Farmington Presbyterian Manor
SEPTEMBER 2020
The Brockmiller Construction crew with several happy residents.
Brockmiller Construction Company helps Farmington Presbyterian Manor reach campaign goal
Jane Hull, executive director
State of the community
Thanks to a recent $5,000 gift from Brockmiller Construction Company Farmington Presbyterian Manor’s Give. Gather. Grow. Campaign has raised 98-percent of the funds needed to complete a 3,500 square-foot fellowship center for the senior living community.
The raw emotion and reality of what is happening in our world has impacted us all this year, and one of the main challenges we have faced as a community has simply been the fear of the unknown.
An anonymous gift of $1 million to Farmington Presbyterian Manor spring boarded funding for the project. Of the $1.25 million goal, only $4,200 is needed to fully-fund the project.
With so much uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus, we have worked hard to educate both staff and residents on everything we know about COVID-19 prevention and will continue to do whatever it takes to keep our community safe.
The Hull Family Fellowship Center, named after Jane Hull, Executive Director, will provide space where community members can hold
By Jane Hull, executive director
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Farmington Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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As a result, we have faced numerous changes in the way we normally do business in a very short amount of time. New guidelines and new policies are a constant, but our staff has embraced each of these changes and quickly adapted. Never before has teamwork been so important, and I am proud of our staff and the dedication they demonstrate each day. But that doesn’t mean it has been
easy. Some of our residents have suffered the loss of a loved one and have been unable to attend funeral services or spend time with their family, so our staff has needed to step in to provide comfort and help them through the grieving process. And our team has regularly facilitated door and window visits as well as virtual visits through FaceTime and Skype to bridge the gap between residents and their families.
Moving forward, our reopening will happen by taking small steps, one at a time. As much as we would like to get back to a normal way of life as quick as possible, our main concern is doing so safely. We greatly miss the interaction with family members, visitors and volunteers and look forward to the day when they all can come inside for a visit. And, when that day does come, I know that none of us will ever again take our freedom for granted. ◆
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everything from weekly worship services to anniversary parties and an outdoor patio and garden area where residents can reconnect with nature and enjoy the healing and therapeutic effects of fresh air and sunshine. The project is almost completed and ready for residents to enjoy. COVID-19 is affecting the completion of the project, but the restrictions on group activities and visitation illustrate how important this space will be to residents, providing a safe place for them to enjoy sunshine and fresh air. No one could have predicted how much the need for this project was going to intensify. Nancy Sullivan and Byron Taylor
Our new fellowship hall is 98 percent done and only $4,200 shy of its $1.25 million fundraising goal. co-chaired the campaign steering committee consisting of local Farmington community members. There are many ways to provide your support to the GIVE.
GATHER. GROW. Fundraising Campaign. To learn more about the campaign visit https://www. farmingtongiving.org/ or contact Jane Hull at 573-756-6768. ◆
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FARMINGTON Presbyterian Manor
573-756-6768 ◆ Fax: 573-756-6014 500 Cayce St. Farmington, MO 63640-2910 FarmingtonPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2020
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Farmington Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: aallen@PMMA.org Jane Hull, executive director Anne Allen, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
John and Stella Karl happy to be reunited in new home When Stella Karl moved into Assisted Living back in June, her living situation was both brand new and decades old at the same time. Because while Stella’s surroundings may have been unfamiliar, her new roommate was definitely not—he was her husband of 63 years, John. Stella and John hadn’t lived under the same roof since January and the two hadn’t even been in the same room since March, thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown. “I hadn’t seen him, other than through a glass door, from March until I moved in,” said Stella. While four months may not seem like a long time to be apart for most couples, it can seem like an eternity when you’ve been as inseparable as John and Stella have been for over six decades. The Karls’ storied life together is something straight out of the movies, one that began thanks to a chance meeting and a somewhat uncomfortable situation. “I had been dating the fella he was rooming with and when we were introduced, it was love at first sight. It wasn’t awkward, I just broke up with the guy I was dating and that was that,” said Stella. Prior to their meeting, John was a paratrooper in the U.S. Army, a fact that Stella still finds somewhat humorous. “He’s scared to death to fly to this day, but he used to jump out of airplanes!” said Stella. The two got married while John was finishing his degree at Marquette University in Milwaukee and immediately started a family— eventually bringing five children
Residents John and Stella Karl into the fold. While John pursued careers in sales and customer services, Stella gave up a career as a beautician to stay at home with the kids. However, she later became the owner of a women’s consignment shop— appropriately named “Stella’s”— which she was involved with for 35 years. After retirement, John and Stella moved from their longtime home in Marion, Illinois, to Farmington in order to be closer to family. Four years later, when John’s Parkinson’s progressed to the point that Stella could no longer take care of him by herself, he moved into Presbyterian Manor. Now that the Karls are both finally
settled in, they are enjoying the full schedule of activities available to them within the community. “They don’t just let you sit and feel sorry for yourself,” said Stella. “I think we’re busier here than we ever were.” The Karls have greatly appreciated the assistance provided by the community’s staff, and it has prompted Stella to change her mindset. “The staff is ready to help with anything you need. I was trying to do most things by myself and they said, that’s why we’re here—I have to get used to that,” said Stella. “They bend over backwards to please you … it’s really a good place.” ◆
Farmington Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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FARMINGTON Presbyterian Manor
500 Cayce St. Farmington, MO 63640-2910 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Our Mission: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
COVID-19 updates continue
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, you can count on regular communication from your PMMA community and PMMA leadership. PMMA’s President and CEO Bruce Shogren’s latest letter to residents and families are posted to your community website, FarmingtonPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19. ◆
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2020