Sr. Gloria Thomas awarded Sylvia Stewart the Jeanne Jugan Award on October 25, 2012 to enthusiastic applause from residents, fellow employees, sisters, and Sylvia’s family members. Sylvia has been a CNA at the Home for 15 years.
One of Sylvia’s nominations for the award read in part
“I wish to nominate Sylvia Stewart for this year’s St. Jeanne Jugan award because of her many years of dedicated service to St. Augustine’s Home, her genuine love and compassion for the residents, and her humble spirit….I feel that Sylvia embodies the spirit of St. Jeanne Jugan by always seeking first the Residents’ happiness. She gives freely of her own time, talents, and finances as well as her working time, and most of all because she does all of this with a serene and loving humility.”
Sylvia loves the Residents and the feeling is mutual. Sylvia calls in on days off to check on her Residents, volunteers to go on outings in her own time, and hosts an annual wine tasting party for the whole Home using wine she has made herself. Residents have specifically requested that Sylvia be with them in their final moments; several have waited until she arrived before returning to be with God.
Sylvia sat with her head bowed as her nominations were read; her family members beamed with pride and watched her as if saying, “Are you listening? That’s what WE say!” Sylvia is an asset and shares joy, fun, and loving warmth with all she meets, and we are grateful to have her at St. Augustine’s.
Sylvia Stewart Receives St. Jeanne Jugan Award