Women’s History Month Celebration at St. John’s

St. John’s Home residents gathered to celebrate women’s resilience and history in observance of Women’s History Month this week.

St. John’s Therapeutic Recreation Specialist Jessica Hardeman organized and led the event. As part of her introductory remarks, she spoke about the importance of “honoring women every day” and her inspiration for wanting to hold an event of this kind for the women residents at St. John’s.

“Mary Wells and her story during the war is what inspired me,” said Hardeman. “I thought we should highlight our female residents and their stories.”

St. John’s Home Resident Mary Wells spoke at the celebration, which included a devotion and invocation by St. John’s Director of Spiritual Care Sarah Culp. Culp focused on influential women throughout the histories of various faiths. St. John’s Resident Judy Greer read a poem from Maya Angelou’s Phenomenal Woman. Other featured residents included: Milagros Maldanado-Diaz, Barbara Volmer, Angela Sinacore, Kathleen Barnstead, Harriet Weiss, Mary-Jean Crawford, Linda Farnahm, Mary “Ms. Gerri” Riley, Dolores “Dodie” Rycenga, Patricia Ford, and Valerie Frischman. Each resident received a sash from a student volunteer.

Every resident attendee also shared a brief introduction of herself, including her hometown, career, and a woman that was personally inspiring. Many of the women kept things personal, saying mothers and daughters act as inspirations.

See more photos here: Women’s History Month Celebration.