Commun ty Matters Parsons Presbyterian Manor
COMING UP IN COMMUNITY MATTERS:
Everyone has a story to tell
We will focus on dining services in an upcoming issue of Community Matters. What foods do you connect through your memories? How has food shaped your life and recollections? If you’ve got a story to share, contact contact Sharla Hopper, marketing director, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
August 2016
Legacy of learning: Former teacher inspires many
As yellow school buses once again travel up and down our streets, one can’t help but reminisce on the days we spent inside the classroom. Friends were found, lessons were learned, and for one Parsons Presbyterian Manor resident, legacies were made.
Jean Fabrycky was a long-time Parsons school teacher, but her influence on youth didn’t end when she retired from teaching. In total, she taught for Jean fondly recalls her grandfather H.L. Marsh, who inspired her teaching career, and was nearly 30 years, and featured in a newspaper article, “Wichita’s Blind then went on to form Builder Starts on his 54th House.” the MAGIC club, which stood for “Me and God in Company.” She did that for 10 years, and was also a substitute teacher.You’d be hard pressed to find many Parsons residents who weren’t impacted by Jean in one way or another. “Almost everywhere I go, people say, ‘I had your grandmother as a teacher,” said Caleb Fabrycky, Jean’s grandson. “She really had an ability to influence children. Every time she goes to the grocery store, or
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Am I like God?
Wayne Mason, Chaplain, Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice
Can you tell the difference between: - A person who genuinely cares, and someone who is paid to care? - A person of good character, and someone who is simply an actor? - A person who is telling you the truth, and someone telling you a lie? - A person who is a Christian, and someone who claims to be a Christian? - A genuine friend, and someone who will walk away when times get tough? ®
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Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Parsons Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of
501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Maegen Pegues, executive director Sharla Hopper, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact shopper@pmma.org. Telephone: 620-421-1450 Fax: 620-421-1897 Address: 3501 Dirr Ave., Parsons, KS 67357-2220 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org
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- A friend who will tell you the truth even when it hurts, and someone who will tell you anything to stay on your good side? Over the years, I have had many friends come and go. There are a certain set of friends that I can always go back to for an honest assessment of life. They are the ones who will tell me the truth, even when I do not want to hear it. Have you ever been caught in that situation where you want someone to tell you everything will be all right even when you know disappointment is just around the corner? I love those friends who tell me the truth, and then stand there to support me through the difficult moments of life.
Ephesians 4:22-23 says: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Later, Paul writes, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, …” (Ephesians 5:1-2) It is hard to imagine the changes that would happen in this world, if we all lived up to the words in these verses. Could we tell the difference between a real Christian and a pretend Christian or a real friend and a friend in name only if these standards were practiced daily? Are we living “like God in true righteousness and holiness,” and are we “imitators of God” living “a life of love?” Prayer: “Lord, help me to reflect your character of integrity, righteousness, holiness and love.You were willing to give everything to rescue us. Make us like you. Let other people see you in us. Amen.” For a deeper study of this subject, read Ephesians 4:17-5:21.
A genuine friend is there to walk with you when times get tough.
PMMA rebalances portfolio with sale of campus
In the more than six and a half decades Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America has provided care for and advocated for the aging in Kansas and Missouri, the senior retirement landscape has changed dramatically. PMMA remains committed to our mission of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values and to meeting the ever changing needs of today’s seniors.
Seniors want a full continuum of care, with an emphasis on active living and wellness. Out of this demand, the Continuing Care
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anywhere, she sees former students, and there are several families with multiple generations taught by my grandmother. She really did have a profound effect on many young children in town. Whether directly with teaching or volunteering with the church, she really did affect the life of many children in Parsons. ”
So how did Jean come to be a teacher? It was the influence of her grandfather, the preacher, builder, and all-around inspiration.
“My grandad H. L. Marsh lived half a block away. He was a generous man, and taught me to do so many things. He believed in me. He lost his eyesight in his late 40s when he was attacked, and had to relearn how to do so many things. He was able to do so much though, even build homes, and had such a faith.” Jean had a wide variety of interests
Retirement Community (CCRC) model was born. This model provides for a large independent living level with smaller levels of assisted living and health are/skilled nursing.
During the past two decades, PMMA has been slowly moving its system toward the CCRC model. Even though we have made significant strides, our system still remains imbalanced in the world of CCRC’s.
Upon a careful analysis of our properties, it became clear that the Kansas City campus, with its
and abilities, including drama and choir, and is known as a gifted singer, even today. She grew up across the street from Wichita State University, and has a funny story about how she met her husband, who also worked in education. “I was a senior in high school, and my parents decided to rent out a bedroom to a student for extra income. But they rented to boys, not girls, because there was a frat house across the street. Well, he met me though! He went to WSU for a year, then when I decided to go to Asbury University for my teaching degree, he came along. He ended up getting his Master’s and was a psychology professor at Valparaiso.” Jean and her husband had three children, one of whom has passed away, as well as seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Her teaching legacy extends beyond the
predominantly health care focused model, could not easily convert to a CCRC campus. After much analysis, deliberation and discussion with the senior leadership team, the Board of Trustees approved the sale of KCPM.
While saddened by the idea of selling KCPM, PMMA was and is confident that we are leaving our residents in good hands. The sale of Kansas City Presbyterian Manor to Riverbend, an operating subsidiary of The Ensign Group Inc., was completed and the campus transferred, on July 1, 2016.
classroom, and into the family. Her daughter-in-law and granddaughter are teachers, and a future granddaughter-in-law is a teacher. Her father and uncle were also college professors.
“I guess you could say she influenced us to marry teachers,” joked Jean’s son Steve. “We saw the value of education. Teaching was not just a job for her. Her commitment to children, whether it was at MAGIC club, teaching, as youth sponsor at church, at youth bible school or even when she restarted the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program in Labette county, there’s just so much she’s done.”
We thank Jean for her dedication to children throughout the year, and no doubt, Parsons is a better place thanks to her impact. Her advice to new and weary teachers alike is advice for us all: keep the faith.
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