Letter: Students Gave My Mom Happy Final Memories

The end of the school year is fast approaching and I'd like to thank a group of wonderful kids from and their choir director, Kathleen Kane.

My mother was under hospice care at Southgate Manor Nursing Facility at the end of last year. Because of her declining physical health and dementia, she was unable to attend the Christmas concert put on by the A Capella Choir and the rest of the vocal music department.

It meant so much because my daughter, Chelsea Dietrich, is a choir member. I  contacted Mrs. Kane and asked if there was any way some of the kids would be  willing to come to the nursing home and sing for Chelsea's grandma. I knew they were scheduled for many performances over the holidays, but knew it would mean so much to my family.

Mrs. Kane consistently goes out of her way to help everyone, and treats the kids in her programs as if they were her own children, so I knew if there was even the slightest chance, she'd make  it happen.

After school let out for the holiday break, Mrs. Kane, my daughter, and the entire RoVaSi Chorale came to the nursing home on their own time. They not only performed for my mother in full RoVaSi attire, but they sang and danced for all of the residents.

The RoVaSi members are also members of the A Capella Choir. I was hoping for a couple of holiday songs, but what they provided was a program complete with dancing and a skit to go along with their rendition of Frosty The Snowman. It was an amazing sight.

Those young adults went around the room, touching hands and singing to all of the  elderly patients. You should have seen the impact they had on those people! It was absolutely magical! Some were tapping their feet, others were singing along and all were smiling ear to ear. You could tell it wasn't just an obligation to the kids. They poured their hearts and souls into making every one of those senior citizens feel like they mattered.

After they finished, they did an additional performance at the holiday party for the  employees. When the group arrived, I thanked Kathy for making it happen, and it was then that I learned the decision to perform was made by the kids themselves. Mrs. Kane explained the situation and every one of those students said "yes!" without hesitation.

My mom (and Chelsea's grandma), Elizabeth (Betty) Tarjeft, passed away Jan. 3, 2011, the day after her 86th birthday. It was a great comfort to our family knowing that one of our mother's last memories was the joy brought to that nursing home by her granddaughter and that group of talented, selfless young adults and their mentor, Kathy Kane.

I haven't been able to think of a way to show our appreciation, but I'd like to at least make the community aware of the generosity and kindness displayed by those kids and Kathy. They all deserve to be acknowledged for their efforts. 

Thank you's go out to:

• Jacob Bowlby
• Hannah Cahillane
• Aaron Glenn
• Mary Herrick
• Phyllis Maierle
• Rosalyn Manzanarez
• Kyle Lunsford
• Alyssa Marlow
• Rosie McGrath
• Katey Meredith
• Anthony Michael
• Sarah Mikota
• Tommy Nicholson
• Sarah Noble
• Jeanette Palmer
• Jacob Parshall
• Jon Pigott
• Jacob Rickman
• Kelly Stec

In closing, the choir is attempting to raise money to pay for their new choir robes. The ones they're wearing are so tattered and worn, they can no longer be cleaned. They've held many fund-raisers, but are still short approximately $10,000 of their goal since the total cost is more than $30,000. My thought is maybe something good will come their way in return for the good they've done.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Osburn