VALPARAISO – Unseasonably cool weather changed a garden party into an indoor soiree, but did not dampen the spirit of donors, volunteers, staffers and guest families who gathered on Oct. 6 to celebrate at the 25th Anniversary Open House for St. Agnes Adult Day Service Center on the St. Paul parish campus.
Smiles were the only thing in more abundance than twinkling white lights and silver accents as donors, volunteers, staffers and guest families ate, drank and shared stories about how they arrived and began their relationship to the “home away from home” that serves adults with cognitive challenges by offering respite care and a wide range of activities for families on weekdays.
“It’s an honor to meet them and make them smile,” said Jim Spanopoulos of Valparaiso, who began volunteering with St. Agnes guests after his wife passed away last year. “There are a lot of Alzheimer’s patients here, and I tell them I can’t go home until they give me a smile. It usually works.”
Peggy Burnell may have taken one of the most unique volunteer journeys at St. Agnes. “All three of my children went to St. Paul School, and when my daughter – my youngest – started going to school 25 years ago, I was beside myself with loneliness,” Burnell admitted. “I thought about how I could be of service with my extra time, and decided to volunteer at St. Agnes, where I would be close to my daughter.
“I never thought this would be my passion, but I love it here,” exclaimed Burnell. “I volunteer with the Thursday group, and I do anything where I can interact with the guests. They are our family, and I want to give them a quality experience, whether it’s a trivia game, Name That Tune or sharing stories.
“More recently I was asked to take a shift at the front (receptionist) desk, so I’ve added a shift from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays,” added Burnell, whose daughter, Elizabeth, is now 31 years old.
“She graduated from St. Paul School, Valparaiso High School, and Butler University in Indianapolis, and now works as a financial analyst in Chicago,” said Burnell, who continues volunteering at St. Agnes. “This is absolutely my favorite place to be. It is a holy place.”
Terri Dickus, activity director, relies on volunteers like Burnell to provide guests with constant stimulation. “I plan programs for the guests and coordinate our volunteers,” she said. “We need people who have the heart of Jesus, a servant’s heart, and a passion for our elderly. They lead the actual activities, whether it be an art class, woodworking class or music class.
“Music is a big part of every day,” added Dickus. “I play piano, and some volunteers also play, and it is amazing how some guests who don’t talk will start to sing when they hear a song they remember.”
Also continuing to serve after 25 years is Barb Kubiszak, the only director St. Agnes has ever known. “We began with one guest and 16 volunteers ready to go, and we kept getting one more guest until we got up to 12 coming five days a week, while others came one day or more,” recalled Kubiszak.
She was recruited by Msgr. Robert Charlebois after an early supporter, Jean Ernst, saw a need and asked him what it would take to establish a day center for adults. “Msgr. Charlebois knew the late Agnes Luckey and her husband, and they became major benefactors,” said Kubiszak, donating a large chunk of the $500,000 needed to build the facility in 1998. “That’s how we got our name.”
The COVID-19 pandemic forced St. Agnes to close in 2020, and the facility is still recovering, now open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. four weekdays (still closed on Thursdays). A hot lunch and two snacks are included in the $80 daily fee, but grants help fund a scholarship program for families who need financial help. Within Porter County, transportation service is provided by Porter County Aging and Community Services for $1 per trip.
“The most important thing we want people to know is that we are here, and while we are the only stand-alone day center in Porter County, we also welcome residents from outside our county – we currently have guests from Crown Point and Cedar Lake,” Kubiszak said. “Most satisfying to me is the fact that we can help give caregivers a break and preserve the quality of life for our guests.”
Caption: Sharing memories and celebrating the first 25 years of operation at St. Agnes Adult Day Service Center on the St. Paul parish campus in Valparaiso are Valparaiso supporters (from left) Joan Chrustowski, a former volunteer from St. Paul; Bobbi Galler, current volunteer from Temple Israel in Gary; Mary Jo Van Syoc, a St. Paul volunteer; Jeanne Bugyis, a St. Paul volunteer; Phyllis Lyons, a St. Paul volunteer; and Joe Chrustowski, a past St. Agnes board president. “Many people have benefited from the services here,” said Joe Chrustowski. “There have been 30 to 50 volunteers at a time over the years, in addition to the staff, and it is fantastic.” (Marlene A. Zloza photo)