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Fonda Damme
EDMOND — For most of her life, Fonda Damme never put much thought into her post-retirement finances.
Tim Henley, Staff Writer
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Published: October 3, 2008
Oklahoman
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EDMOND — For most of her life, Fonda Damme never put much thought into her post-retirement finances.
SENIOR CITIZEN: Fonda Damme, Oklahoma City, plays a card game at the Will Rogers Senior Center in Oklahoma City. BY TIM HENLEY, THE OKLAHOMAN ORG XMIT: KOD
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However, a few years after she retired as a reservation receptionist Southwest Airlines, her husband died. That was late 1998, when Damme was 65.
“I never thought about being left alone by myself in the future, so I really didn’t plan for it,” Damme said. “After he passed away, I regretted it, but by then it was too late.”
Due to a limited income, she invested their savings into rental property to support herself financially.
“It ended up working out okay for me, but I do wish I had of done some things differently,” Damme said.
If she could live her life over again, Damme said she would have obtained a college degree, become more financially independent, and better prepared herself for retirement at a younger age.
“When I was in my 20s, people didn’t talk about retirement, so it never crossed my mind,” she said.
Since she retired, Damme said she spends most of spare time playing bridge with her friends at the Will Rogers Senior Center in Oklahoma City.
“I love being with people, and it keeps the brain active,” She said.
Tim Henley: 475-3830, thenley@oklahoman.com
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