Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate
Endowment Fund in Memory of Sr. Amelia Kuska
Special Ministry to the Aged |
Catholic Charities Parish Services |
Special Ministry to the Aged |
Catholic Charities Parish Services |
The Sisters assist over 200 clients a year. Many of these clients live in the Cleveland Slavic Village area. Each Sister works with the same group of clients to create a trusting relationship and to develop an understanding of their needs. The Sisters will transport their clients to doctor appointments, grocery stores or other appointments. They will bring Holy Communion on Sundays to those who can not get to Mass. Sometimes, they will just come to sit a while and chat to ease a client's lonliness. For many of these clients the Sisters are their only link to the outside world.
The Saturday March 31, 2007 Plain Dealer published an excellent article written by Brian Albrecht on the Sister's mission in Slavic Village. The article highlighted three of the Sister's clients and how the Sisters minister to their needs.
Julia was originally from Yugoslavia. She came to the U.S. with her husband who later passed away. She had no children. Despite knowing six languages, she spoke very little English. She lived in the home she had shared with her husband but in winter there were heating problems. Vandals would bang on the doors or spray graffiti on her home. She spent most of her days sleeping and stayed awake at night to safeguard her house. She was virtually a prisoner in her own home.
Julia loved being creative. She spent most of her days reading, writing poetry, sewing and painting. Her home was filled with her creations. One of her paintings is shown behind her in the photo at the right. Julia would often gave these items away as gifts.
Eventually, the Sisters convinced Julia to sell her house and move to a local senior housing apartment complex in the same neighborhood. They helped Julia with translation and interpretation services, arranged for Meals on Wheels, made supportive visits and provided spiritual encouragement. When she had eye surgery and broke both her arm and wrist, the Sisters were there to assist her by translating her concerns and questions to the medical personnel.
Julia was a very religious person. She attended the religious services that the Sisters provided at her apartment complex and at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church despite being a member of the Church of the Nazarene.
With deteriorating health, the Sisters were instrumental in arranging Hospice care and continued to minister to Julia by providing her with support and visitations. Julia died at the age of 96 at Hospice. The Sisters attended Julia's funeral along with the congregation from the Church of the Nazarene.
Danny was in the service during WWII and after being discharged worked in the Slavic Village neighborhood. He lived in the same house he had shared with his mother until her death. Danny never owned a car, fan or refrigerator. He walked everywhere using two canes. He always wore his signature red hat.
Danny never married. His only brother in California had passed away. Danny was increasingly unable to get around due to his failing health. He was robbed and beaten several times by neighborhood vandals. He usually slept on his living room floor despite having a bed and couch. He was afraid of social workers because he feared they would place him in a nursing home.
The Sisters met Danny in 1999 when a social worker from St. Alexis-St. Michael's Hospital notified them. Danny arrived at the hospital with the police. The doctors wanted to admit him since they believed he had an aneurysm, but he refused. The Sisters started bringing Danny food and assisting him with shopping, banking and transportation.
Danny was a non-practicing Catholic. The Sisters arranged for a local priest to visit Danny and offer him the sacrament of Reconciliation and Holy Communion. Despite his reclusive nature, Danny often attended the SSMI Mass for Seniors and social events such as the annual Christmas party.
In July 2001, the Sisters went to visit Danny and found him dead at the bottom of his basement stairs. Danny was 79 years old.