I was born in Berlin, Germany . My family was a well educated middle class family, and I am the oldest of three siblings. After happy childhood years, everything changed with the Hitler regime and the outbreak of WWII. I lost 8 of my high school companions and my fiancé in that war.

However, good times came again after I met Henry Jaeckel, in Graz, Austria. We were married, and I experienced the joys of three-generational living in the big house of Henry's parents for 10 years. Our own two children shared a happy life there with 7 other children. We immigrated to the USA in 1952. It was a big change for us, but we learned to be "good American citizens" and were grateful for the openness and welcome we found in this country and in Detroit, where Henry worked for Ford Motor Company. We had two more children in Detroit. Our vacations were always spent camping and exploring the great outdoors as well as the historical places, like Philadelphia and Washington D.C. When it was time to retire, we moved to Nevada City, California. Here we enjoyed the small city life with all its cultural offerings nearby as well as the beautiful natural surroundings. I have been active with Hospice of the Foothils for 11 years, like to sing in Music in the Mountains, enjoy hiking, gardening and cooking. Four years ago, my husband's health was declining, and we moved to Highgate, a senior community. We were well taken care of, but I have experienced how isolated you become living with only elderly people as your daily contact. My husband passed away in January 2007. Being part of this active group, the Wolf Creek Cohousing, is just the right thing for me, as I start a new life, even though I am not so young anymore.