Hi, my name is Parris Ochsner. I am a 73-year-old widow with two beautiful daughters, Corrine and Danielle, a son-in-law Eben, a precious granddaughter Cora, and my little bernedoodle, Sloane. I was born and raised in Springfield and belonged to St. George Greek Orthodox Church. I was a member and drum major of the Olympians Drum Corps from 1964-1970 and made many lifelong friends who are like family (Dorsey and Judy).

In 1975, I was married at St. George to the love of my life, Bill, and a year later, we moved to Rhode Island for a job promotion. We subsequently moved to Maine and settled in Trumbull, CT in 1980 for the rest of our 36-year marriage. During those 36 years, we kept close contact and involvement with the inception and growth of St. Luke’s because of my parents and many friends there. My girls were baptized, and my husband was chrismated at St. Luke’s, so it will always have a special place in my heart.

I was a stay-at-home mom, and after my girls graduated high school, I decided in 1999, at the age of 47, to go back to school. I got my degree in Human Services and worked as a counselor at Bridge House in Bridgeport, CT. Bridge House is a psycho-social rehabilitation program for adults with chronic mental illness. It was such a humbling experience working with this population. I worked there until my husband became ill in 2010. Sadly, in 2011, my husband passed away, and I decided in 2013 to move back to Massachusetts to be closer to my kids, friends, and St. Luke’s.

Soon after coming back, I contacted Lighthouse in Springfield, which is a sister clubhouse to Bridge House. For the past eleven years, the Philoptochos and parishioners of St. Luke’s have donated, at Christmas, more than 1,000 gift cards worth over $20,000 to their members. We opened our hearts, and now it is time to dance with our hearts!

I am one of the founders of Dancing with Heart (DWH) for St. Luke’s and Shriners Children’s New England and have been on the committee for the past five years. I have encouraged many of my friends and my daughter to dance for such worthy causes, so when Dorsey asked me to dance, how could I say no? So here I am.

My daughter Danielle won the mirror ball last year. I am just hoping to REMEMBER my dance routine, so I will definitely be dancing with heart!