Edna Conley 79, started the Dunham Choraliers 18 years ago. (Enquirer photo/TONY JONES)

Word spread fast that a group of singing, dancing senior citizens from Dunham Senior Center in Price Hill was available to entertain. They've been in demand since, to perform at senior centers, nursing homes, day care centers, retirement centers, churches and even funerals.

"I always say we perform for people from the cradle to the grave," laughed Conley, a Price Hill widow. "People really look forward to seeing us, and we look forward to making them smile. We don't do sleepy-time songs. We get them involved, get them moving their hands and feet."

Conley, who started the group with the late Louise Johnson, said it took about two years and many one-on-one contacts to get a solid group of committed members.

"Then I started lining up bookings, mostly at nursing homes, at first," she said. "The reaction we got made us realize the importance of what we were doing. Now they're so committed, you'd think we're getting paid for it. We are, but not with money ... with joy and satisfaction."

Under Conley's leadership, the group has entertained more than 250 times at 135 places, putting smiles on faces of all ages. They perform several times a month April through December. The 36 members range in age from 57 to 94.

Conley is always an inspiration. Even now, at age 79 and with a lung disease that has required her to be on oxygen the past eight years, Conley still runs the show. She's there each Thursday for rehearsal and the afternoon performances. She also does all the scheduling, choreographs dances, rewrites music to fit their needs and keeps everything running smoothly.

Weakening arms prompted her to pass her directing baton to her daughter, Pat Wahle, two years ago, but Conley remains assistant director.

Robert Kahsar, a choralier member 15 years, said Conley has been the mainstay of the group.

"Edna has held us all together," Kahsar said. "She's been sick, and sometimes it's really hard for her to go certain places that have a lot of steps, but she keeps right on going. We're so lucky to have her."

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Do you know a Hometown Hero - someone in your community dedicated to making it a better place to live and helping others? E-mail Janet Wetzel at jjwetzel@siscom.net or fax to (513) 755-4150.