Glendalough carers for aged and elderly turn Royal Wedding into a memorable day for resident family
By Bridget Spinks
The marriage of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton brought the residents, staff and friends of the Little Sisters of the Poor together, as the Home of the Aged in Glendalough held their own Royal Wedding Reception on 29 April.
On behalf of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Yvonne Stone from the Diversional Therapy department, sent well wishes to the Queen for her son’s wedding and advised her of the plans afoot to mark the occasion at the Glendalough Home for the Aged.
Within the month, there was a reply in the mail from Buckingham Palace in gratitude from the Private Secretary and the Queen.
“The Queen has asked me to thank you for your congratulations and kind good wishes for the couple’s future happiness in their life together, and to convey to you, the residents and staff, her warm good wishes for the programme of celebrations on Friday, 29 April,” Sonia Bonici, Senior Correspondence Officer, wrote in the letter.
The day began with 9am Mass in the Chapel and all those attending the Wedding Celebration had to be seated by 11am in “Reception Centre” for the Bridal Fashion Show parade of precious wedding gowns generously donated by residents’ relatives, staff and friends.
As corsages were given to adorn all the ladies and buttonholes were given to the gentlemen, Nancy O’Sullivan warmed up the guests with a musical interlude of I’m Getting Married in the Morning.
Staff and friends of Glendalough had volunteered to model the flower girl, bridesmaid and wedding dresses from the 1960s to now.
As each young lady took a turn about the hall, Yvonne and Sr Angela detailed the history behind each dress, and described its fashion elements and beauty.
The first wedding gown, modelled by Caroline, was worn by Shirley Metcalf on her wedding day on 28 March 1959.
“Notice the petite waist and very full skirt with leupa lace nylon flowers sewn all over the skirt ending with a frill.” Each of the 22 dresses was described with such detail.
Felicity Caratti modelled the last wedding dress, which was her own. She was involved because her mother is the residents’ hairdresser.
“I’ve always helped out here and the elderly love it,” Felicity said. “I grew up here.”
Sitting among the audience was Subiaco-born Sheila Stade, 96, who was married to Eric Patrick Stade in 1934. She said the day brought back memories of the happiness she had before her husband went to war. They have one son, Allen, four beautiful grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Sheila, who has been a resident for four years in Glendalough, said that they have everything there to make them happy.
“To be here is my home for the rest of my days; it’s been like leaving home to coming home,” she said.
Linda Wisolith, who is part of the Diversional Therapy team at Little Sisters and also modelled one of the dresses, said that the day was about “focusing on the specialness of the spirit of marriage”.
Months and weeks of careful planning went into the Glendalough Wedding Day; the residents had each received invitations to attend the Wedding and a display of collected Wedding photos took pride of place in the Home’s Marian Centre foyer – the earliest photo was taken in 1926; the most recent, in 2010. “It brings dignity to the residents,” Linda said of the display. “Because it reminds us that they were once youthful and in love; their meaningful lives and stories of the past are still very much part of who they are now.”
After the Fashion Show, Sr Angela LSP quoted some words on the art of marriage – a good one must be created.
“It is never being too old to hold hands – and remembering to say ‘I love you’ at least once a day,” Sr Angela quoted someone anonymously. Then the residents were served a Wedding Breakfast. There was a toast and the cutting of the cake and later, the Royal Wedding was to be broadcast on the big screen for the residents who could make it from 5pm.
Little Sister of the Poor, Sr Mary John, said the occasion tightened “the family spirit”.
Coincidentally, the royal couple will share the same wedding anniversary as the parents of the founder of the Little Sisters of the Poor, St Jeanne Jugan, who were united in marriage on the same day, 228 years ago.
Sr Angela, too, spoke of the family spirit – “Let us today form a circle of love that gathers our whole family as one” – as well as of the beauty of life.
“Residents, we care about you now in the evening of your lives, we care also about your past, about your future,” she said.