Malachi House Spring 2023 Newsletter

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Spring is here and Malachi House is ready for the beautiful weather and sun! We are so grateful to our Co-Founder Kaki O’Neill who continues to support us in every way to fulfill our mission to serve those in need who are terminally ill.

It is with deep appreciation that we acknowledge The Cleveland Foundation, which has been supporting Malachi House for over 20 years, as they recently gifted us with $100,000 for much needed improvements to support the care of our residents.

We continue to educate and partner with the hospice community, which serves as our referral source, and we remain grateful for their services that allow us to care so lovingly for our residents. We are excited to welcome back our long-tenured volunteers as well as the new volunteers who bring such excitement and joy throughout the House. Our clinical and administrative staff lead by example with an abundance of love and empathy for our residents.

It is uplifting to have individuals like Tom and Caroline Arbeznik as well as Sean Gormley from Gormley’s Pub to celebrate and support Malachi House with the Merry Ploughboys concert and the Whiskey tasting event. Additionally, Malachi House appreciates the generous support of individuals, corporations and foundations who provide such profound giving for our mission. As a result of this support we have been able to complete some much needed home improvement projects.

We have purchased 15 new, state of the art beds for our residents; painted the dining room, living room, chapel, offices, smoke porch, hallways and basement areas; updated the HVAC systems and exhaust systems; reorganized our computer server system; and updated our outdoor fencing throughout. These projects and updates allow Malachi House to continue to care for our residents with the dignity and pride that they deserve and we are grateful.

Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we prioritize the care and love of our dear residents. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we prioritize the care and love of our dear residents.

John Schriner Judy Ghazoul Hilow Board Chair Executive Director

MALACHI HOUSE | SPRING 2023 NEWSLETTER |

LEFT TO RIGHT: MALACHI HOUSE VOLUNTEER JOANNE AT THE FRONT DESK. MALACHI HOUSE STAFF CELEBRATE LONGTIME EMPLOYEE, IRIS’ RETIREMENT.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

Over the winter, Malachi House has received some much needed TLC that will help us better care for our residents. Like any home over the years, Malachi House was beginning to see some wear and tear in areas throughout the house. We have been able to address those issues because of individual donors as well as some of our corporate sponsors and grants awarded by foundations. One of the most impactful changes that has been made is the purchase of 15 new, state of the art beds for our residents. These beds will directly improve the care they receive and we are very grateful for them.

Although some of the other updates around the house may seem cosmetic or nuanced, these things directly correlate to a sense of pride that both Malachi House staff and residents can feel about where they work and live. We have completed a long list of painting jobs that include the dining room, living room, chapel, offices, smoke porch, hallways, and basement areas. The HVAC and exhaust systems have been updated throughout the house as well as updated fencing. The cherry on top is the beautiful new sign in the front of our building that welcomes everyone to our loving home, purchased with support from Community West Foundation. If you haven’t stopped by to check out any of these recent updates, we invite you in for a visit!

RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT: RENALD “FRENCHY”

Malachi House resident, Renald, also known as “Frenchy”, is well loved by the Malachi House staff and volunteers. Frenchy grew up on a dairy farm in Quebec, a province of Canada where the official language is French (hence the nickname). In 1964 he and his brother decided to move to Washington, DC and got jobs hanging drywall. Frenchy has been in the United States ever since. He moved to Reading, Pennsylvania before landing in Cleveland, Ohio. Frenchy has been a hard worker throughout his life. He has a very mater-fact attitude about hard work and when asked about it he said “whatever it is you got to do, you just do it”.

Frenchy spends his time at Malachi House doing word search puzzles, watching TV, and getting up every hour to walk around the house or out to the smoke porch.

THE MERRY PLOUGHBOYS RETURN TO CLEVELAND

Another incredible year with the Merry Ploughboys! We had a full house at the Music Box Supper Club this past February as we rocked the night away and raised recordbreaking funds to support our mission. We are so grateful to everyone for their unmatched contributions.

A special thank you to Sean Lackey - we were excited to present him with this year’s Malachi House Community Service Award. We credit Sean for introducing Tom Arbeznik to Malachi House nine years ago when The Merry Ploughboys were looking for a new Cleveland organization to support.

The Merry Ploughboys, along with the guidance of Tom and Caroline Arbeznik, have been supporting Cleveland organizations through benefit concerts for twenty-one years. Malachi House has had the honor of partnering with them for the last nine of those. We are forever grateful for their generosity and support of the Malachi House mission to provide a loving home for life’s last journey.

TOP TO BOTTOM: CONCERT GOERS DANCE ALONG TO THE LIVELY USIC OF THE MERRY PLOUGHBOYS. MICHELLE AND SEAN LACKEY (HONOREE). THE HILOW FAMILY: HENRY JR., HENRY SR., JUDY GHAZOUL HILOW (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR), ELEANORE HILOW ANDREANI, MICHAEL ANDREANI, AND FRED. JOHN SCHRINER, BOARD CHAIR; MONICA O’TOOLE, RAFFLE WINNER; KELLY O’TOOLE; JUDY GHAZOUL HILOW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR; TOM ARBEZNIK, EVENT CO-CHAIR.

PHOTO CREDIT: ANDREA C. TURNER

VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR:

CHRISTINE CONNORS, JOANNE HUDSON, DEBBIE FITZGERALD

We are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 Fr. Paul Hritz Volunteer of the Year Award: Christine Connors, Joanne Hudson, and Debbie Fitzgerald. Many of our volunteers were not able to return to Malachi House after our 2-year hiatus due to Covid-19; however, Joanne, Debbie, and Christine have selflessly returned as volunteers and continue to support our mission. We are endlessly grateful for their contributions.

Christine (Chris) Connors has been a Malachi House Volunteer since January of 2010. She first learned about Malachi House through her Health Insurance Agent (who was currently volunteering at MH) soon after retiring and moving back to Cleveland. As soon as Chris visited the house she knew it would be a good fit – as long as she could still spend her winters in Florida. Chris started volunteering as a cleaner, along with other miscellaneous jobs that needed to be done. Sometime into her time volunteering there was need for help in the kitchen – that’s where she’s been working ever since.

Chris has always felt very welcomed by Malachi House staff. She makes note of how the staff treat each other, the volunteers, and the staff with high regard. Because of this, and other qualities, Chris says that Malachi House is a very kind place to spend your time. One of her most fond memories of her time at Malachi House is of resident Edward. She felt a connection to Edward as he was Puerto Rican and Chris is half Hispanic herself. Edward kept a collection of small model cars. She brought in some of the cars she’d kept from her son’s collection and of course, Edward knew exactly which cars they were and all sorts of details about them.

Chris and her husband, Dan have lived in Ohio, Texas, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania with their four sons. They returned to Cleveland, Ohio after retiring and now spend their winters in Florida. They have 9 grandchildren.

Joanne Hudson has been a Malachi House Volunteer since May of 2014. She first learned about Malachi House as a hospice nurse with Hospice of the Western Reserve. Joanne would come to Malachi House during her on-call rotation in the late 1990’s/early 2000’s prior to Malachi House expansion. After retiring, and in pursuit to volunteer, Malachi House was a perfect fit. Over the years Joanne’s primary role as volunteer has been as a front desk attendant. She would direct phone calls, greet guests, and check them in to see their loved ones. As

Joanne talks about this role you can tell she takes pride in the position. She mentions how often times she would be the first point of contact that family members would have with Malachi House and how important it was to be able to set the tone for them. During her hospice career she witnessed what patients, families, and caregivers go through. “Hospice care is a sacred privilege and it is an honor to support them”.

Joanne believes in the importance of compassionate, loving, end of life care. In September 2018, Kelley, her second child was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, at the age of 45. Kelley passed away in early January 2019. Joanne and her family were now on the same road she’d told families about. In her current role as a Malachi House Volunteer, she shares pieces of her daughter’s story with new volunteers during orientation. This is to fulfill a promise made to keep Kelley’s memory alive.

Joanne has been married to her husband, Bill, for over 50 years. Together they have been blessed with 5 wonderful children and 9 beautiful grandchildren ranging from 5 to 20 years old.

Debbie Fitzgerald has been a Malachi House Volunteer since March of 2015. Debbie first learned about Malachi House from a family member. She was going through a particularly difficult time and felt surrounded by negativity. Debbie was eager to invest herself in something positive that would provide her the opportunity to give back – Malachi House was the answer.

Debbie has been a working in the kitchen as her primary role as a volunteer since she started back in 2015. However, she would occasionally help out as a vigil volunteer when needed. Debbie remembers clearly the first time she sat with someone at the very end of their life. The residents name was Michael, and he had no visitors as he was estranged from his family. She remembers her time with Michael as a profound experience; to hold the hand of someone that you felt you were handing over in the transition process. That night, she cried the whole way home. Subsequently, the Clinical Director at the time received a letter from Michael’s sister, who had found his obituary. She had wanted to know the details of Michael’s passing and if anyone had been there with him –that really stuck with Debbie. She is honored to have been able to be there for Michael.

Debbie has lived her life in Cleveland. In the 1980’s she worked in Ohio City and has said it’s been fun to be back in the neighborhood and to see all the changes since then. Debbie has three children and 10 grandchildren.

MALACHI HOUSE

2810 Clinton Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44113

(p)216.621.8831 (f)216.621.8841

malachihouse.org

MAKE A GIFT ONLINE NOW!

QUESTIONS? Email us at echupp@malachihouse.org

MISSION STATEMENT

Malachi House, created out of a Christian sense of ministry, serves persons who are terminally ill without regard to gender, race, religion, or national origin and without cost to the resident or family. This home ministers to individuals who need an available caregiver, who have limited or no financial resources and are in need of special home care in the final stages of life. A trained staff and volunteers provide spiritual, emotional, and physical support with the assistance of a hospice team.

WISH LIST

MOST-NEEDED ITEMS

• Tall kitchen trash bags (13 gallon)

• Toilet paper

• Bleach (Clorox & Clorox clean up)

• Windex

• Jell-O snack cups (plain; no fruit)

Pudding snack cups

Tuna, chicken (canned, in water)

Canned spinach and greens

• Salad dressing (bottled, italian & ranch)

• Ketchup, Hellmann’s mayonnaise, barbecue sauce

• Gravy (canned, jars and dry mixes)

Ensure/Boost drinks-vanilla/chocolate

Boxed potatoes, au gratin, scalloped & instant mashed.

• Antibacterial/bleach wipes

• Laundry detergent (liquid & HE only)

• Dishwasher detergent (liquid; no

pods)

• Dishwasher rinse aid

• Coffee - ground, regular, decaf (no flavors)

• Single-serve liquid creamers

• Single-serve powdered creamer packets

Single-serve sugar packets

Juices: orange no pulp, apple, grape

• Soda pop (Coke, Pepsi, Ginger Ale, Sprite, cans only, no diet)

• Gift cards (Giant Eagle, Dave’s Market, Save-a-Lot, Walmart & Amazon)

• First-class postage stamps

Jif peanut butter & Smucker jelly

Cake, brownie, & pancake mix

Cake frosting

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

• Napkins (plain white, dinner-sized)

• Paper placemats (10” x 14” for meal trays; available at GFS)

Boxes of tissues (Kleenex/other)

• Paper towels

• Foil

• Ziploc bags

OFFICE SUPPLIES

• Multi-purpose copier paper (8½” x 11” white, 20-lb., not hole-punched)

NON-PERISHABLE FOODS

• Sugar (granulated plus brown)

• Hot cereal – oatmeal

• Egg noodles

• Spaghetti sauce

• Kool Aid

Spices (pepper, onion powder, garlic powder & adobo)

MONETARY DONATIONS

• Checks made payable to Malachi House

• Credit card donations online at www. malachihouse.org

CO-FOUNDERS

Fr. Paul Hritz (1923-2013)

Catherine “Kaki” O’Neill

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

John J. Schriner

Chairperson

Matthew A. Becker

Vice-Chairperson

Jeffrey D. Neuman, CPA Treasurer

Donna M. Skurzak Secretary

J. Brandon Walters, MD, FAAHPM

Medical Director

Joseph C. Granzier

Fr. Michael Gurnick

Kevin M. Kelly

Patricia F. Krewson, Esq.

L. Joseph Lee

Ann C. Lutz

Jonathan Onk

Anthony Rinaldi, Esq. Shareefah Sabur

Mary Lou V. Stricklin

John J. Sullivan

Terrence V. Upchurch II

EMERITUS

Diane C. Kennedy

ASSOCIATE BOARD

David Amos

Michael Kelley II. CFP Co-Chairs

Patsy Coughlin, Esq. Secretary

Steven Dieringer, CPA Treasurer

Bryan Evans, Esq.

Meghan Hanrahan

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Judy Ghazoul Hilow

Malachi House is a 501(c)(3) Corporation