Sharing Moments of Joy and Grief

Dear Friends:

On April 1, the newest Angels’ Place home opened.  Imagine the joy for Andy, Carl, Lenny, and Stephen, their families, and everyone associated with Angels’ Place.  We are grateful for the many miracles over the last dozen-plus years that brought us to that day.

A month later, on May 2, we were still feeling the glow of this special day.

It’s rarely good news when the phone rings on a Monday after 11pm. But that night, in the few seconds it took me to get from the bed to the phone, a thousand things raced through my mind.

The call was to share the sad news that Jack Palmer, a resident at our Mahon Home, had died.

By the time I arrived at the home in Troy, Jack’s brother Hugh was there.  Through his grief, he shared the important role that Angels’ Place played in his brother’s life for over twenty-five years.  The next day, his sister Sue shared similar sentiments.

The caregivers, filled with sorrow themselves, shared stories of the impact the “Chief” had on their lives.  Some of them had been with Jack every day for nine years; others had known him much longer.

Everyone mourns his passing.

And here’s an often-unknown piece you should be aware of:

Jack had just returned from a weekend celebration of his sixtieth birthday with his family.  He was ready for bed early that evening, so the caregivers helped him shower – with more assistance than usual.  They checked in on his bedroom frequently and when they found him in distress, they called 911 and administered aid.  They notified Jack’s family and our leadership team.

Those who were scheduled to go home at 10pm stayed; those who were scheduled to start at 10 had come in early.

In the early morning hours, after the first responders and the funeral home staff had left, the caregivers wiped away their tears and went back to work.  In the next several hours, the other four guys in Mahon – Greg, James, Mark, and Brian -- would be waking and they rely on those caregivers to help them through their day.

Their own grief was supplanted by the needs of others.

We hope you will join us in a prayer that eternal rest be granted to Jack Palmer and peace to his family. 

Please also offer a prayer of gratitude for Jack’s caregivers at the Mahon Home, for those at the new Middlebury Home, and those at all of our homes.  They share moments of joy and those of grief with the residents.  We are grateful for their dedication to the mission they have chosen.

You make their work possible.