Campus Connections - St. Paul's

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I will always remember that red rose. As we gathered about that last night, in Mable’s Room atWillows B, I remember a mysterious red rose sitting by her bed. Nobody knew where it camefrom, but there it was, in full bloom, flushed and open and glorious to behold.Mable always loved red roses. Her living room was filled with them, in pictures, framed with poems andBible verses. Silk roses spilling out of baskets and vases, filling every table and comer. Her life was filled withroses, every nook and cranny suffused with petal and stem.Before she came to St. Paul Homes, Mable lived in Butler. The streets outside her home were filled with theworry and crime and desperation of a wilting city. Mable had a rose bush in her yard, and she was so proud ofIt- but someone had cut it down and trampled its delicate petals and leaves in the middle of the night. So,inside her home, she tended a garden of flowers, beautiful but unreal. Her roses were lovely, but they could notbe smelled. They didn’t reflect the delicate balance and feel of a real rose. They were, at the time, only animitation, but she made due.Then, Mable came to St. Paul Homes. She had to cull down her collection encompassing almost thirty years ofroses- roses of silk and paint and glass and paper. She had one room waiting for her at St. Paul’s and theresimply wasn’t room enough for so many roses. At first she was worded- hesitant. She loved her silk roses somuch and took such pride in all her various flowery knickknacks. But then, almost the moment she arrived, shefound something more.Mable found a new garden waiting for her. A garden of love, of friends, of peace. No longer did she have toworry about her rose bush being trampled carelessly underfoot. She tended to this garden of friends everyday. She watered it with love and patience. She pushed wheelchairs, she poured creamer into coffee. Shecarried chairs, played games, smiled and laughed and watched her garden grow tenfold. Her fake roses wereno longer necessary, for in each friend she made, in each hug she shared, in each moment with those shecared for, Mable found a thousand roses, a garden as limitless as her own heart.And so, the night before Mable passed away, I looked at the mysterious rose by her bedside- a real rose, aliveand joyful and in full bloom. I considered that rose and the seeds planted by Mable’s time at St. Paul. And Icouldn’t help but smile at the thought that she was not leaving us, but merely going on to visit another, beautifulgarden, filled with love and sunshine and, yes, roses.We all know that the rose is a flower of love, and that, like the many hearts Mable touched, roses come in suchvariety of shapes and hues. It is perhaps why the rose is so recognized and acclaimed. Pink roses are for newlove- hopeful and expectant. Orange roses are for celebration and exultation. Purple roses for enchantmentand the wonder of life and love. White roses are for the those whom we love but are no longer with us, andperhaps these would be the bloom most memorable and precious at a time such as this. But when I think ofMable, of our Mable, it is only the red rose that I think of. -’For the red rose represents love triumphant.This note is to thank all the friends and loved ones who filled Mable’s garden with so much joy and happinessover the past many months. Sadly, this is not a complete list, it never could be, for Mable found love andfriendship everywhere, in every person. if anyone is missed, it is only a testament to the width and breadth ofcaring and support and wonder that surrounded Mable during her time at St. Paul Homes.Thank you to Kathy Oros and everyone in admissions and administration who found Mable a place in the St.Paul community, who made her transition easy and made her welcome and comfortable from the moment shestepped though the front doors, Without you, none of this would have been possible.Thank you to the entire nursing and medical staff of St. Paul Homes. You were there with and for Mable, everystep of the way. You made her feel safe, you cared for her needs, even when she didn’t want to acknowledgethose needs. Her personality and will were so strong, but you met the challenge with patience, kindness, andlove.6
Thank you to everyone in dietary who cared so diligently for Mable’s special food needs. Mable never atemore or ate better than in her time at St. Paul’s Since she began to have difficulty swallowing she had neverknown such variety and care in the preparation of her food. You made sure that, no matter what the event wasevenspecial occasions like parties and movie nights- her dietary needs were considered and cared for.Thank you to Pastor Linda Miller, Pastor Harry Wood, and all those involved in religious services at St. PaulHomes. It had been so many years since Mable found a faithful home that she truly felt a part of. She loved theservices and she loved her pastors. There is no doubt that you helped provide a welcoming presence in herlife from day one to the very end. And it was thanks to your aid and comfort that we, as Mable’s family, foundpeace and hope in the painful final days.Thank you to all the Entertainment coordination staff and all the wonderful performers who brought Mable somuch fun and joy during her time at St Paul Homes. She couldn’t stop talking about the music, the fun, andperhaps most of all- the bingo. She had more fun in the months she was at St. Paul’s than perhaps ever in herlife. She was never bored, she never laded for joy or love or- wonder.Thank you to the staff of the St. Paul’s Bistro store. Mable loved to shop and she loved her coffee- the Bistrowas truly her perfect place. We will never forget how she loved to treat visitors to coffee- if only to fill up her“Free Cappuccino Card. The highlight of- Mable’s day, every day, was the walk to the Bistro and her steamingcup of French Vanilla Cappuccino.Thank you to the staff at the Beauty Salon, who made Mable feel special every time. She was so proud of herhair and so overjoyed that folks would make a fuss over her. Thanks to you she looked and felt so beautiful.Thank you to Pete and Vick and Mary and all the countless friends Mable found at St. Paul Homes. She hasnever, ever had such loving, loyal friends by her side, watching out for her, enriching her life with every wordand hug. She loved each of you so deeply and her life was indescribably enriched by your love.There is no doubt in anyone’s mind or heart that Mable’s time at St. Paul Homes was the most productive,peaceful, and loving time of her life. Her garden was limitless, each day filled to bursting with your love, care,attention care. We thank you for touching her life. Each one of you was a blessing, not only to Mable, but to herfamily as well. With all and eternal love and sincerity. Thank you so, so very muchThe Family of Mable MulneixJuly Caring Hearts Special Thanks:Orchards & Springs Staff - Thanks to all who helped get the residents to church on Sunday 7/27 and back. It’sa great feeling when we meet halfway to the balcony, such great team work. - Missy & Bonnie, Act.To the Orchards A Staff & St. Paul Employees - Thank you for the dish garden and cards in the untimely deathof our grandson, Mat Mitchell. - Barb & Dave Huffman, Steve Mitchell, Don Mitchell, Dave & Jane GreggsTo the Springs Staff - Thanks for all your help getting residents to and from Activities. Because of staff like youthe residents enjoy themselves a lot. - AudreyThanks to Andy Russo - Thanks for the strawberries and the chocolate cake(that was to die for!). Mother atecake too!! - 3-11 Springs (Carol, Stacy, Nicki, & Colleen)Thanks to Marie Riley - Thanks for helping get the residents to church on Sunday, July 27 th . It’s nice to havethat extra hand. - MissyThanks to Mike Walton - Thanks for always helping on Sundays to get the residents to church. The residentsenjoy seeing you as well as the staff. - MissyThanks to Ginny from Hospice - Thanks for coming to our careplan meetings and being involved with ourresidents on the Gardens.7
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