Villa volunteers are celebrated at a luncheon, raise funds

Intermountain Catholic

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CHRISTUS Saint Joseph Villa volunteers Jean Prather and Fran Ellis organize the raffle items, which help bring in needed money for the Villa residents. The volunteers provide activities, birthday and Christmas parties and do projects for the residents.

SALT LAKE CITY – CHRISTUS Saint Joseph Villa Volunteers were celebrated at a "Breakfast at Tiffany’s" themed brunch buffet at Saint Ann Parish Nov. 6. The luncheon also served as a fundraiser for the residents with a jewelry and bake sale and door prizes.

"We have great volunteers," said Ginger Moulton, chief development officer. "We have always had dedicated women and men throughout the years who have been there serving beside the sisters and the staff, making the residents’ lives better."

This year, even with the Villa’s pending sale, the organization boasts 11 new volunteers.

Since 1959, volunteers in the organization have served in many different capacities, including staffing the gift shop. Every Christmas, they purchase presents for the residents. A recent purchase was Wii video game systems that have been so popular that the one-hour time limit was doubled, Moulton said.

"We are there to support the staff and assist the residents in their activities," said Joan Merka, Villa volunteer president. "This luncheon is our only fundraiser and it helps us in our activities such as buying prizes for bingo, and for birthday and Christmas parties."

Oeke Beuk has been a volunteer for more than 20 years, now working in the gift shop and helping with the sing-a-longs. She served as president of the volunteers for three years.

She was invited to join the group by the late Incarnate Word Sister Ambrose Naughton, who worked at the Villa from 1986 to 1998. "My mother-in-law was in the Villa for seven and a half years and I thought ‘Why not?’" Beuk said. "It has been very rewarding. I thoroughly enjoy it and I love the people."

Beuk has been taking care of her parents and her in-laws since 1981, and now her husband needs her assistance. Her mother, who had lived at the Villa apartments for about seven years, then was in long-term care, died in July at age 105. "I plan on volunteering here as long as I can do it," Beuk said.

Jean Prather has been volunteering two days a week for more than 10 years. She became a volunteer after attending a luncheon, started in the gift shop and now also assists with crafts.

"I love working here," she said. "The volunteers get way too close to the residents, even though we shouldn’t; they come into the gift shop just to visit."

Prather has served as treasurer for the past two years and will continue for another year, and has been the organization’s president. "I will keep volunteering until I can’t do it any longer," she said.

Fran Ellis is 90 and has been a volunteer since 1982. She has served as the organization’s historian since 1984, but recently resigned. "I like bringing joy to the residents and getting involved in the activities and projects," she said.

"The volunteers are wonderful," said Dr. Mary Jane Norman, the Villa’s medical director, who admitted her first patient in 1989 and has been on the board of directors since 1991. "I try to support the volunteers as much as I can because what they do for the patients is phenomenal. They make every holiday special and the way they support the activities is wonderful."