Ahnie's Angels have blessed the Lakeside Beikirch Care Center with their presence. Inspired by Ahnie Burke, Lakeside Beikirch Care Center resident, Ahnie's Angels donate their money, time and love to others. They have donated in the past to organizations including the Open Door Mission, Corpus Christi Center, Hillside Children's Center and Melita House. This year, they designated their time and efforts to Lakeside Beikirch Care Center in Brockport where they created a sensory room, sang to the residents, decorated and celebrated the holiday season. Ahnie's Angels consists of around 54 of Ahnie's family members of all ages from around the Rochester area. They are all descendants of Ahnie Burke's brother, George. This year, 39 of the family members participated at Lakeside. The chair organizers are Amy Merovich, Jennifer Swapceinski and Brenda Mcbride. After many e-mails and phone calls to family members, Ahnie's Angels had designed a plan for Lakeside. They wanted to create a sensory room where the Care Center residents could participate in activities which would stimulate all their senses. Paintings were created to stimulate sight; a fountain, VCR and CD player for sound; soft, hard and prickly objects for touch; and potpourri for smell. All of the objects creating the sensory room where either donated or produced by Ahnie's Angels. On their November 30 visit to the Care Center, Ahnie's Angels also made cookies and decorations with the residents and sang Christmas carols. Ahnie's nephew, Don, said, "Sharing one's time, talents and material goods to benefit others gives true meaning to life." Ahnie gave so much of herself that she inspired those around her to do the same. The family is hoping that by giving their time and love to others, the younger members of the family will come to understand this giving of one's self. While Ahnie Burke never had children of her own, she loved spending time with her nieces and nephews and was always doing something for others. Ahnie was an administrative assistant for most of her life and also drove for the Red Cross and made items for the war. One of her great loves was singing. She sang with the Sweet Adelines and did a great deal of traveling with the group. She lived in Rochester for the majority of her life and spent the last ten years in Bergen, close to family before joining the Care Center family. Ahnie, now 98 years old, has only been at Lakeside Beikirch Care Center for a year. She now brings joy to those at Lakeside, and her legacy of love and giving to others is carried on by her family. |
