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"Growing up, I’d experienced restrictions due to health concerns. I never thought, however, my children would have to live through it."

Staying Connected Through the Pandemic

These are the words of Marilyn Wentz. She and her husband Bob are both community members at Western Reserve Masonic Community. Marilyn resides in an Independent Living apartment and Bob in our Memory Care area.

Over the past three years they have seen each other every day with Marilyn joining her husband, of 66 years, for dinner every evening. In addition, Bob’s daughters would visit regularly, often several times a week. These visits, however, came to an abrupt end when the Coronavirus entered our lives, social distancing became a new norm and a Stay at Home order was invoked.

Separated, and unable to see her husband, Mrs. Wentz worried, “Bob will forget me and our children.” Her knowing she could see him anytime was now replaced with feelings of isolation and fear. But your Ohio Masonic Home was prepared to meet the unique challenges the Stay-at-Home order presented. We’ve always been at the forefront of innovation and started putting technology in the hands of our community members’ years ago.

As a recipient of one of our electronic tablets, Marilyn would use hers for putting puzzles together, coloring/drawing and playing various games. Never would she had thought to use it for visiting her husband “virtually,” until now.

Armed with this technology, the team at Western Reserve Masonic Community made it possible for Marilyn and Bob to (virtually) be together again. This ability to connect with her husband, during this unprecedented time, has positively impacted her life. As she puts it:

“I don’t feel isolated, I know he’s there. I can now see him and I know he’s ok. Masons have been in my life since 1962, (the year Bob was raised a Master Mason) and they’re a great group of people. I feel good and proud I’m connected with the group here at Western Reserve Masonic Community. It’s a special time now! It’s fascinating, I never had a job where I had to rely on a computer/tablet to connect with people… it’s fascinating this is possible."

Marilyn’s words remind us of our resiliency, the bond of Masonry, our ability to overcome and the hope of a bright future. And nothing compares to the joy and gratitude she experienced after a recent “virtual” visit with her husband. As their conversation came to a close she said to him, “I love you Bob”. To which he promptly responded, through a cupped hand, “I love you too.”

Marlene moved into a new villa at Browning Masonic Community last fall. Her husband, Jim, was unable to move with her because of severe health issues. Marlene decided a villa was the right thing for her as her husband’s health continued to stabilize under the care of the capable hands at a nearby skilled nursing facility. This arrangement allowed Marlene the ability to be with Jim on a daily basis and establish a routine, bringing him fresh laundry, enjoying a bite to eat, and watching a show or two together before “tucking him in” for the night and returning to Browning. Then in early April, Jim was diagnosed with COVID-19. Marlene and Jim’s routine had been grossly altered. As Jim’s condition worsened, he began to show signs of kidney failure, the coughing was taking a toll on his ability to function, and he was too weak to get out of bed. With no option available for dialysis, no hospice to assist in making sure he wasn’t alone, Marlene felt helpless. She was already distressed by the fact that she hadn’t been able to see the love of her life in nearly a month and now she feared he would die alone, with no family or friends to have the opportunity to say goodbye. During this time, Molly Good from Browning and Mark Harris from the OMH Foundation had been in touch with Marlene on a daily basis. They understood the seriousness of the situation and realized what needed to be done. The Ohio Masonic Home had that week provided hundreds of tablets to its three campuses so community members could keep in personal contact with their loved ones during the quarantine. Working together, Browning employees, Gary Lay, Dave Subleski and Molly prepared and delivered a new tablet out of the box, charged, labeled, and ready to go with Skype capability to Marlene’s husband Jim at the skilled nursing facility. The nurse who met Molly teared up when she heard what OMH wanted to do for Jim and Marlene—offering them the chance to be together again as a family in the only way that COVID-19 would allow. That evening, Jim had his first FaceTime call with his wife on a screen large enough for him to see. With kidneys still functioning and a slight perk in his attitude hearing his sweet Marlene, a new, non-verbal Jim would shake his hand and pull down his O 2 cannula to smile at his bride. The next day, every family member was able to see and talk to Jim for over an hour-- Marlene, all four children (all living in different states), and Jim’s sister. With declining health evident, Jim slipped out of consciousness as the soothing sound of his family conversing through the tablet filled his heart with joy. His eyes closed, resting, when the lifelong musician heard his signature song being played by one of his sons, Jim’s finger began tapping with the music. Marlene said it was like they were all there together, surrounding Jim. “I told him, ‘we all love you and miss you terribly,’” said Marlene, “but if you’re tired and want to go home, we’ll still love you just as much when you’re home in Heaven.” And with that, Jim was gone. They were there with him virtually when he took his last breath. Marlene shared that these are the last memories that she and her children will have with their father. No last hugs or kisses, certainly not the way they would have envisioned, but still together given the circumstances. The care and compassion that The Ohio Masonic Home represents, and made possible by all of you who support The Ohio Masonic Home Foundation. The day after Jim’s passing, when asked how she was doing, Marlene replied, “I’m more than fine, I’m at Browning.” "...we’ll still love you just as much when you’re home in

Heaven."

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