Pam and her daughter Brie’
When the pandemic of COVID-19 started spreading across the country, I found myself like many others questioning how this would impact the organization I work for, the community I live in, my family, friends and myself. I never dreamed that the reality of the disease would hit so close to home for me. This week, we lost our first healthcare worker to the “virus” as people are calling it. That healthcare worker happened to be a friend of mine of over 25 years.
When I started working at Summit Manor in 1995, Pam was the person selected to train me as a Certified Nursing Assistant. We instantly bonded and became fast friends. She taught me all the “ins and outs” of being a great CNA and ultimately how to care for the people we served in a way that was personal. I can remember that she always took the extra time to make sure the elder had anything they needed. She often purchased and brought in body sprays and beautiful scented soaps for the elders she cared for.
Sporting our big trophy after winning the parade with our float!
When the position of Activity Director opened up at Summit Manor a few years after that, she begged me to apply. Oddly enough, I wasn’t sure if that was “for me”. She kept assuring me that she thought I would do such a great job at it. When to my surprise, I got the job, she was there to support me at every turn.
Showing off our finished Christmas Float! This one was one of my favorites!
In fact, we spend most of our time “scheming” up new ideas and things as she would say. We built so many Christmas floats for the Christmas parade that we were near professional at it. Pam always loved to do the skirting of the float. We did it ourselves (because we were a bit picky) and learned the art of weaving letters and designs in there using paper napkins! One year, I recall us having the idea to build a paper-mache bell. The theme that year was “Old Fashioned Christmas” and we wanted to do giant ornaments. It was one of our many failed attempts! Overall we built 10 Christmas floats together unbelievably. The Christmas floats were always built at Brenda Williams’ house, the administrator at that time. We spent many nights there with our girls, Brie and Mary Beth, working on these! Also so many other stakeholders like Dana, Teresa, Ashley, and the list goes on!
Those Relay for Life days! We loved raising money for causes like this!
One year, we got the bright idea we would start raising money for Relay For Life. Pam was always front and center to help with those fundraisers. Often times, she and others would donate from their own pockets to host the fundraisers.
Pam was such a beautiful person. She had unwavering dedication to the elders of Summit Manor. As all heroes do, she selflessly gave to them. She spent 32 years serving those in our community who needed her most. In a decade, she only called in one time. She dedicated her life to service to others and that can never be forgotten.
Let’s all hug each other a little tighter today. Let’s stand up and be brave. Let’s do what we need to do to eradicate COVID-19 so we don’t lose anymore precious lives like this. Let’s do it for Pam.
Thank you so much for this beautiful tribute to my beautiful niece. She loved her elders and she loved her co-workers. Her beautiful smile will be missed and her family. Thank you for all those kind words and thank you for loving our Pammie(as her babies called her). She’s with God, showing Him her beautiful smile.
Prayers for everyone during the passing of Pam.
May God give comfort
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So very sorry for your (and our) loss. What a beautiful memorial.
Thank you, Angie, for this moving tribute. Well said.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful friendship and memories. Our hearts are broken with you and we are all praying for God’s comfort for her family, friends and all who loved her. She gave her own life serving those she loved that needed her..a real hero.
Prayers for the family and friends of one of our fellow frontline Heroes. May God give comfort to all those who new her.
A beautiful tribute to Pam. My heart felt prayers and love goes out to all her family, co-workers and friends. May God protect our precious stakeholders, communities and our world as we continue to lean on Him and each other for love, support and His grace. Love to all -:)
Angie, thank you for this beautiful piece and for sharing Pam with us. The love shined through the words. Pam thank you for sharing yourself with the elders. I am sure that you are enjoying your mansion and God please comfort all those that are feeling the loss. May God bless you all.
I also had the privilege of knowing and working with Pam. She was a wonderful, loving, caring, warm, compassionate, kind, generous, humble, woman. She was one of the first people I was introduced to by Brenda William’s during my orientation at Summit Manor. She had the biggest, bright, warm smile. She was always willing to help and answer any questions I had. She was also always one of the first to donate when a tragedy struck, whether it was a coworker, their family or someone in the community. She was always loving and kind to our residents. She loved them and her coworkers. She absolutely loved children, especially babies. She just could not wait to hold them when they visited our facility. She loved her family more than anything. To know Pam was to love her. She truly was an angel on this earth. She had a light around her that shown brightly. Her faith in God was evident in her actions, the way she talked and lived. There are 3 things I leave you, Faith, Hope and Love….and the greatest of these is Love . For all who knew Pam, hold onto that love and let her light live on through you.