Friendship Village resident honored for activism

She was a feminist, ecologist and activist, well before these terms became popular. Shirley Odegaard of Friendship Village considers herself to be a late bloomer because she didn't drive a car until she turned 39 and didn't earn a college degree until she was 52.

Sustained bloomer is a more appropriate description as at the age of 84, Shirley remains a vibrant and intelligent role model for her community. In honor of Women's History Month, Shirley was invited by state Rep. Michelle Mussman to participate in a panel discussion at an event called Talk and Tea. The March event featured local women who have “broken barriers and pushed for change in our time.”

Shirley and her husband moved to Skokie in 1955 at which time they joined the local Methodist Church. The couple knew that they'd worship there but eventually ended up being much more involved: teaching, counseling and volunteering in other capacities. Shirley said that the church was extremely progressive, focusing on issues including equal rights, hunger, racism and more. In 1980, Shirley participated in her first march, demonstrating in Chicago on behalf of equal rights. On the 20th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, Shirley traveled with others by bus to Washington D.C. to march for civil rights. She has participated in other demonstrations throughout the years and has spoken at Conant High School to a Women's Studies class.

When not marching, Shirley often finds herself writing letters to legislators and the media with concerns regarding social issues. “If there's something important, I sit down and write a letter about it,” she said. “I've taken on Penn State, hazing, bullying and more. Last month I wrote a letter in the newspaper that said, ‘Hey, Washington. Why don't you hit the dictionary and look up the words cooperation, compromise and reality!'”

Shirley joined the League of Women Voters and registers individuals to vote. “Voting is very important. I've written about freedom and the importance of voting. I get upset when I hear that only 37% of the people vote. It's so important. In other countries there can be only one person on the ballot and everyone still shows up to vote,” she said.

An environmentalist as well, Shirley has been recycling since 1970. “It's important. I get sort of crazy about recycling. I get upset when things don't get recycled,” she said.

At Friendship Village, Shirley is an active and highly valued volunteer. “Shirley is an inspiration to all through her many volunteer efforts and especially to young women who hear her story about the challenges she faced in breaking barriers in the workforce. Whether she is working in our library, teaching creative writing or greeting the candidates at Candidate Forums, she shows that for her, volunteering is a life-time commitment,” said Jeannette Magdaleno, Life Long Learning and Community Outreach Volunteer Coordinator for Friendship Village.

“There is a famous quote: ‘Sympathy sees and says ‘I'm sorry.' Compassion feels and whispers, ‘I'll help.' That's the definition of a volunteer,” said Jeff Rose, Volunteer Coordinator for Friendship Village. “I think Shirley fits that perfectly. Her commitment to helping others shows in everything she does. She's always willing to help out when someone needs a hand. With a bright smile on her face and a positive attitude, she always brings the best to the day.”

Friendship Village is a leading Chicago continuing care retirement community offering a complete continuum of care including independent living garden homes and apartment homes, as well as assisted living, memory support, skilled care, and short- and long-term rehabilitation services. For more than 35 years, Friendship Village has been providing Chicago area seniors with exceptional retirement living options.