369 Arlene Bomer: Living a Life of Adventure with Purpose

369 Arlene Bomer: Living a Life of Adventure with Purpose

Author: Gail Zelitzky and Catherine Marienau February 24, 2026 Duration: 26:48

At 75, Arlene Borner may not be running marathons, but she is still running—and skiing on snow and water and playing pickleball. She may no longer be teaching children how to swim or speak English in places like Sweden or Bangladesh, but she is teaching future teachers at her local college how to help students find their voice through service learning.

Arlene’s purpose continues to be shaped by her love of adventure, movement, and staying open to where life might lead next. She rides her own Harley Davidson, touring the countryside alongside her husband of 55 years. Her commitments also include five grandchildren who, following in her example, “pursue their passions and don’t quit.” As she reflects on growing older, Arlene says, “I don’t love aging, but I work hard to have a positive mindset and guard against deficit thinking.”

"Purpose changes yet it doesn’t, influenced by life choices. Discovering your real purpose might just come from sticking your neck out." - Arlene Borner

Connect with Arlene

Email: arleneborner@gmail.com

Thanking Our Sponsor—-Plymouth Place, LaGrange Park, IL. Discover the extraordinary at Plymouth Place—a vibrant community designed for active adults. Elevate your retirement living experience with tailored independent options, premier amenities, and a full continuum of care. Explore diverse living choices and embrace the joy of a life well-lived. http://plymouthplace.org

Recognizing the Age-Wise Collective

Women Over 70 is a proud member of the Age-Wise Collective, comprised of women-led podcasts for women 50+, featuring women’s stories and addressing topics that promote the pro-aging movement.

MEET: Sally Duplantier, gerontologist and founder of My Zing Life, whose mission is to help older adults live their best lives longer. Sally hosts Wellness Wednesday, an online program featuring cutting-edge researchers, best-selling authors, and health professionals. https://myzinglife.com


Hosted by Gail Zelitzky and Catherine Marienau, Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined turns the page on a well-worn cultural script. This is not a series about decline, but a collection of dialogues focused squarely on expansion. You’ll hear from women who are starting businesses, deepening their creative practices, forging new relationships, and confronting societal expectations with a refreshing blend of honesty and humor. These conversations, rooted in personal journals and lived expertise, delve into the practical and the profound-from the science of longevity to the personal journeys of resilience that define this chapter. The podcast moves beyond inspiration to offer tangible insight, framing the later decades as a time of active reinvention. Tune in for stories that replace stereotypes with specificity, and discover a community redefining what it means to grow older with purpose and curiosity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Women Over 70: Aging Reimagined
Podcast Episodes
379 Ilene Dillon: Mental Health Awareness Month [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:11
In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re revisiting a powerful earlier conversation with Ilene Dillon (Episode #148). A pioneering voice in emotional well-being, Ilene is an Emotional Realignment Master Tea…
377 Elise Magers: From Interiors to Inner Life: A Creative Evolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:41
Elise’s career didn’t follow a straight line—and that’s exactly what makes it so compelling. She began as a contract interior designer in Minneapolis before moving to Chicago in 1981, where a friend’s suggestion led her…
374 Phyllis Mitzen: A Lifetime of Leadership in Aging [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:21
At 84, Phyllis Mitzen is still reshaping how communities care for older adults — with curiosity, courage and a fierce commitment to action.Phyllis spent 24 years at CJE Senior Life (formerly Council on Jewish Elderly) an…
371 Karen Olson: An Undying Passion for Helping the Homeless [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:48
Some people discover their purpose early in life. For Karen Olson, 81, that moment came at age 18 when she offered a simple sandwich to a homeless woman outside a New York train station. Decades later, after retiring fro…