Sister Cindy School Librarian 43 - Olivia: Homecare Hero

L A I T N E S S E : Y D N I C R E T S I S O R E H N A I R A R B I L L O O H C S

12” x 12” Oil on cradled wood panel March 2021

It was scary but necessary sending children back to school during the pandemic but my sister Cindy, who grew up in Santa Paula, now a school librarian in Northern Arizona, never missed a beat. I am so proud of her for so many reasons, including working almost every school day through the many months of the pandemic. She adhered to the protocols. I’m so relieved she received her covid vaccinations in March 2021. She is my Covid Hero working on the frontlines as an essential school employee bringing her unique charm and sparkle to the students at her school. The month of March is National Reading Month. The start of this is initiated with ‘Read Across America Day’ on March 2. As the school librarian Cindy organized a community reading event at her school inviting local dignitaries to come read to the students. Super proud of her. FUN FACT: Both our birthdays are on March 22.

A I V I L O

11” x 14” oil on linen primed with clear gesso adhered to birch board.

It was an honor to paint this portrait of my niece Olivia who works at a nursing home in Ventura County, California. Olivia cares for the elderly, assigned to the memory ward, she brings joy into the lives of her patients and their families who are not allowed to visit during the lockdown. She organizes fun activities and helps the families communicate through online technology, She was nominated for this portrait by her eldest sister my niece, Jerica who also worked on the frontline as an essential worker in a restaurant during the pandemic dealing with the risks, fears and protocols. “I want to nominate Olivia because she is doing so much to help the elderly with memory issues whose families can’t visit. She plans activities, dresses up in costumes, and is there almost everyday, even on holidays, all the while raising two babies at home. She really cares about her patients and wants the best for them, ” recalls Jerica, so proud of her sister’s consistent special work and energy at the nursing home during the pandemic.