Felix Rommens - Living with hearing impairment, keeping hands busy with art, and growing up during WW2

#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench

Episode #30 - Felix Rommens is 97 years old. If you are wondering what keeps him young and loving life at The Village of Winston Park in Kitchener, it has to be his art. Erin Davis and guest co-host Doug Reed welcome Felix to the green bench to share in a conversation about his art and about his hearing impairment, which has formed the life is living today.

Nearly 50% of people 75+ have trouble with their hearing.

"Being deaf, I was kind of a loner. So, in order not to get completely bonkers, I started working with my hands and my mind." - Felix Rommens

Felix was working in Belgium at the highest he was able to go in office work (hating office work), so he decided to move the whole family to Canada at the age of 41. A visit to the employment office on the day he landed and went directly into the building process, building homes, working 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. On the 7th day, he would do work at his own home.

When he retired at 71, he looked forward to the arts and crafts that he enjoyed. "The whole idea about my art is to keep something for tomorrow, so you keep going." - Felix Rommens

"I have only one life and I want to live it to the end." - Felix Rommens finds projects he looks forwards to with art and continues to use his hands as he did when he was 20.

Felix has the use of a woodshop at the Village to keep active in his art but also works in his suite, finding a way to continue working on projects.

"Keep on the positive side, think of all the good things that have happened to you." - Felix Rommens

Felix was captured by the Nazis during World War II, made to work in factories, awaiting liberation after 2 years in Germany, and then ran at the age of 18 on foot to make it home. His father was an officer in the Belgian army, shot at 40, and Felix as a child had to take care of him for the next 15 years due to his injuries.

"There are always two sides on a coin - I only took the good ones." - Felix Rommens

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The Green Bench is a symbol of elder wisdom. Physically or virtually, the bench invites us all to sit alongside a senior, share a conversation, or give and offer advice.

It challenges the stigma seniors face; the ageism still so prevalent in society. It reminds us of the wealth of wisdom our elders offer and in doing so, helps restore them to a place of reverence.

"The greatest untapped resource in Canada, if not the world, is the collective wisdom of our elders." -Ron Schlegel

This podcast is brought to you by Schlegel Villages, retirement & long-term care homes in Ontario, Canada.

#ElderWisdom | Stories from the Green Bench is produced by Memory Tree Productions
Learn more about our host, Erin Davis, at erindavis.com
Learn more about co-host, Lloyd Hetherington
Learn more about #ElderWisdom at elderwisdom.ca