We see firsthand the fruits of the meaningful work we do every day. Whether it be a Lutheran Home resident relishing a family visit, a caregiver dropping a family member off at our Adult Day Services, or a Lutheran Home or Harwood Place employee receiving a scholarship to continue their education, these stories that showcase our mission are sure to warm your heart.
Residents First
Virginia and Pastor Derek
At 97 years old, Virginia has experienced a great deal.
Virginia was born in 1925 in the Philadelphia area, the second of four daughters. Her father died when she was only nine years old. As a single parent, Virginia’s mother raised the girls with a very strict approach which Virginia still appreciates to this day. The mother and four girls eventually moved to Milwaukee to be near other family and settled on the very south side of Milwaukee which was farmland back then. The location is now Wilson Park.
Virginia was in high school when Pearl Harbor was attacked and recalls that many young men in her class wore military uniforms to their graduation ceremony. “All of the boys were very proud that they were going to serve their country. They all shipped out shortly after graduation. A number of them never made it back home.”
Due to her family’s meager means, Virginia didn’t have the chance to go to college but found a great job with a Milwaukee brokerage firm. “I had a very successful career considering I only graduated from high school. It was a man’s world back then, but I stood on my own and worked very hard.”
Virginia took a part-time job in a drug store to supplement her office income and met the love of her life, Ralph, the store’s pharmacist. Ralph and Virginia made their home in Wauwatosa and were married for 45 years and had no children.
In her retirement years, Virginia was a volunteer at the Lutheran Home for more than nine years, helping residents get to their medical and rehab appointments. “I loved helping the residents. Volunteering was close to my home and kept me busy and out of trouble,” joked Virginia.
After Ralph passed away, the upkeep at her property at 68th and Wisconsin began to be too much. Virginia decided to switch from being a Lutheran Home volunteer to being a Lutheran Home resident in 2010.
“Living in Wauwatosa and volunteering at the Lutheran Home for so many years, I knew this would be the best place for me to be. I really admire the team that is in charge here and all the staff. Everyone really listens and is kind.”
“The best part of living here is that the staff makes it feel like home,” said Virginia. “They are always there to help. The programs we have here are delightful. I enjoy the art programs which keep me challenging myself.”
A Family’s Peace of Mind
Mom and Dad moved to Harwood Place in 2009, and it truly became home for them both. The care and love they felt and received from everyone at Harwood for the last 13.5 years was exceptional, and as Mom moved into assisted living, that care just ratcheted way up.
Our family wants very much to single out three team members who went above and beyond for Mom, becoming friends and confidants as well as caregivers. While Mom and Dad were in independent living, they became very close to Faye.
She was there for them so often, particularly at the time of Dad’s passing. That window of time when Mom was alone, Faye truly was the light of sunshine daily for Mom. When Mom was dealing with sickness, Faye would hold her hand and just calm her down. Our regret when Mom moved to assisted living is that she didn’t get to see Faye as often, but when she did stop in, Mom’s face lit up. Faye is the best!
Once Mom was in assisted living and became more and more dependent, two team members really came to her side, Pat and Autumn. Autumn was the aide Mom wanted all the time and Autumn took very special care of her.
Whenever Autumn was off or working on the other side of the floor, I heard about it! Autumn was working Mom’s last weekend, and her presence and soothing touch helped Mom relax and just be present.
Pat is your superstar and the person we leaned on throughout these last two years. When Mom was feeling anxious as her breathing became more labored, Pat was there to make adjustments and keep Mom calm.
If Mom fell and Pat was working, we knew things would be okay. Pat also worked on Mom’s last weekend, and she was such a comfort to me as we both knew the end might be near. Pat’s care and concern for others is off the charts, and we will never be able to thank her enough.
It will be very strange having a daily routine that doesn’t involve a stop at Harwood Place or a phone call to Mom right after Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. Thank you again for everything the Harwood staff and Lutheran Home community has done for our family. There was never a doubt that Mom and Dad were living in the right place.
The Radowski Family
Employees First
Angie Cain, director of nursing, jokes that she practically grew up at the Lutheran Home and Harwood Place. “My mom worked in the Lutheran Home beauty salon when I was young, and I would visit all the time,” said Angie. “I loved meeting and interacting with the residents. There’s no doubt that this early experience shaped my interest in being a nurse and caregiver.”
While still in high school, Angie’s very first job was as a restaurant server at Harwood Place. After graduation, she attended MATC, earning a CNA certificate, and began work as a nursing assistant at the Lutheran Home in 2008.
Angie went on to earn a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Nursing from Concordia University. Over the course of her career with the Lutheran Home, Angie has served as a nursing assistant, registered nurse and nursing supervisor. In 2017 she was promoted to the top job, director of nursing.
The Lutheran Home Foundation assisted Angie with her tuition costs through the employee scholarship program that encourages continuing education and career development for all regular full-time and part-time employees.
“The Foundation and the scholarship that I received helped me to launch my nursing career,” said Angie. “When I was first starting out, I was a broke single mother. The financial assistance I received helped me to continue my education and to keep my goals on track. It was really transformational for me and for my career!”
“I love my calling as a nurse and caregiver. I want to continue to grow in my practice and to use my God-given abilities to serve our residents whom I love so dearly.”
Contact Laura Rodriguez at
laura.rodriguez@thelutheranhome.org
or 414-256-6837
We proudly serve individuals from Wauwatosa, Brookfield, Elm Grove, Milwaukee, WI and surrounding local areas.
Lutheran Home
7500 West North Avenue
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53213
(414) 258-6170
Harwood Place
8220 Harwood Avenue
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53213
(414) 256-6800
