Our Greatest Gifts

Elaine Chegas (Activities)

What is the best Christmas gift you ever gave?: “I painted the Miraculous Medal on material for my niece/godchild who was diagnosed with stomach and esophageal cancer. Ellen always wore the Miraculous Medal and was devoted to Mary. She has her wings wrapped around me. She saved me from two car accidents! She is my angel in heaven.”

What is the best Christmas gift you ever received?: “Born in December 1950, I must say the gift of life. God gave me a beautiful family. Our parents taught us to work hard and appreciate everything that God gave us. Love is the greatest gift.”

Katie Watenpool (resident aide): “In 2019, my kids and I got to spend Christmas with my whole family before my grandmother and dad moved into their nursing homes. Due to Covid-19, it may be a while before we can do it again. In 2018, we got the girls a Frozen automatic car. They loved it! Seeing the smiles on their faces made all the holiday craziness worth it.”

Sister Francesca Parana (resident): “I always sewed a nice present for my mom, dad, aunts and uncles. I always got something nice for my playroom. I shared it with my dog, Quarter, who had two puppies — Nickel and Dime.”

Ruth C. (resident): “I remember getting a Shirley Temple doll. My sister, who was a year and a half older, always told me what I was getting.”

Carolyn Klingensmith (resident aide): “The best bought gift was a turntable system from my grandparents when I was about 12. I loved listening to music and having parties in our attic gameroom. But the best gift is love, every year from everyone I know. All I have to give ... is love.”

Lillian C. (resident): “I just have a lifetime of memories. Last Christmas, my nephew from Cleveland gave me a special box of chocolates.”

Carolee Mandernach (housekeeping): “My son got me a foot massager and a KitchenAid stand mixer that he wrapped all by himself. The tag said it was so I could bake Christmas cookies (wink, wink). I just love to give to others and see their happy faces when opening. I put a lot of thought everything I buy for others.

Freida F. (resident): “I liked my dolls best. God turned around and gave me five children.”

Jen Reilly (resident aide): “The best gift I ever received was the last Christmas I spent with my dad — my hero, my best friend. I was 38 when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He fought for two years then got worse. I knew it was his last Christmas, so my family and I made it the best Christmas ever for him. It was bittersweet but those memories will last a lifetime. I gave my mom a picture collage of memories with my dad, her soulmate. She cherished that gift and knew that Dad was gone, but their memories would live on.”

Betty D. (resident): “I gave the family a TV. They loved Lawrence Welk. On Saturday nights, they dressed up — the girls in crinoline slips and skirts — and danced in the livingroom.”

Sister Lois Jean DiFalco (resident): “My best gift was from my dear Aunt Ann when I received my Confimation. She was my sponsor, and she got me a bike. I’m sure my mother liked all her gifts. I once gave her a little whiteglass chicken.”

Shakiea Gray (med tech): “My greatest gifts were my children, ages 19 and 25, when I had each of them. It’s my greatest gift of all because they make and have made me a better person. I gave one of my residents suffering from dementia a framed picture of her deceased parents. She cried and thanked me and remembers to this day that I gave her the gift.”

Helen M. (resident): “I remember my husband and I spending the morning with my children and just celebrating all day. My gift to my children was to make Christmas as enjoyable as it could be.”

Betty K. (resident): “I got a baby doll when I was very young, but the best gift any of us ever received was our family!”

Linda R. (resident): “When I was around 10, my parents gave me a pair of metal skates, which had a special key. Many enjoyable hours were spent skating. Buying gifts for my grandchildren always gave me great joy.”

Dana F. (resident): “I got an electronic keyboard from my parents when I was about 25. I love music and enjoyed playing for many years. One Christmas, I embroidered pillowcases for several dear friends, each personally presented, and they were greatly appreciated by all.”

Nicole Buchlmayer (Communications): “When my mom was losing her vision to diabetic retinopathy, I spent many hours scanning and restoring beloved family photos. I had them printed in a big book so they were large enough for her to see. She cried tears of joy. When she died in 2019, that book was shared among the family at her funeral.”

Stephanie D. (resident): “I always got a special dress for Christmas that my mom made. It was always beautiful. Also, Mom was a great cook.”

Josephine S. (resident): “We were just happy to have our stockings filled with candy and fruit. We always bought Dad a red or green Christmas tie and Mom a pair of natural-colored cotton stockings.”

Carol M. (resident): “The best gift was when my kids came home and surprised me. One year, I managed overtime to get my mom and dad something they really wanted for their home.”

Dorothy H. (resident): “I loved going with my family to a buy a Christmas tree and being with my mother and father on Christmas Day.”

Gertrude S. (resident): “I loved a nightgown I got from my family when I was 70. It was pretty and warm. I enjoyed giving gifts to family that were very special and appreciated.”

Donna P. (resident): “I received a beautiful argyl sweater when I was 16 or 17 from Nickie, my friend who was a boy. I once gave my husband a comb made in Finland and a special pipe from England.”

Josie S. (resident): “I remember getting a box of candy wrapped in Christmas paper from Mom and Dad. Also, I received a corsage of red flowers one Christmas. I remember giving gifts of footballs, shirts and games to my boys.”

Tom Steenbeke (Maintenance): “The best gift is spending time with my family. Christmas is all about family, and I hadn’t had my family all together in a long time. The best gifts I ever gave were Pandora charms to my wife, signifying our son, Brian, and her “daughter” Amber and how they love her.”

Rita J. (resident): “A favorite was a Besty Wetsy babydoll I received when I was 5. The best I gave was a Lionel train to my son, Tom, when he was 9.”

Emil P. (resident): “The best gift I ever received was when I met my wife, Lucille.”

Dolores C. (resident): “I remember spending time with my family, helping Mom cook, singing with Dad, and seeing everyone happy around the table.”

Sister Roselyn Kuzma (Resident)

What is the best Christmas gift you ever gave?: “Being the middle child of 11, we never received big, expensive gifts. Christmas was always a special time in our family as we opened our gifts with joy. 

The Christmas I remember most is when I was a freshmen in high school and our baby sister, Marilyn, was in first grade. She wanted a bride doll for Christmas. We searched and priced them, and they were much more expensive than all the other dolls. My sewing teacher said, ‘Just buy a doll and make a white dress!’

Marilyn’s doll already had a nice dress, so we decided to make her PJs. We had all kinds of material, and my mom helped me make more outfits for her.

On Christmas Eve, we all watched her changing the outfits on her doll. We did forget all the other gifts we gave and received over the years, but our family never forgot that Christmas.  

On Marilyn's 60th birthday, we decided that she needed a doll to remember. So all my family bought and wrapped dolls for her birthday. This time she received many, but no bride doll because she had one years ago.

Just for the record I got an A in sewing!”