The Roberts Family
Giving Back as a Way to Say Thank You
Christine Roberts was so grateful for the care her husband, Gary, received from Masonic Village Hospice, she decided to pay it forward and become a Hospice volunteer.
She completed the required training and hopes to begin working with patients as soon as she recuperates from knee surgery.
“The volunteers with Masonic Village Hospice particularly one of them who sat by my husband’s bedside
definitely stood out and made a huge difference,” Christine said. “His name was Clint, and he was 92 years old. He was a great comfort to me. I wanted to give back to the place that gave so much to me in my time of need.”
Gary Roberts was living at another facility when he was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare, degenerative neurological disorder that affects movement, balance, speech and vision. PSP is a progressive disorder, meaning that symptoms gradually
worsen over time. While there is currently no cure for PSP, treatments can help to manage symptoms.
“At the time, Gary was mentally erratic and exhibiting negative behavior,” Christine said. “We had been married for 53 years, and he was rejecting me completely.”
Medical staff at the other facility said Gary’s behavior was to be expected, and there was nothing else to do, which frustrated Christine.
“I met with and toured Masonic Village and felt comforted that it would be a better choice,” she said. Gary was transferred to the skilled nursing neighborhood (unit) in the Masonic Health Care Center, where he was assigned to a nurse named Bob Heim. Bob was instrumental in advocating for Gary to start taking a psychiatric medication that would help him to act more “like himself” again, Christine said.
“That made a huge difference,” she said. “We were able to spend more time together.”
Since Christine lived in Lancaster, about 30 minutes from Elizabethtown, health care staff gave her peace of mind by making sure Gary was well taken care of and socialized with him when she was unable to visit.
As Gary’s illness progressed, staff at Masonic Village made the decision to move him to Evergreen within the Masonic Health Care Center. Patients there receive end-of-life care in a dedicated unit featuring private rooms and specially trained staff. Patients and families may choose to receive hospice services through Masonic Village Hospice or another approved hospice provider. Visitors can use the dining area, library, kids’ room and a chapel right on the unit.
“When it [Evergreen] opened, I was one of the first people to tour the space, around Thanksgiving of 2022,” Christine said. “They presented all the amenities and a care plan for my husband. I felt strongly that this was where he
Christine Roberts
needed to be. He was on hospice for two months and died in March 2023.”
Gary and Christine were childhood sweethearts, having met at a local park in Baltimore, Maryland. When Gary became sick, the couple moved to Lancaster to be closer to their son, Jason.
Gary owned a construction company and was an avid fisherman who enjoyed fly fishing. The couple had a boat on the Chesapeake Bay. They traveled in their later years throughout Europe and other places with friends. Gary loved playing poker, often competing in tournaments in Atlantic City. Spending time with his only son and grandchildren were also very important to him, Christine said.
During the last two difficult months of his life, everyone with Masonic Village Hospice, especially Dr. John Mast, were fantastic, offering steadfast comfort and care for a disease with many twists and turns, Christine said.
“It was such a relief to have the proper care needs addressed correctly,” she said. “Masonic Village offered everything Gary needed. Every aspect of his care was taken care of.
“Dr. Mast was one of the first physicians to look my husband in the eyes and speak to him like a person. He knew my husband was aware of the encounter and could comprehend what he was saying. He treated him like a family member. I’m grateful to everyone for their help.”
Hospice Goes Above and Beyond for This Beloved Couple
John and E. Louise Tumolo had lived many places during their lifetime, from Shillington, Newtown Square and Douglasville, Pennsylvania, to Anondale, Virginia. But the couple spent a large chunk of time — more than 16 years — at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown.
“My dad always marveled that out of all the places they’d traveled throughout their marriage, this [Masonic Village] was the longest place they’d ever lived,” their son, John, said. “That was amazing to him.”
John and Louise were two very social people and always enjoyed activities at Masonic Village, especially the musical programs, John said. When a cottage wasn’t initially available, they decided to move into a two-bedroom apartment.
Six months later, when a cottage became available, Louise said, “I’m not moving. There’s enough room for both of us. Everything I want to do is here,” John recalled.
“Mom was very gregarious, and as she got older, she had no filter,” John said. “She was very opinionated. She was also very active. They both were. Dad’s biggest regret was that they didn’t go [to Masonic Village] sooner. He didn’t want to fix anything or cut grass anymore [at their old home].”
Louise passed away from bile duct cancer in October 2019 in the apartment the couple shared. Upon her initial diagnosis, she was told she had two to three months to live without chemotherapy or radiation,
but she refused treatment, choosing to spend the time she had left feeling comfortable, John said.
The couple had recently celebrated a wonderful 65th anniversary party at one of their favorite restaurants, Lombardo’s in Lancaster, with many family members present. One of their favorite desserts was tiramisu. Hospice staff brought in tiramisu cakes for both John and Louise’s birthdays.
“The entire time mom was on Hospice, they [hospice staff] were taking care of dad, too, but we didn’t know it,” John said. “They were helping her but keeping an eye on him. We didn’t realize all that they did for him until after mom died.”
John was moved to the Masonic Health Care Center in November 2019 and was there until his passing in September 2021. He remained social and always up for a visit, said Allison Reeder, hospice social worker. He enjoyed sharing stories about his family, travel and life experiences.
“He never stopped missing his beloved Louise and was ready to be reunited with her,” Allison said. He continued to enjoy his laptop and iPad in his room, where he could look at and share family photo albums.
The Tumolo Family
As John’s health continued to decline, he received Hospice care full-time. “We didn’t know that he had Parkinson’s disease and the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s,” John said. “He also had COPD. It was during COVID, and he hated not being able to interact with other people like he used to. He just gave up the will to live. He quietly went to sleep one day and didn’t wake up.
“I can’t say enough good things about Hospice. They took good care of my mom and dad.”
John and Louise grew up in West Philadelphia. They met for the first time through a mutual friend and had their first date at a DeMolay dance in 1952.
“They were each other’s best friend and inseparable,” John said. “They were a true example of what unconditional love looks like in a relationship. I have been married 47 years. Longevity in marriage always seemed to be the norm for me. My parents had arguments from time to time, but they were always in love.”
John served in the military for 25 years as an Air Force reservist during the Korean War. He was the highest noncommissioned officer in the Air Force, before becoming a lieutenant. While on Hospice, John was presented with a veteran’s blanket and a certificate through the We Honor Veterans program.
John worked for AT&T as a plant manager and engineer, which led the family to move so many times. Louise was a stay-at-home mom to the couple’s four children, a role that she cherished. John was able to retire early, at age 55, so he and Louise traveled frequently throughout the United States and Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Italy, where the couple had relatives. One of their favorite places to visit was Bonita Springs, Florida.
The couple loved animals and had dogs and cats in their apartment at Masonic Village. John always enjoyed photography, winning several awards, and kept photo albums with images of all Louise’s cross stitch work.
“Dad loved photography so much. We never had a hot meal during the holidays because he was always fiddling with the camera,” John said. “He even had a dark room and processed his own film. He was still interested in photography at the end of his life, although it frustrated him when he could no longer use the camera. My wife, Sheryl, and my sister, Sue, now have boxes of photos, slides and negatives they’re trying to digitize.”
Louise and John Tumolo
John and Louise enjoyed spending time at their Poconos home, which they had since the early 90s and kept in a trust for their children. John has fond memories of the vacation home and the many Thanksgivings they spent there.
During their marriage, John, a Freemason and a Shriner, and Louise would often volunteer to drive patients and families from Berks County to Shriners Hospitals in Philadelphia. Son John’s grandfather was also a Mason. Today, he is secretary of Chandler Lodge No. 227, Reading. “My dad helped me through the whole process,” he said.
Hospice staff remember several special moments with John and Louise, including golf cart rides with both of them to the Masonic Village Farm Market to get ice cream.
John said he would recommend Masonic Village Hospice to anyone he met. “I can’t say enough good things about it,” he said.
“The bottom line is the quality of care my parents received at Masonic Village, whether it was living in an apartment or full-time nursing care or hospice — the treatment they got was far and above anything I’ve seen anywhere else.
“Mom and dad raved about Masonic Village constantly. It truly provides a great place to live, no matter what stage of life you’re in. All the employees genuinely love and care about the people they take care of. Two of them were at my parents’ funerals. I don’t know how they do it; it’s such an amazing gift.”
Planned Giving DUE DILIGENCE
It’s always strongly recommended that anyone considering a commitment to a charitable organization first conduct their own due diligence. This can include gathering the proper information about financial wellness, operating strategy and mission alignment.
“Align your due diligence to the size of your contribution. This process requires effort, so it should be balanced and measured with your charitable intentions,” Nick Mahler, vice president of the Office of Mission Advancement and Development for the Masonic Charities, recently shared with a donor who was considering a gift of appreciated real estate.
Whether you are considering a $50 outright gift or a $5 million planned giving opportunity, the charity you are motivated to support should meet your expectations. Researching, asking questions, visiting, attending an event (if possible) or even volunteering (if interested) are concrete methods to learn about an organization’s mission.
For a deeper dive into completing your due diligence with Masonic Village Hospice, we welcome you to schedule an in-person visit or call our office to discuss your planned gift. Consider including your trusted professional advisor to make the most of the time and conversation.
Recently, staff worked with a donor to evaluate a range of giving strategies, from annuities to trusts, to determine the best options for a significant planned gift. Valuable time was spent on the analysis of capital gains avoidance, tax deductions enjoyed, income generated for the donor and family, estimated remainder to charity and many other aspects.
“We like to mock up illustrations and examples to share with donors, so they can see with their own eyes what a potential gift would look like on paper. It’s a great way to visualize the impact for both the charity and the donor,” Nick said.
The Masonic Charities team enjoys spending time with donors and their professional advisors reviewing planned gift options, solutions and resources to determine what works best for the donor’s goals. If you are interested in discussing your plan and objectives and how you can support Masonic Village Hospice, please contact us.
Visit masoniccharitiespa.org to explore our Masonic Charities. Visit masoniccharitieslegacy.org to download a free Estate Planning Guide or Wills Planner. Feel free to contact us Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., by calling 800-599-6454 or 717-367-1121 ext. 33460 or emailing giving@masonicvillages.org.
Relay For Life
The Hospice team once again participated in Relay For Life of Lancaster County on June 7. The American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life is a global movement to raise money and awareness for those who have survived cancer, as well as remember lost loved ones. A mix of survivors, caregivers and the general public come together at the event to “end cancer as we know it.”
“We relay because cancer affects us all, personally and professionally,” Kristin Thomas, supportive services coordinator, said. Masonic Village Hospice was the sponsor of the Caregiver Haven at the event, which is a place to honor those who have cared for loved ones with cancer. It was filled with resources and activities for caregivers.
This year, Jasmine Rakszawski, social worker, and Kristin Thomas served as co-leads for the event.
The team raised $11,000 for the American Cancer Society through individual donations and fundraisers.
These included sub, apple dumpling, sticky bun, meat pie and flower sales, along with the annual cornhole tournament. Twenty-eight teams participated in the cornhole tournament, where raffle tickets and concessions were sold. The team raised nearly $2,000 that day.
For more information on Relay For Life or to get involved, please contact Hospice at 717-361-8449.
Reinventing How We Say “Thank You”
In 2024, the Masonic Charities made a shift away from its past practice of publishing donor memorial and honorarium gifts in our publications. The rising costs to print, mail and produce these sections was impacting the dollars available to provide charitable care and services. The costs to produce these publications decreased, and those dollars can now be used to support the mission directly. More cost-effective and accessible, memorial and honorarium gifts are shared using the Masonic Charities website: www.MasonicCharitiesPa.org/news/gift/may-2024/.
Contact us at MasonicCharitiesPa.org or call 1-800-599-6454
VILLAGE HOSPICE
Masonic Drive, Suite 101 • Elizabethtown, PA 17022
717-361-8449 • MasonicVillageHospice.org
Who We Are
Since 2009, Masonic Village’s trained, compassionate hospice staff have cared for thousands of patients and their families, focusing on the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients so they may complete their lives joyfully. Our hospice staff promote comfort and self-determination, enabling patients to participate in making decisions about their care.
Based in Elizabethtown, Masonic Village Hospice is pleased to offer services to patients in the comfort of their homes throughout Lancaster, Dauphin, Lebanon and Eastern York counties.
