Patient of the Month

My sister, Karen got a call from the nursing home where our mother lives that Mother has been chosen as "Patient of the Month." As we had no idea that there was a "Patient of the Month," we have no idea how she was selected for this honor. (I personally have twisted visions of a bingo cage containing resident names on each ball, hand cranked until the winning ball is picked while anxious seniors wait breathlessly, hoping that their name is called. "Is it me? Is it me?" they wonder until the lucky name is revealed! But I digress.) Mother's story will be featured on the large bulletin board outside the main dining room. It is a lovely way to pay tribute to her and we are very touched. It also has given us the opportunity to do some reflecting.

I was asked to write the story. She is an interesting and complex person. She is stubborn, smart, demanding, loving, opinionated, independent, frivolous and talented . She could throw one heck of a party! She will defend her children and grandchildren to the death if she thinks we are the right. We are the most beautiful and smartest family on the face of the earth. (Did I mention that she is usually right?)

So here is the story of the July Patient of the Month at Attleboro Village Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Langhorne, PA. My favorite part is the memories at the end.

Anna Pusnikas Rogers is called to fill many roles in her life. These include daughter, sister, career woman, wife, mother, volunteer, grandmother, and faithful servant of God.

We celebrate her life every year on the first day of spring, March 20. She was born in Jamaica, New York to Petrona and Kazys Pusnikas. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Lithuania at the beginning of the last century. Anna is very proud of her Lithuanian heritage and her status as first generation American! She had a sister, Veronica Eva Pusnikas.

Anna attended Jamaica High School where she was an A student. She also attended Hunter College where she studied a secretarial curriculum. She worked on Wall Street until she started her family.

Anna has always had a love of music and for many years studied voice and piano. She even performed on a few radio programs in New York! With her lovely soprano voice, she was a sought after soloist and member of several musical ensembles including the Trenton Choral Society. With her friends Dorothy and Alma, they performed at local parties and dances as the “Soupremes.” For many years, a Christmas tradition at Saint Ignatius church was Anna’s vocal prayer, “Oh Holy Night.”

On May 4, 1947, Anna married “her soldier,” a man who adored her for 61 years, Albin Rogers. For over 60 Valentine’s Day celebrations, Albin presented Anna with a gardenia, her favorite flower. They had 6 children: Karen Anne, Elizabeth Joan, Albin Anthony, Jr., Charles Walter, James Stephen and Veronica Anele. They lived in several states over the years including New York, Ohio, Kentucky and settled permanently in Yardley, Pennsylvania.

The spirit of volunteerism lives in Anna. She has always been involved in her children’s school activity filling roles from PTA president to Room Mother. She was a crew chief with the Yardley-Makefield rescue squad and earned an EMT certification. She has also always been involved in service to the churches in which she is a member.

After her children were grown, Anna studied for her Real Estate license. She worked selling real estate until she retired at age 75! She really enjoyed her career.

One of her most treasured roles is that of grandmother. She has 11 grandchildren: Stefanie Anne, Elizabeth Rose, Katherine Anne, Emily Gail, Albin A., III, James Stephen, Jr., Gregory Charles, Thomas William, Hannah Nicole, Kevin Richard and Anna Veronica.

Anna has been a faithful Roman Catholic all her life. By word and action she taught her children to love God and to serve Him always.

Family favorite memories:

Albin, son: I remember mom being at every football game I played in when I was in high school. I didn't matter what the weather was like. If she was able to be there, she was. I can't remember her missing any.

Bonnie, daughter: The dedication in driving me to Princeton Ballet almost every day of the week for at least five years.

Elizabeth, granddaughter: I remember every New Year's Eve we'd get the cow bell and the gold apple bell and stand on the front porch in the freezing cold and ring the bells at midnight.

Charles, son: One that frequently pops into my head is when we lived in Cincinnati. Everyone, kids and adults I believe, would call her Mary Poppins because of the things she could pull out of nowhere (i.e., things to do, probably dinner, etc.) Heck, just look at that huge ambulance she use to park in the barn!

Kate, granddaughter: Going to the Open Air Theatre every summer. That Lithuanian song she sang and rubbed our palms and tickled us (like the Lithuanian "this little piggy...".)

Betsy, daughter: I remember that every day when I came home from school, Mom was in the kitchen. I would sit down, have a snack and we always talked about my day and issues in my life. She was always there.

I hope this gives you a sense of who Anna Rogers is. She is an amazing woman and greatly loved!