December 16

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Joining you for storytelling for the first time is Bernadette Coughlin, a daughter, sister, mother, wife, and the person who says “Hello, welcome in!” when you walk into the Lockport branch of the White Oak Library district. She has lived all over the south suburbs of Chicago but spent the first few years of her childhood on a Marine Corps base in North Carolina, causing a continual love and longing for the ocean. She is the oldest of 8 siblings and mother to two beautiful children. She has worked a myriad of jobs related to customer service and childcare but has found her home in library work. Bernadette has always been a lover of stories and is excited to share little peeks into her life with you through her own stories.

Colleen Kelley has been attending Stories R Us for several years and has finally worked up the nerve to try it. She loves both hearing and telling a good story and believes that you can find humor in almost anything. She is frequently visiting her three adult children on opposite coasts and is looking forward to retiring from education in 2026 so she can travel more extensively. Her favorite thing to do while traveling is to explore indie bookstores and coffee shops. When she is in town, she scours estate sales and flea markets for treasures. Colleen delightfully embraces the stereotype of living alone with her two cats.

After a 20-year hiatus, Anne Magosky has returned to the theater with renewed energy. Trained at Webster University’s Theater Conservatory and holding a BA in Speech from Lewis University, Anne’s credits include projects with the Repertory Theater of St. Louis, The Joliet Drama Guild, and The Illinois Theater Center. Most recently, she directed Write On Joliet’s “We Can Be Heroes” and performed in Limestone Stage’s “Harvey.” Professionally, Anne serves as a special education paraprofessional at Ludwig School.

Outside of her work with Stories R Us, Anne enjoys life with her husband, Cean, their two grown children, and two senior rescue dogs. A dedicated community member, she is a founding board member for the Lockport Resource Center and a passionate supporter of the local arts scene. Anne also performs as a “Biddie,” singing backup for The Petty Bettys to raise funds for local charities.

Ken White was born in Joliet and a long time New Lenox resident. He has had several interesting careers that have provided him with a multitude of stories and life experiences. He has also been known throughout life to be a magnet for a variety of interesting characters who have given him great pleasure and many memories. Now retired, Ken and his wife Peggy enjoy travel, searching for antiques and art and watching their five grandchildren moving through college and life.