TRU

Caring For Our Community Since 1976.

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Care Shawls for TRU Hospice Patients

January 17, 2020 by TRU Community Care

Sue Samuels at home crafting a Care Shawl

In 1998, Janet Severi Bristow and Victoria Galo, two graduates of the 1997 Women’s Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Connecticut, created Prayer Shawl Ministry. Compassion and the love of knitting/crocheting have been combined into a prayerful ministry and spiritual practice which reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace, as well as in celebration and joy.

Many blessings are prayed into every stitch. Whether they are called Prayer Shawls, Comfort Shawls, or Care Shawls, the shawl maker begins with prayers and blessings for the recipient. The intentions are continued throughout the creation of the shawl. Upon completion, a final blessing is offered before the shawl is sent on its way. Some recipients have continued the kindness by making a shawl and passing it onto someone else in need. As a result, the blessing ripples from person-to-person, with both the giver and receiver feeling the compassion and care put into each shawl.

The shawls can be crocheted, quilted, woven or machine knitted as well. Shawls are given to TRU Patients either at home or in the care center to provide comfort. “Shawls … made for centuries universal and embracing, symbolic of an inclusive, unconditionally loving, God. They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter and beautify. Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles…” Written in 1998 by: Janet Severi Bristow

TRU’s Care Shawl Program

A group of TRU Volunteers began making Care Shawls in 2007 for TRU patients, and there have been over 25 volunteers who have contributed to the program since then. A current volunteer, Sue Samuels, has been making Care Shawls for 9 years. Her husband, Mike, has a knitting machine and has been making them for about a year. One sweet story Sue remembers, “We had a young mother of four at the Care Center. She was given 5 shawls, she wore one and gave one to each of her children.”

Sue also talked about a patient who has begun crocheting lap blankets as a result of their conversations. Sue was able to give a Care Shawl to another patient who snuggles up under it every night.

Sue Samuels created the beautiful maroon and green shawl on the left. Mike Samuels made the shawl on the right on his knitting machine.

For more information on the original Prayer Shawl Program please visit shawlministry.com

Want to learn more or get involved?

The Care Shawl Project allows us to create a shawl with beautiful blessings and intentions for our patients and families.

Join us to learn more on Friday, February 28th from 1pm-3pm.

WHERE:    Sue Samuels Residence

                  2165 Pinon Circle, Erie 80516

                  RSVP to Sue at 302-545-3315

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: TRU, volunteer, tru community care, TRU Hospice, TRU Hospice Care Center, Care Shawl, Prayer Shawl

In a Word, Hospice is “Comfort”

September 13, 2019 by TRU Community Care

Rella Riding a Motorcycle at Age 98

In life’s crossing points, it’s not always easy to know when it is time for hospice care. TRU Hospice supports individuals and families when one is nearing their final months, days, or moments, and no longer looking for a cure. We recently had the opportunity to support Mary Marcantonia and her mother, Rella Marcantonia, through the last steps and days of Rella’s life and her transition into the next. Like so many of the people we care for, Rella was a remarkable individual who left quite a legacy.

From Mary’s written obituary for her mother, Rella Mae Boon Marcantonio, 99 of Redvale, CO was born July 29, 1919, in a tent atop the Uncompahgre Plateau. Her family moved to Grand Junction, CO in 1922 to settle down into life in Western Colorado. She earned an Associate of Arts degree at Mesa State College, now known as Colorado Mesa University, in Grand Junction, CO and a degree from the University of Colorado School of Nursing in Denver, CO. She continued to nurse during WWII.

Rella had a passion for the arts and for education. A philosophy she lived by and promoted often was: “Get all the education you can get. It’s the only thing ‘nobody’ can ever take away from you.” Her teaching took many forms, ranging from a one-room schoolhouse to all areas of public education and even private lessons at her kitchen table. She never lost her desire to inspire and was always willing to help others acquire knowledge.

When the time came for Rella to enter TRU Hospice Care, her daughter, Mary, had been working with her mother for four months. In-home health care through Medicare had been maxed out, leaving Mary to take on full responsibility for Rella. Rella’s primary physician recommended TRU Community Care for her because of our great rapport and communication with families and physicians. Her physician also assured Mary that she would know when it was time for Rella to be admitted to hospice care. This time came when, one night, Rella began speaking to people that Mary could not see. Mary realized Rella was ready to transition to hospice care. She called TRU Community Care and a nurse arrived shortly after. 

Mary’s and Rella’s experience with TRU Community Care is described by Mary with the word, “comfort”. She experienced special care that was attentive and more mindful of emotions than her experience at the hospital. Mary’s personal experience with the hospice services was so strong that all she could say was, “it was just different… it was the only reason I was able to survive during that time.” 

A TRU CNA who works at the TRU Hospice Care Center, was profoundly impacted by Rella during her time with her. “This woman was born in a tent, is related to Grandma Moses, and was riding a Harley as recently as January at the age of 98! She was a teacher, a nurse, a painter, and a published poet. She lived an amazing life and I’m so glad I got to meet her.”

Rella’s memory is full of life, color, art, and poems for her family and community. Mary even painted her nails purple, just the way Rella would want them, the day she entered TRU Hospice Care. Rella’s memory lives on through her loved ones, and we are honored to have provided the necessary support and services for Mary’s family and so many others like them.

To learn more about TRU Hospice Services, please visit trucare.org/hospice.

To read previous TRU blog posts, please visit trucare.org/blog.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: hospice, tru community care, comfort, TRU Hospice, TRU Hospice Care Center, Rella

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About TRU

TRU Community Care (TRU) affirms life at every step of your journey with illness and loss. Our vision is to lead a healthcare transformation by engaging with our communities and offering innovative, meaningful care for those living with illness and loss.

Founded as Boulder Hospice in 1976, TRU is a Colorado-licensed, Medicare and Medicaid-certified, nonprofit health care organization serving Boulder, Broomfield, Adams, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Denver, and Weld Counties and beyond. With a focus on providing a continuum of care for members of our community living with advanced illness and loss, TRU’s programs include TRU Hospice, TRU PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), TRU Palliative Care, Landmark Memory Care, and TRU Grief Services.

TRU Hospice is proudly accredited by The Joint Commission and is a five-star-level hospice in NHPCO's We Honor Veterans program created in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). TRU is a member of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE), and the National PACE Association (NPA).

Our Services

TRU Grief Services
& Administrative Offices
2594 Trailridge Drive East
Lafayette, CO 80026

TRU Hospice Care Center
1950 Mountain View Avenue
4th Floor South
Longmont, CO 80501

TRU Thrift Shop
5565 Arapahoe Avenue
Boulder, CO 80303

TRU PACE Program
2593 Park Lane
Lafayette, CO 80026

TRU Memory Care
1744 S Public Road
Lafayette, CO 80026

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