So Blessed - Augsburg Village

BULLETIN
Senior Living by Lutherans for All
The People of Augsburg
R
esidents, Families, Volunteers and many friends make up
the people of Augsburg. They range from folks who make
Augsburg their home to those who volunteer to improve the
lives of our residents. They include people who donate funds to
support our Mission along with those who remember Augsburg
in their prayers. Together they make Augsburg very special.
Winter 2015
Ginny says that it’s the residents who keep her coming back.
They have helped her develop a more caring attitude. They
make her smile and she gets great joy to see them smile and tell
stories. “I look forward each day to seeing the residents and it is
a privilege to volunteer and I’m thankful that I can be here to do
just a little to make someone’s day a little brighter.
Ginny Rein is just one of the many wonderful folks you
regularly see here. As a member of Bethlehem Lutheran
Church, she has known about Augsburg all her life and became
familiar by coming to the Strawberry Festival. Her brother, Ron
Fouse, is active on the Board and her step-mother was a resident
in Assisted Living and the Health Center.
Along with Mina Reiter, Ginny manages and volunteers in
the Gift Shop and is a long-time member of the Auxiliary. In
addition, she plays the organ once a month for Sunday Chapel
Services. The picture here is of Ginny in our existing Gift
Shop. This time next year, the front entrance project will be
complete (see article on page two) and we’ll have our new—
larger and improved Gift Shop.
So Blessed
Augsburg Village is
not among the largest
Continuing Care
Retirement Communities
(CCRC’s). Augsburg
Village is not among
the fanciest CCRC’s.
Glenn Scherer,
Executive Director
Augsburg does enjoy a
great reputation for the
care and services provided—so there
must be something about Augsburg…
Augsburg has always stood out because
of its people. Employees, volunteers,
residents and their families, and so
many more folks make Augsburg
special. So we decided to devote this
edition of the Bulletin to the people of
Augsburg. We would have liked to write
about many more individuals; however,
the folks highlighted here represent
hundreds of others.
Let me assure you that there are
dedicated angels working and
volunteering in all retirement
communities, nursing homes and
hospitals; whether it be a for-profit, notfor-profit or faith based communities. I
have always felt that Augsburg had been
blessed with more than our share; but,
I’ve shared in this article often that I’m
not so sure I understand why.
Most of you know, and I know even
better, that I am in no way extra-ordinary.
Most of the staff at Augsburg considers
themselves as just regular, hard working
folks. The only logical reason to me
that Augsburg’s people can truly be
considered special or extra-ordinary is
not in the people themselves; but, in the
motivation and mission we all share.
Our congregations, delegates and Board
of Directors have made it clear that
Augsburg is to be more than a facility
run by Christians. It is to be a true
Christian community at which folks—
residents, families, volunteers, visitors,
employees—don’t have to “hide their
faith under a bushel.”
Augsburg’s people are folks who
appreciate and are motivated by our
mission “to care for our residents as if
each were the Lord Himself.” We call on
God to give us the energy to work hard
and the wisdom to make good decisions.
Like Paul, we know that without Him we
are limited by our sinful nature. But with
Him, all is possible and we as ordinary
people can do great things.
I hope you enjoy hearing about some of
Augsburg’s special people. And please
know they represent not only a lot of
others here; but, they represent you as
well.
BULLETIN
2
The Katenkamp Society for Planned Giving
Recently, Augsburg Lutheran Home and
Village held a dinner to recognize and
show appreciation for the benevolence and
commitment of the Katenkamp Society for
Planned Giving members.
Named for Augsburg’s long-time
superintendent, Theodore Katenkamp,
who faithfully served Augsburg from 1925
–1963, the Society honors those who plan
to make a future gift through their will, a
charitable trust, a beneficiary designation,
a life insurance policy, a gift annuity or
other estate strategy. The Katenkamp
Society for Planned Giving is Augsburg’s
way to officially thank those donors who
have made their intentions known to us.
At Augsburg, planned gifts are directed
to the Caroline Lang Endowment Fund.
With nearly $10 million dollars endowed,
Augsburg’s mission…” to care for our
residents as if they are the Lord, Himself”
will endure well into the future.
Augsburg Lutheran Home and Village
and our donors enjoy the estate planning
expertise provided by the ELCA
Foundation. Our relationship with Alice
Benson, Regional Gift Planner, is not
only an asset to Augsburg, but also to our
residents, friends and supporters.
Successful estate planning can achieve
several goals. In many donor situations,
gift planning can actually improve a
current financial situation by creating
tax deductions and producing increased
income. Estate planning can benefit you
personally, your loved ones, and the
organizations you hold dear to your heart.
For more information or an opportunity to
discuss your intentions, contact:
Matthew Madden,
Director of Mission Advancement
443-471-0514
[email protected]
From left: Betty Askew, Joan Orso, Chris and Judy Piercy
Alice Benson,
Regional Gift Planner
301-963-6570
[email protected]
A Needed Change... and A New Look
Augsburg has doubled in size in just
the last 20 years and while we don’t
have any new buildings in the pipeline,
an important project is almost complete
that will make a dramatic difference.
The picture here is of Augsburg
Village’s main entrance construction
project. Since 1929 the front porch has
been the same. For 85 years folks came
up the same steps and saw the same
things as they entered the building.
Tradition has been an important part
of Augsburg; though, change and
adaptability has as well.
Accessibility has been a weakness for
the front entrance for quite a while.
Folks in wheelchairs or otherwise
unable to get up the steps had to walk
over to another entrance for access.
The steps are now eliminated. Vehicles
will be able to drive right up to the
automatic doors and let folks out.
Once the outside is finished we
will work on the inside entrance.
Perhaps the greatest feature will be
a new gift shop 3 or 4 times larger
than the current. The front entrance
is also the entrance to our Assisted
Living residents’ home. Thus, many
of the changes will make the space
less “institutional” as visitors will
clearly understand they are entering a
household.
We hope the outside work is done
by early January and have greatly
appreciated everyone’s patience
throughout the process.
Construction for the new front entrance
began the first week of November. The project
will take about 2 months to complete, weather
permitting.
Editor’s Note
We apologize for the error in the Fall Bulletin in the Memorial Gifts Section. It should have read
“ Ms. Carol S. Kreyling in memory of Mr. Carroll Pfaff ” and “Mrs. Carol L. Pfaff in memory
of Mr. Carroll Pfaff ’’. Please accept our apology for the misprint.
BULLETIN
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S
The People of Augsburg
T
ierra Taft is a full time GNA who
started her career at Augsburg in
December 2008. She is also pursuing
her BSN in nursing. Tierra believes that
Augsburg has always been her home away
from home. In her eyes, Augsburg is a
very family oriented environment with
both the employees and the residents,
with everyone showing compassion for
each other. She loves working with her
residents, just knowing that the little things
that she can do for them will put a smile on
their face, as well as hers.
Tierra took on the challenge of assuming
the scheduling coordinator position when
her coworker was out on leave. She
has recently taken on a new assignment
training all the nursing staff on the new
electronic medical records system that is
being rolled out. These new opportunities
have allowed Tierra to grow in her career
path.
Tierra is also a proud mom of a busy 6
year old girl, Payton. She is the love of her
life and keeps her very busy when she is
not here at Augsburg.
Tierra Taft
M
ay Nason has lived in Baltimore
her whole life and has been active at
Augsburg for over 30 years. She resided in
the neighborhood and one day her friend
Thelma O’Neal told her she should come
to Augsburg and volunteer with her in
the health care center. She would assist
the residents with whatever they needed.
Since May never drove, she either walked
20 minutes or occasionally caught a ride
with Thelma or her sister. A few years after
volunteering, she convinced her sister,
Elise Fletcher to come and volunteer also.
A year later, May decided to work in
the clothing shop which was open every
Friday. May said “ that the people here at
Augsburg were always friendly and she
was always looking for bargains in the
clothing shop.” She can still be found in
the clothing shop every other Friday and
enjoys assisting the residents and staff.
After losing her husband, she moved
to Augsburg in September 2013. That
decision was easy for her to make, as “she
always liked it here and the people have
always been friendly”.
May Nason
C
hris and Virginia Brown have been
living at Augsburg’s Assisted Living
for over three years now.
continues to maintain.
A year after her marriage to Chris, Virginia
was left to raise her family. A new mother,
she raised her daughter while working at
Bendix Radio Factory as a line worker
and later moving to McCormick Co.
assembling tea bags. Virginia had various
jobs throughout the years as she raised the
three Brown daughters but Bendix and
McCormick were the highlights. When
not working, Virginia spent a lot of time
sewing clothes for the children, crocheting,
and cooking for her family and St.
Matthias Episcopal church. Today, Virginia
enjoys the different clubs and activities she
is a part of here at Augsburg, visiting with
her large family and taking trips to I-Hop.
If you ever get a chance to visit with Chris
and Virginia, you will notice four themes
about them. They enjoy watching the
Baltimore Orioles, building relationships
with people, watching their beautiful
family grow and continuously expressing
their love for each other.
Married for over 74 years, Chris and
Virginia have enjoyed a large family full
of love. Chris & Virginia raised three
daughters, Sharon, Janis, and Christina.
They have also enjoyed watching
five grandchildren and eight great
grandchildren grow.
A year after they married with a child
and wife at home, Chris was sent to
the Pacific Theater of World War II.
Chris was a part of the US. Army 506th
AAA Gun Battalion and witnessed the
famous United States flag rising on Iwo
Jima. Upon returning, Chris became an
electrician for Baltimore City. Mid career,
Mayor Schaefer called upon Chris to
head the electrical end of a project dealing
with a sewage plant set up to convert
waste into electricity. Chris retired as a
supervisor electrician for Baltimore City.
Chris is a devoted husband, father and
grandfather who has always played an
active role in his family. Chris was always
maintaining the buildings of his church,
St. Matthias Episcopal in Baltimore.
Today, Chris is a vibrant member of the
Augsburg Community greeting all who
live, work and visit at Augsburg. This past
summer Chris planted a garden on one
of the Assisted Living porches which he
Chris and Virginia Brown
D
oris Giordano lives at Augsburg’s
Health Center. Doris began living
at Augsburg over 9 years ago when she
moved into the Independent Living.
In 1946 Doris married her husband Joseph
Giordano. Joseph passed at a very young
age which left Doris to continue to raise
their three teenaged daughters, Nancy,
Cathy and Gina on her own. Doris put
two of her daughters through College
while her middle daughter, Cathy pursued
her dreams of equestrian riding. Doris is
very proud of her three daughters, her six
grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Professionally, Doris worked as a banker.
She started off as a bank teller for First
National Bank and climbed to the ranks as
a branch manager for Baltimore Federal
BULLETIN
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The People of Augsburg
Bank. After she retired, Doris took more
time to enjoy family and pursue hobbies
such as painting and sewing. Doris was
a very active member of St. Charles
Borromeo Catholic Church of Pikesville.
Today she attends as many services as
possible here at Augsburg.
R
ev. and Mrs. Manning moved to
Augsburg Village four (4) years ago.
Both were born in Baltimore and they love
their city and its history very much. Lois
Manning said this about living at Augsburg
Village, “Everything is close-by, I feel like
we are still residents of Baltimore, and we
are not isolated or removed.”
than others.” What has kept her here?
“Close to home.” “Mostly, the people—
residents and fellow staff.”
Augsburg benefits so much by having Ms.
Ella as part of our family. She and other
long-standing employees are a connection
to our tradition—a reminder to keep our
focus on our Mission.
Rev. Manning appreciates the Christian
atmosphere and mission, saying, “It was
very important to me that Augsburg was
a Lutheran organization, we wanted to
move to a Christian home with a good
reputation.”
Doris Giordano
S
t. John’s Lutheran Church-Sweet Air,
has been a ministry partner with
Augsburg for over 100 years. Many
congregational members have called
Augsburg their home in retirement and
the church has been faithful in their
financial support.
Both Lois and Rev. Manning agree, “We
feel safe here, no concerns, Augsburg is
the perfect size, not too big, not too small.”
When asked, why they financially support
Augsburg, they responded, “Because
we believe Augsburg is like a family,
Lutherans caring for all.”
Delegate, Gail Cairns, a retired nurse,
says, “I think Augsburg is a beautiful
place that provides wonderful care, the
best care possible.”
Interim Pastor, Rev. George Tuttle, stated,
“I hadn’t been to Augsburg in over 30
years…I am amazed at the growth… it
used to just be the traditional “home”,
now it is a beautiful village.”
Augsburg Village looks forward to
another 100 years of collaboration with
St. John’s Lutheran Church-Sweet Air.
Rev. George Tuttle, Gail Cairns,
Howard Ziethen and Celane Montague
Rev. and Mrs. Manning
M
ary Ella Womack Ms. Mary…Ms.
Ella—you will hear her referred
to as either name—came to work at
Augsburg in 1985 after a 22 year career
as a housekeeper at another facility which
relocated. A week after she accepted this
job she got another offer in Cockeysville;
but, didn’t take it due to Augsburg being
close to home.
Mary Ella Womack
S
t. John’s Lutheran Church of Blenheim
Since 1849, St. John’s Lutheran Church
of Blenheim has been doing the work of
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The
congregation was represented during the
inception of Augsburg in 1892 and it was
instrumental in the campaign to build the
“home” in 1929 on Campfield Road.
Rev. Paul Richter says, “Over the years,
when I visit our congregation members, I
see the loving care they receive and how
positive it is for their lives. The Christian
atmosphere is an incredible benefit.”
Former Marketing Coordinator, Peggy
Hemmeter, wife of long-time delegate,
Ken Hemmeter adds, “The mission
statement is never compromised. The
emphasis on the spiritual is foremost; you
can see it in the staff and in the residents.”
Augsburg is blessed to have such an
historical partnership and we are thankful
they are a supporting congregation.
Ms. Ella was hired as one of only 6
housekeepers when Augsburg was just a
fraction of the size it is now. Amazingly,
of those 6 housekeepers in 1985—3 still
work here! Ms. Ella’s daughter, Angela
Womack, has worked part-time for the last
18 years and her grandson and nephew
worked here as well.
Oh, the changes she has witnessed; but, the
only difficult part has been having to deal
with different supervisors—“some better
Rev. Paul Richter and Peggy Hemmeter
BULLETIN
The Village News
Q Quilters
Our Quilters are in need of cotton fabric. This
summer they ran out of material and were unable
to quilt in the month of September. If you have
any old sheets, pillowcases, curtains, etc. please
bring donations to the Village Community Room
or contact Kevin Webb in the Volunteer Office
(410-486-4573 Ext. 120) to arrange a pickup.
Q Share the Warmth
Augsburg Village has teamed with the Lutheran
Mission Society to host a coat drive this winter!
The Lutheran Mission Society is greatly in need
this year. Feel free to drop off coats, men’s and
women’s underwear (must be in original packaging),
t-shirts and socks (smaller packs of 2-3 items each
are preferred), men’s and women’s sweatpants and
sweatshirts (especially in the larger sizes, 2X-5X),
boy’s clothing, size 5-14 – all types, pajamas, and
children’s winter coats. They are also in need of
bed sheets (especially Queen and Twin) and towel
sets (kitchen or bath). For additional information,
please contact Rebecca Scherer at 443-471-0513 or
[email protected].
Chaplain’s Word
Life Together with Family, Friends and Church
The art of letter-writing is
fast disappearing. We are not
satisified with the ponderous
pace of dropping an envelope in
the mail and waiting for a reply,
so we send messages instantly
via text or e-mail.
There’s one kind of “letter,”
Pastor Ray
though, that cannot be
Rogers
hurried, either in the writing
or the reading of it. And that is the kind of letter St.
Paul talks about in the third chapter of his Second
Letter to the Corinthians. Paul tells the Corinthian
congregation that the best proof of his apostleship
is not the normal flowery and often inflated “letter
of recommendation.” Paul says that the Corinthians
themselves are a “letter from Christ, the result of our
ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the
living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of
human hearts.”
I keep this Word of God in mind when I minister as
chaplain to the residents and staff at Augsburg. I need
to take time to hear the reading aloud of the life story
that Jesus and His Spirit have been writing on the
hearts of people.
In this devotion, I’d like to share with you the story of
a couple here at Augsburg, because I believe that life
together are examples of how God has been working
in the lives of all our residents long before they came
to Augsburg…and how God will continue to work in
the days to come. This is the story of Joe and Alverta
Boslego from Assisted Living.
Our new side windows were recently installed
in our Worship and Community Life Center. The
residents really enjoy their beauty during Sunday
services.
Joe hails from the coal-mining town on Mount
Carmel, Pennsylvania, where Joe’s father and two
uncles were in the dangerous work of underground
mining. The Boslegos came here from Lithuania,
but Joe’s mother and father were born here in the
U.S. Every Sunday night, Joe’s father had to go to
work pumping fresh air into the mines to insure that
explosive pockets of methane were dispersed before
the men went to work Monday morning.
Turning sixteen in …., in the depths of the Great
Depression, Joe received a very unexpected gift.
Unable to afford a piano, Joe’s dad gave him what he
considered the next best thing: an accordion.
The Christmas Bazaar returned back to Augsburg
this year. It was a huge success and enjoyed by
family members, as well as residents.
Our chefs (Brandon Gentry [left] and Nick
Peart) recently participated in the Taste of Senior
Living Cook Off sponsored by LifeSpan. They
competed against 45 other facilities and won The
Peoples Choice Award for their tenderloin dish.
Congratulations to Tina Minio and her team.
5
With little money to spare, the family sent Joe for a
grand total of 3 accordion lessons. But rather than
letting the instrument accumulate dust in the corner,
Joe taught himself to play not only the accordion, but
three other instruments besides: piano, French horn,
and Baritone. Little did Joe know that his God-given
gift in music would later determine his future course
in life during World War II.
In high school, Joe in music and in business courses,
winning typing competitions in his school and in
the county, which made him eligible for the state
tournament. The carriage on Joe’s manual typewriter
was broken on the way to the state tournament, but
even with a borrowed machine that had a different
keyboard arrangement, Joe managed to place 4th
in state-wide competition. Even with the terrible
unemployment that still gripped the nation after Joe
graduated, he proved himself such an able worker at a
local ice cream parlor and was promoted to manager
of a new parlor opened by the store owner.
When America entered WWII, Joe was among the
first draftees. With his ability to speak both Lithuania
and Polish, Joe’s superiors wanted him to enter Army
Intelligence, an offer he declined. After that, Joe
had a chance to enter the 104th Medical Regiment,
Company F. Medics also served as band members
when they weren’t treating the wounded, so Joseph
became part of the first Army band formed stateside.
During the war, many of Joe’s fellow medics were
part of the Normandy landings on D-Day. Though
their sleeves clearly were encircled by a white
armbound with a red cross, the German gunners
still aimed for them and slaughtered many of Joe’s
comrades.
For 4 ½ years, Joe remained at Ft. Meade, where the
band gave a performance every Friday night that was
broadcast over WFBR. The weekly band concerts
were a magnet for a number of area girls, and it was at
one of those performances that Joe met his future wife
Alverta. On April 29th of 2016, Joe and Alverta will
have been married for 73 years, and their marriage
has been blessed with two children, Joseph and Mary
Linda.
During Joe’s working career, he did everything
from selling houses (his first commissions were
for a whopping $25 for every house that he wrote
a contract on) to working at Bethlehem Steel. At
Bethlehem Steel for 35 years, Joe proved himself an
able salesman and sales manager, filling orders for
steel from companies large and small all around the
country, treating them regardless of their size as he
would wish to have been treated.
In retirement, Joe and Alverta travelled extensively.
Joe and a friend formed a band, with Joe on drums
and the friend on guitar, so they could entertain at
nursing homes in the Baltimore area.
Joe and Alverta have always maintained a strong faith
in God, even with the financial reversals they suffered
when Bethlehem Steel was dissolved and through the
health crises they have had to endure.
The Boslego’s children recently came to the
conclusion that their parents could no longer be on
their own due to deteriorating health: Joe has been
through a number of spinal surgeries and he and
Alverta are both dependent on motorized scooters
for mobility. So the children went looking at many
different places but liked Augsburg the best.
Hearing Joe and Alverta’s life story and the life
stories of many people like them here at Augsburg,
I’m convinced that God is trying to teach us these
invaluable lessons:
1. Nothing in life, whether it’s being drafted or meeting
a future mate, happens by chance. God is in control.
2. God provides daily bread for his children, giving us
useful work to do.
3. God has “many servants,” as Luther once said. Any
talent I have and any good I’m able to accomplish,
is a result of the working of the Spirit of God in and
through me.
4. Life isn’t about seeing how much you can
accumulate; it’s about giving back to others.
5. If we invest ourselves in the relationships we have
in life, starting with our families of origin and then
our church families, we will have fewer regrets in life.
Our “investment” will pay eternal dividends.
6. If we keep going back to God the Source, he will
fill us with spirit of love and forgiveness that we need
in life.
7. If we will listen, the residents of Augsburg have
much wisdom to teach us, for the Scripture is true
when it says, “ Wisdom belongs to the aged, and
understanding to the old’ (Job 12:12; see also Lev.
19:32: “Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and
show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the
LORD.”).
BULLETIN
6
Resident Care Fund
Gifts to the Residents Care Fund have an immediate
and direct impact on the lives of Augsburg residents.
Funds are used to purchase medical supplies, personal
items, such as hearing aids, dentures and glasses. Your
support is used for items not covered by Medicaid or
when a resident can no longer afford the costs.
The Resident Care Fund truly benefits the most
vulnerable and in need. When these unexpected
expenses arise, your gift enables Augsburg to respond
in an effective and timely manner. You can make a
difference in the life of an Augsburg resident.
There is a remittance envelope enclosed. Please
consider a gift of “compassion” this season as we
celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Augsburg Lutheran Home of Maryland, Inc. is
owned and operated by 86 member churches from
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
Delaware-Maryland Synod and from the Lutheran
Church-Missouri Synod, Southeastern District.
Member congregations have three Delegates each
who attend the Annual Meeting of the Corporation
in May of each year and who elect a 30-member
Board of Directors who are responsible for the
Corporation. Membership is open to any interested
Lutheran congregation. Please send all inquiries to
the address at right. Augsburg’s Executive Director
is Glenn Scherer. The Chairman, Board of Directors
is Al Lietzau, IV.
Augsburg Lutheran Home of Maryland, Inc. is
also pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy
for the achievement of equal housing opportunity.
We encourage and support affirmative advertising
and marketing programs in which there are no
barriers to obtaining housing because of race,
color, religion, gender, handicap, familial status or
national origin. Augsburg gives priority to Lutheran
applicants, but does not exclude other applicants.
The Bulletin is published quarterly for friends and
residents of Augsburg Village. Questions should
be directed to Kevin Webb, Publisher at 410-4864573. If you would like to be removed from our
mailing list, please call Jenn Abel at 410-486-4573.
The Augsburg Auxiliary Corner
THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT
As the year comes to an end, the Auxiliary
would like to thank everyone who supported
our events this year. They include the Tea Party,
Strawberry Festival, Fashion Show, and
Christmas Bazaar. We hope that you enjoyed
the events and will join us in 2016.
The Auxiliary holds their meetings the first
Thursday of each month starting in February,
in the Village Dining Room at 11:30 AM.
We are always looking for new members.
BULLETIN
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
Augsburg Lutheran Home of Maryland, Inc.
6811 Campfield Road
Baltimore, MD 21207
PAID
OWINGS MILLS, MD
PERMIT NO. 378
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Visit us at www.Augsburg.org
To schedule a tour or for
admissions information call:
Independent Living:
Rebecca Scherer
Assisted Living:
Rhonda Meyers
Health Center:
Jacqui Burgess
Rehabilitation:
Jacqui Burgess
410-486-4573
TTY for disabled /Maryland Relay Service
1-800-735-2258
AU G S B U R G V I L L AG E
BULLETIN
Senior Living by Lutherans for All
Caring for our residents as if each
one were the Lord Himself.
WINTER
2015
www.Augsburg.org