Mary, Mary...Oh How Your Garden Grows

Mary is a massage therapist and "gardener extraordinaire" at St. Ann Center. Although Mary is an amazing massage therapist she also works as the landscape gardener. Each spring, summer and fall the grounds at St. Ann Center are full of beautiful blooms thanks to Mary and her many client helpers!

There are different types of flowers and colorful explosions sprouting up all around the center. Mary is very happy to let us know that the majority of plants and flowers were shared from other’s gardens. Most of the plants are perennials and they spread each year. Mary spends time digging and transplanting and weeding each day. She’s always happy to share a helpful gardening tip.

Mary has a great ability to bring the outside in. Throughout the year Mary cuts blooms and brings them into the Center to add a special caring touch and sometimes lovely flower aroma to the clients. Many clients also help Mary do different gardening activities. Pam (pictured at right) is a client at St. Ann Center who helps Mary cut blooms and makes them into lovely flower arrangements.

Mary was also most recently named winner of the St. Ann Center Employee “Maggie Cary – Recognize a Winner Award!” Here are some of the wonderful things Mary’s co-workers said about her:

• “She is filled with warmth and love.”

• “She keeps St. Ann Center a beautiful place in various ways. Not only does she tend to the atrium, garden, and grounds, her decorations during the holidays are lovely too.”

• “She is always ready to listen to concerns you may have and has an attitude to help out whoever needs it!”

• “The beauty that is gifted to us truly creates a peace filled environment.”

St. Ann Center is very blessed to have Mary McCanna care for it’s grounds as well as its clients, staff and visitors!

How much can one older woman survive?

More, apparently, than we might think. Real life example:

Many years ago Clementine S., at the age of 60, met with an assortment of daunting medical crises, any one of which might well have been enough to wipe out a weaker woman. But weak she was not.

She had two brain aneurysms. Then came 10 hours of surgery, followed by a massive stroke. The stroke left the right side of her body paralyzed and also deprived her of speech. Then she was stricken with meningitis, for which was given strong antibiotics. But she proved to be allergic to the antibiotics. At times, during these ordeals, physicians expressed to her daughter, Sheila their concern that Clemmie might not make it. She was near death several times. But after seven months in the hospital she began to rebuild her life. As a right-handed artist who could no longer use her right hand, she began, hour by hour and day by day, to paint the flowers she loved, using her unaccustomed left hand.

Years ago she had studied art with Sister Thomasita Fessler of Cardinal Stritch University and she had not lost her talent, her training, or her desire to paint. She began to feel like herself. She returned her hair to its original brown, with the help of the St. Ann's staffers, and she looks younger than her years. She also began water therapy in the warm waters of the St. Ann Center pool, two days a week. She can float on her back, kick with her left leg, and paddle with her left arm. Staff members assist her in dressing, and help her in and out of the pool as needed. One called her "An inspiration to all of us."

Clemmie passed away a in 2006 but she always serves as a reminder of the optimistic human spirit so alive in many of the clients at St. Ann Center.
Written by: Dorothy Austin
An excerpt from her obituary(Published in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel from 4/3/2006 - 4/4/2006)

“Her incredible strength, spirit, and positive attitude allowed her to overcome a multitude of serious medical challenges including 7 continuous months at Columbia Hospital beginning in July 1987. Two brain aneurysms, a stroke, and meningitis, afflicted her at that time, and left half her body half paralyzed and robbed her of her speech. Yet, Clemmie remained a joy to be around and a great inspiration to all those who knew her. She loved life and cherished each day as a gift. Her smile would light up a room and her hugs were strong and plentiful. Clemmie will be so deeply missed by many, many friends, but her spirit and love will most certainly live on forever - in the hearts of all those who knew her.

Special thanks to all friends and staff at St. Ann Center, Milwaukee, where Clemmie loved to swim in the warm water therapy pool.”

Crazy Tie Day

Every Friday Danny Crivello (Milwaukees 1st Golden Idol) plays a concert in the park for the children, adults, staff and community of St. Ann Center. But today, in honor of Father's Day, it was Crazy Tie Day. Everyone was was dancing and shanking it to the fast paced lively music. Friday concerts are always a great way to start the weekend. You can check out our online photo album to see photos from the the days festivities.

Don't Miss St. Ann Center at the Farmer's Markets

St. Ann Center is again participating in the South Shore Farmer’s Market, at South Shore Park, which kicks off Sat. June 18th, from 8am to 12 noon each Saturday, through October 15th. Please stop to visit us, and purchase your supply of jams & jellies, Salsa, Soups, and our famous home made insect repellant with all natural herbal oils!


Also,
Sr. Edna will again take her home made jewelry to the East Town Farmers Market at Cathedral Square, downtown, on Saturdays, from 9am to 1pm, starting June 4th through October 29th.

Buddy Program Hosts Awards Ceremony

The 2010-2011 Buddy Awards Ceremony will be held on Thursday evening, May 19 at St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care. Opening Prayer will be given by Buddy Program director, Rev. Tony Phillips, with Vicki Boston introducing the evening’s MC Ms. Melissa Owen. The guest keynote speaker will be Ms. Tecia Greer, CEO of Signature Dance Company.

The Buddy Program is a unique aspect of the Service Learning Program offered at St. Ann Center. It pairs “at need” youths ages 12-16 with clients of St. Ann Center and several other adult centers throughout the Milwaukee area. A goal of the program is to break down barriers between generations by bringing together marginalized groups of adults and young people. It is strives to:

• provide youth with a positive learning experience involving those perceived as different
• help participants learn that they can make a difference in the life of another person
• teach skills necessary to secure and maintain a job
• help youth develop self-esteem by learning new skills
• teach youth to appreciate and work with others perceived as different from themselves

For more information please contact student services director Rev. Tony Phillips at (414) 977-5000 (414) 977-5000 or email him at tphillips@stanncenter.org.

Submitted by Ron Zeilinger