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, January 29 at 3:30 p.m. at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Forever Learning is currently seeking instructors for our spring semester specifically in Creative Writing, Keyboarding, Zumba, Meditation/Eastern Spirituality and Meteorology and Climatology. Interested individuals may complete the volunteer instructor application available for download under the Support Us/ Volunteer at Forever tab.

Forever Learning's Board of Directors has decided to commit an endowment to the Community Foundation of St Joseph County, creating a fund that will continue to support Forever Learning, as well as other nonprofits throughout the county. The Community Foundation continually invests gifts they receive from individuals and organizations to improve the quality of life for all the county's citizens.

Longtime Forever Learning Institute instructor, William Brady, has passed away. We have reprinted his obituary here. William E. Brady June 8, 1926 - Sept. 10, 2018 SOUTH BEND, IN - William Edgar Brady, 92, of South Bend died peacefully Monday, September 10 in his residence, surrounded by his loving family.

We are sad to announce the passing of Anthony 'Tony' Peligrino, 85, an instructor at Forever Learning. Tony taught basic Spanish and is remembered fondly by his many students. Tony was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in South Bend. Anthony Peligrino was born Dec 19, 1932 and passed away on Mar 10, 2018. Memorial Celebration of his life will be on Friday, March 23, 2018 11 am at St. Augustine Church in South San Francisco, California.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mary Sue Freitag, our friend, student and instructor. Mary Sue Freitag went to be with her darling daughter Suzanne. She passed away at the St. Joseph Medical Center on Monday morning February 19, 2018 with her family by her side. She was born to Edward and Eva (Hawkins) Zatarga on November 17th, 1940 at South Bend Memorial Epworth. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Elizabeth Huston and her daughter Suzanne Beth Freitag. On May 14, 1966 Mary Sue married Ronald Freitag at St. Patrick’s Church in South Bend. She was beloved mother to Christopher Anthony and Suzanne Beth. She made it a point to introduce her children to various cultural activities, hoping that they, too, would share in her love of the arts.

The amazing amount of research that we see every day supporting the need for programs such as Forever Learning Institute is staggering. It seems that what we knew intuitively is now attracting the attention of psychologists and sociologists. According to a recent article published in The Caregiver Space, scientists believe that simply conversing with friends and family can stimulate the brain to form new connections. If that's true, image what learning a new skill or debating a philosophical position could do!