Light of Hearts Villa relies on dedicated volunteers to provide mission-driven care

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Tags: Light of Hearts Villa , health care

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Light of Hearts Villa provides premier senior residential living services through compassionate, faith-based, mission-driven and person-centered care—and its cadre of dedicated volunteers are essential to carrying out that mission. Two of its longest serving volunteers were profiled in the most recent issue of the Villa Voices newsletter. The full text of the article appears below.

Read the complete newsletter for additional news, upcoming events, stories of how Light of Hearts Villa affirms the integrity of each person and encourages them on their journey of aging, and more.

Gil and Margie Aumiller Have Been Going Where the Need Is for 28 Years

Back in the fall of 1989, Margie Aumiller was asked to spend a day volunteering her time to answer the phone at the recently opened Light of Hearts Villa. That day was October 12, 1989. Her one day turned into 27 years of serving as a volunteer receptionist once a week.

“Those few hours went well and were enjoyable, and I was given the job,” quipped Margie.

When her husband Gil became a retired accountant in 1990, Sr. Helen Scasny, SC, founding director of Light of Hearts Villa, discovered the news and quickly had Gil volunteering his time as well. He has helped out once a week for the past 27 years with accounting tasks like budgeting, reconciling accounts and more, plus helping decorate at Christmas time and with various other tasks as needed.

“I like the interaction with residents,” said Gil. “Assisting people in their aging process is a privilege and the folks who work there are just wonderful at it.”

Margie stepped away from her receptionist duties in the fall of last year, but remains an active volunteer. She now works once a week in the Cozy Corner gift store and helps sort donations of clothes and other items.

“Everyone at Light of Hearts Villa—the staff, volunteers and residents—is kind and helpful. There really is something different there. It’s just a kindness. They love these residents,” said Margie.

And the love goes both ways. While serving as receptionist, Margie often sent birthday cards to residents. One resident moved to a skilled nursing facility, so she lost touch with her. When Margie learned the former resident passed away, she and Gil drove out to the west side of Cleveland for the wake.

“I walked into the funeral home and her daughter came running up to me, letting me know that her mother saved every card and note I had sent her. It’s easy to become so attached to residents because if you’re kind to them, they’ll forever remember you. It’s been a joy to volunteer at Light of Hearts Villa for so long,” said Margie.

Margie and Gil are also active members and volunteers at their church, Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Parish in Bedford, where they collect food to deliver to the Seton Safety Net food pantry at the Villa. They also collect clothes from both their parish and the Villa to deliver to Joseph’s Home in Cleveland, which is another ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System. Joseph’s Home helps acutely ill homeless men heal and achieve independence.

Gil succinctly summed up the couple’s approach to volunteering. “We go where the need is.”

Thankfully for Light of Hearts Villa and the many residents they’ve touched, Gil and Margie have been going where the need is for more than 27 years.

Light of Hearts Villa is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System.