Emily B. (Sitosky) Serian, lover of Cleveland Indians baseball, popcorn, apples, shopping, cooking, gardening and family, died at the age of 105. She attributed her longevity to living greedy for life—a desire to absorb every precious moment.  With her sense of humor, her wit and her beautiful smile intact, she told us that it was time to see what “God was up to.” She died peacefully at home surrounded by her family and her treasured Indians baseball memorabilia. It was her desire that we honor her by taking care of each other—by connecting, nurturing and giving to each other– a purposeful life.

Nana, as she became known to so many around the world, was a champion for inclusion and purpose. She started her life on a farm in Rossiter, PA, born to poor Polish Immigrants. As one of 16 siblings, she knew what it was like to live poor, to be bullied and humiliated for wearing tattered clothing and she knew what it was like to feel hunger. But wrapped into all of that was her sheer joy of living. She knew what if felt like to be loved and to give love—to be part of a family that extended beyond genetics and into the world of human beings—her tribe.

Those who knew her, loved her and were inspired by her commitment to children and those who were lonely. They joined her tribe and with Nana’s voice in their head, they committed to reaching out to each other with respect and support.

Nana was the human being who could see need in others and would respond without hesitation. She would often say that when we sit quiet and we listen to the life stories of others, we learn to be compassionate free of judgment. We learn that we are ultimately responsible for each other. She believed deeply that if we treated each other as “relatives” — love and purpose would become a way of life.

Tribal living is built on the belief that we can survive many hardships in this life –except living lonely and without purpose. Generational love is the ultimate form of connection—the antidote to isolation. It is the kind of connection that weaves itself into our life stories and guides us to our purpose. 

Welcome to Nana’s Tribe