In Memoriam

Holiday Volunteers

December - 2018

 
"Selfless giving unto others represents one's true wealth" Jon M. Huntsman, businessman/philanthropist"

This quote sums up what many of our Volunteers do on a regular basis. However, this Spotlight on Volunteers is recognizing those who give up part of their 4th of July celebration; their Easter Sunday Brunch; their neighborhood's Labor Day picnic; their traditional Thanksgiving Dinner and let's not forget Christmas Day! Each holiday we serve our Residents and their families and friends, a delicious meal complete with all of the fixins' ...... and then some! Holiday after holiday, at least 20 Volunteers spend part of their holiday at Mercy House. On the average, we celebrate with and serve SO friends on these special occasions. Not only are our "Holiday Volunteers" hard at work in the Kitchen --- many are preparing days before behind the scenes making cookies, brownies, pies, pasta salads, casseroles, veggie, and fruit trays---- you get the picture! Thank you to our "Holiday Volunteers" for helping us fulfill our Mission so our Residents and their family and friends feel like they are 'home for the holidays'!

Chris Wurth

April - 2018

On Mondays, Chris Wurth can usually be found organizing supplies in the downstairs Kitchen/Pantry or in the medical supply closet--- when she isn't visiting with a Resident as a Companion! Chris Volunteers on Mondays with Betty Ann Graham, Betty Ann shared the following about Chris, "she's a warm, caring volunteer from caregiver, companion, relief receptionist and a great floral arranger! Her expertise is as an organizer. She has spent countless hours starting with the second-floor storage of quilts, to drawers and cabinets in the common area. However, she shines in the reorganization of food items, paper products, laundry items in the lower level. That also includes both storage rooms for personal care items and nursing supplies. Chris is the best and always wears a smile."

During the few snowstorms that we endured this winter, Chris was willing to walk to Mercy House and offer a helping hand or two as substitute Receptionist or Kitchen Crew. She even walked to the nearby convenient store to make sure we had milk and juice for our Residents.

We appreciation Chris for al I that she does behind the scenes to keep us organized!

Rob Hutcheson

September - 2018

In August of 2017, Rob signed up to Volunteer Kitchen ..... little did he know that he would be a big help in the Kitchen but an even bigger help as our 'go-to-Mercy-House-Handyman'! Rob has been back and forth to one of our local home improvement stores- too many times to count! He has installed several corner shields; changed many lightbulbs - even the highest lights in the house standing on a 14 foot ladder; measured, hung and re-hung a wall decoration; disassembled a broken bed and assembled a new bed and help moved both beds! Rob has donated more than 128 Volunteer hours in-between his fishing trips

No job is too big or too small for Rob. We are very grateful for his handyman know-how; his gracious nature of completing everything he is asked to do - never complaining and always with a smile! We appreciate his dedication to Mercy House. Volunteers such as Rob are one of the reasons we are able to carry out our mission.

Thank you so much, Rob, for being an important part of our team!

Sheila

January - 2018

“Welcome to Mercy House”, “Good morning, thank you for calling Mercy House, this is Sheila may I help you”? If you visit us or volunteer here on a Tuesday or a Wednesday morning, this is how you are greeted by Sheila Smithgall, our lead Volunteer Receptionist. Sheila applied to volunteer in December of 2015, several months before we opened our doors. Since that day in December, she has played an integral part in the success of Mercy House. She spends numerous hours training and scheduling our receptionists and making sure everyone who comes through our front doors feels welcomed. Not only does she serve as lead Volunteer Receptionist, she works with our Housekeeping volunteers to make sure the garbage is emptied, the floors are vacuumed and the windows are cleaned, just to name a few of the housekeeping responsibilities. Pat Kelleher, a Volunteer Receptionist shared, “Sheila deserves this recognition, she is a friend to all of us, Volunteers, Residents and Visitors and she shares her compassion for Mercy House with all those who walk through our doors”!

Ginny Spencer

September - 2017

Meet Ginny Spencer, our volunteer spotlight! Ginny has been volunteering in the Mercy House Office for the past two years. She retired from the Maine Endwell School District and now helps out with all our admin tasks, including getting our newsletters to our donors. Ginny has two children and one granddaughter and lies in Endwell with her husband, Jim. She enjoys golf, travel and taking in Broadway Shows! We appreciate all of Ginny’s time and expertise here at Mercy House. We look forward to seeing Ginny here every week.

Don and Carla Noreika

April - 2017

Meet Don and Carla Noreika. Don and Carla have been married for 47 years. They have 4 children and 5 grandchildren who are the joy of their lives. Love of God and family bring them the most happiness. They love to travel and family vacations are always a great time of memory-making. Don was a high school science teacher at Seton for 10 years and then at Johnson City for 32 years. He is a lector, Eucharistic Minister and bazaar chairperson at Church of the Holy Family. He volunteered at UHS for several years until he "fell in love with Mercy House." He works in the kitchen and is the bacon king!! He is also willing to do anything else that is needed always with a smile on his face. Carla was an elementary school teacher for Catholic Schools and then a stay at home mom. When her children went to college, she went back to teaching students in 8th and 11th grade who were in danger of failing state English tests. She is a Eucharistic Minister, bazaar chairperson and lay visitation minister at Church of the Holy Family. She also volunteered at UHS until Mercy House became her passion. Carla works at the reception desk. We thank them for their year of service to Mercy House and wish them well in their new home in Virginia.

Terri Blosser

November - 2016

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Terri moved to Endicott as a stay-at-home mom in the mid 1980’s due to her husband’s job transfer. Once their two children were in school, she finished her Master’s degree at BU and then resumed her teaching career, first at UE schools and then at Chenango Valley. At the same time she undertook the Formation for Ministry program in the Diocese of Syracuse and was commissioned as a lay minister both in Liturgy and in Pastoral Care, positions in which she still actively serves at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. A year after her retirement from teaching, the sudden and unexpected death of her husband five years ago challenged her to create a “new normal,” and Mercy House has provided her with a way to pursue her work in Pastoral Care and work with the elderly. She likens her role as a caregiver to her role as daughter to her 88-year-old father. “Every time I do the least little thing for a resident at Mercy House, I think of my Dad and how I want him to be cared for. Because I can’t be with him physically since he lives 650 miles away, I cherish every minute I have with him when I visit him. I always try to treat the Mercy House residents the way I want Dad to be treated – with gentleness, patience, compassion, and love. Mercy House has been a blessing to me – and I think I speak for all the volunteers here. It’s a place we all love, full of people to love. And that’s what life is all about.”