Our Caring Companions

- Sr. Bernadette Sullivan, Pam, Heidi, Sandy, and Ruth discussing caring for our aging Sisters.

Over twenty years ago, our Province Leadership Team decided to hire several nurses to help with the care of our sisters. Creating a senior care facility solely for ourselves was briefly considered, but such an undertaking would have been extremely complex and costly. Instead, a new community of medically trained companions began to grow among us with the goal of caring for us all, young or old, and the relationships that have formed remain an enormous blessing to this day. Today our nurses are Heidi Caron-Guay, Pamela Alexander, Ruth Messer, and Sandy Morrison.

In addition, Sr. Bernadette Sullivan is the Coordinator for eight sisters living at Prosper in Fall River, a senior living facility our province has used for many years. Hers is a ministry of caring presence, service, and availability to see to our sisters’ many needs that arise on a daily basis. She helps new sisters who arrive at Prosper to settle into their new living situations and eases their adjustment to these unfamiliar surroundings. Her efforts also include helping with appointments, and alerting our nurses when she feels a sister needs their help.

“Often the small things make a big difference”, says Sr. Bernadette. “When a new sister is coming to join our community, I always ask about her favorite color(s). If we can get towels or linens in those colors, it is always noticed and appreciated, and helps the new surroundings feel a bit more familiar.” Sr. Bernadette also helps coordinate prayer and religious services as well as other celebrations like birthdays and activities for our sisters. She has also helped integrate several sisters from other congregations who now live at Prosper and have become welcomed members of our community there.

In addition to Prosper, we have sisters in senior living facilities in Lawrence, where Sr. Yvette Ladurantaye is Coordinator, as well as in Somerset, Dartmouth, Attleboro, The Jewish Home of Fall River, MA, and Johnston, RI.

When asked to describe what she does for our sisters, one of our nurses, Heidi Caron-Guay, summed it up beautifully, “I do for the sisters what every good daughter would do for her mother, and that is providing care and being her advocate.” She added, “Every day is different and sometimes unexpected situations arise so flexibility is key. There is a great deal of teamwork and support between the nurses, sisters, and the Leadership Team which enable us to provide the best care to the sisters. We all work together to achieve the same goal - providing knowledge, support, compassion, grace, and dignity.”

Further, Heidi says, “The sisters have become an extension of our families. The conversations that take place when you are in their presence allow you to get to know each other as individuals and develop relationships, which is so important. Often times the sisters will thank us for what we do, but in reality, we receive so much more than what we give, and for that we’re forever grateful.”

Heidi shared, “When my sister was dying from cancer, it was obviously a very difficult time for me. I felt enveloped in love and compassion by their presence, prayers, phone calls, cards, letters, and genuine concern. They were a pillar of strength at a time when I needed it most.”

Reflecting on her role, Ruth Messer says, “I often think working with the sisters is rather like working with the twelve Apostles. Each sister is a unique individual with a strong personality and a mission. As teachers, nurses, eucharistic ministers, social workers, cooks, musicians, missionaries, historians, translators, and calligraphers, they have shared their world with me and together we have walked through change, trauma, loss, joy, and acceptance. From sharing chocolate kisses with other retired seniors to caring for each other as a way to maintain their independence and active lifestyle, I’ve had a first-row seat watching them live their Holy Union charism.”

Sandy Morrison shares a delightful memory while caring for Sister Ruth Beaudoin at Mary Immaculate, “We were taking a walk in the memory care unit along with Sr. Rita. Sr. Ruth heard music playing in one of the rooms at the end of the hallway. She began to dance. Then Sr. Rita joined in and so did I! And there we were, the three of us dancing in the hallway, smiling, singing, and laughing. They radiate such joyfulness.” Sandy also marvels at Sr. Terry Theroux, a diminutive woman who spent over fifty-five years in Africa as a missionary helping young women recognize the value and potential they had within themselves… this was groundbreaking work in the 1970’s. Sandy asked, “How were you able to do it?!” Sr. Terry responded simply, “God gave me the grace to stay.”

Sandy laughs at the memory of Sr. Toni Oulette’s stories from Cameroon about the local chief who continually tried to convince her to become one of his wives! What at first seems a funny story was actually a rather delicate cultural situation to navigate while remaining on good terms with the community she was serving.

Pamela Alexander has found the most meaningful aspect of her work is helping a Sister recognize that it is time to leave what she has seen as a safe and secure home living independently and going to assisted living, and then later to a Hospice facility. This can require a letting go of many types of independence, like giving up a car, visiting friends and family, or cooking. She is always grateful for our leadership team’s support at these difficult moments. “My position as a nurse is both satisfying and meaningful, and we’re fortunate to be able to learn from these remarkable women.”

We are grateful for these dedicated women who have helped us for so many years. Their expertise, commitment, and kind caring attitudes are inspiring and life-giving, both figuratively and literally. We are blessed to have each other, as together we continue the journey.