WENDELL — Inspiration struck Gail Mason during a celebration of life for a friend’s mother about a month ago.

“The person was beautifully memorialized, but I realized I wanted our treasured elders to hear the appreciation while they were still here,” she said. “We need to do it more often, while they’re still alive.”

This epiphany has evolved into the “Honoring Local Elders” series she plans to launch at the Wendell Meetinghouse on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The first honorees are longtime residents Susan and Jonathan von Ranson, who Mason described as being perfect examples of community spirit and sustainable living. Mason said the von Ransons have been longtime activists, advocating for the right to live sustainably and off the grid, working to fight the proposed construction of Route 2 through the Wendell State Forest, and participating in anti-nuke protests in Orange.

Susan von Ranson, 82, was one of the guiding forces behind the creation of the Friends of Wendell that helps people in need, and served on the board of Good Neighbors, a volunteer-driven food pantry serving Wendell and New Salem. Jonathan von Ranson, 81, has been a journalist, a writing group leader, president of the Northeast Organic Farming Association and a stone mason who built the new stone steps at the Wendell Meetinghouse.

“I think I felt a little intimidated because it’s new and fresh. It’s kind of a vulnerable feeling, to sit down for people to honor you,” Jonathan said of learning about the honor, adding that there is no precedent to refer to and he is not used to being the center of attention. “I’ve gotten to where I’m kind of looking forward to it.”

Susan, who said she moved to Wendell to be with Jonathan in 1980, said she doesn’t want people to feel obligated to attend this ceremony. Still, she said, it is flattering to be honored in such a way.

“It’s a good feeling,” she said.

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To get the “Honoring Local Elders” series going, Mason said she asked people to email her names of elders they would like to see honored and soon met with the von Ransons to determine if they were interested in participating. She said Thursday’s ceremony will likely span between one-and-a-half and two hours.

“I’m very excited,” she said, adding that the Wendell Meetinghouse is the perfect venue to use to honor elders. She also mentioned local-access television will record the ceremony and a copy will be donated to the library “so future generations will know the backbone of this community who built it.”

Different senior citizens will be honored with a ceremony on the second Thursday of each month at least through the end of 2023. For more information, or to suggest other elders you would like to celebrate, contact Mason at rushingwaters01@gmail.com.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.