St. Mary’s Academy Alumnae and Staff Help Create Keepsake Books

Remembrances of good times and struggles along with smiles and laughter helped create instant bonds when alumnae and staff from St. Mary’s Academy, Englewood, Colo., and elders who frequently visit Denver’s Southwest Improvement Council (SWIC) sat down together to capture memories in a keepsake book.

The idea for the memory book was Jan Belle’s who, as director of SWIC, realized that frequent moves, downsizing or a lack of time kept some of the elders from having any record of their lives to hand on to the next generation.

Jan shared her idea with Cathy Darnell and they teamed up for the memory book project. Cathy then invited other alumnae to get involved to do interviews and create the books. On the day of the interviews, several women who had signed up to participate when Cathy introduced the idea on several earlier visits to SWIC gathered before lunch. The elders paired off with an alumna. Soon other women, and then a few gentlemen, decided to share their stories. “I think they realized their stories were important and would be appreciated by their families,” commented Catherine Hupp.

The following week, with detailed notes and lovely photos of each person, the alumnae assembled attractive books for the elders. Jan, who sees the group almost daily, recognized a larger benefit. “The elders, by sharing their stories with enthusiastic scribes, realized, some for the very first time, that their life’s work is worthy of respect and remembrance.”

Cathy Darnell summed up the insights gained from conversations the alumnae and staff had with the elders: “Many of the stories we heard involved facing and overcoming hardships. I think we all came to respect the resilience of these elders and realize how blessed we were to have the chance to talk with them and offer them our attention and care.”