Spunky.
That’s the word you could use to describe the woman in her eighties who lives in the senior center. A few more adjectives would have to be added to do it justice. How about juvenile? Fun lover? Adorable? Life of the party? Holy? Yes, those and more could have accurately described Fay Sunnenshine.
But let’s start from the beginning.
When Fay’s children accompanied her on a preliminary visit to the senior services center, the intake staff had questions. Here was a smiling woman who clearly presented a fall risk. The claims control department had difficulty allowing her residency.
However, it was just as difficult not to allow her resident status at the nursing home.
“You have to get to know me,” Fay said, as the higher-ups voiced their opposition. “See my smile? I’ll make the entire population of Green Meadows Aging Center smile the same way!”
You needed an extraordinarily hard heart to debate that argument. So the professionals at Green Meadows checked with their insurance agency, who did their homework extremely well.
“Although Ms. Sunnenshine does indeed trend more as a fall claim risk, she has good coverage,” the agent said confidently. “She’s connected to one of the top insurance providers across the country. Use her guide to fall prevention and claims management and you should be fine with this new resident.”
Fay was admitted and sure enough, the atmosphere in Green Meadows began to change from calm to very lively! Fay’s joyous laughter filled the halls and dining room as she captivated her growing audience of wheelchair and walker occupants.
One remarkable story even put staff members in stitches, and illustrated the very stuff Fay was made of. Hailing from inner-city New York, Fay moved to a small town in New Jersey in her middle age. Used to defending her rights, as well as those of any innocent bystanders who happened to be within range of her and attacked by the local thugs, it seemed that no one could take full advantage of her. As a nasty type of thug thought he might have an easy time with little Miss Fay, she proved him dead wrong.
The would-be thief approached Faye and menacingly demanded the entire contents of her bag. Faye reached into it, pulled out a single five-dollar bill, and tossed it to the curb in disgust. “Here you, wretch!” she proclaimed. And with her purse in one hand and her head held high, she marched down the street indignantly!
Fay had little formal academic training. With her move to small town New Jersey, she revealed herself in community life and the babies she saw when her mothers went to work.
As time passed, Fay found it difficult to maintain the rigors of childcare. That didn’t stop those growing babies from being with her! On weekend afternoons, her living room would be filled with children, basking in Fay’s glow and enjoying Fay’s sweets…she seemed like she was a dear grandmother to at least everyone! half of the city!
The truism that nothing stays the same reared its painful head in Fay’s fantastical accounts of her life. Fay recounted that as her physical abilities weakened, she had decided it was time to move to the nursing home. She recognized how difficult it had become to keep the house. However, it was exciting for her to be among others. Here in the nursing home, she could make more friends…
“I like it here.” Fay would tell her fellow residents of hers and hers many of her, many visitors with the widest and sweetest of smiles. “I have my food. It’s really delicious, you know? I have a lot of friends. I love bingo and social life. And above all, I have my girls who come to see me…”
Fay was loved by everyone: the lonely who never had visitors, the sick who had her on a mission to get them what they needed or to call an orderly for help, and the staff who enjoyed her extraordinarily happy nature and her appreciation. for what they provided. For everyone at the nursing home, it felt like they had been presented with a rare gift in the form of sweet Fay.
One day in September just after a joyous moment at bingo in which everyone came out a winner due to Fay’s contagious brilliance, Fay fell to the ground. The orderly on duty rushed to her side. It was too late to do anything. Fai’s soul had been taken instantly and without warning.
On the day of his passing there was little to distinguish between residents and staff. Everyone wept for the one who had brought the sunlight into the nursing home.
As the hearse inched forward, the throngs of friends, residents, and nursing staff who had been privileged to witness Fay’s smiles, laughter, kindness, wisdom, and simple faith followed.
What distinguished personality had died for such followers to appear? Some unknown onlookers wondered. Unfortunately for them, the saint who had passed away could no longer be found in this world. Fai, the wonderful woman who had comforted so many with her kindness, now comforted those who knew her with her memories.
