Volunteer extraordinaire Eleanor Waha received an award and a party in her honor for her more than 50 years of volunteer service at the Cook County North Shore Care Center. Eleanor has baked more than 600 birthday cakes for residents in that time, and she makes sure to keep residents up to date with all of the latest news and happenings of the day on her almost daily visits. Of the gifts she received on Feb. 25, her favorite, she said, was a wreath made of cards with messages written to her from the residents. Holding the cake behind Eleanor are Nora Bockovich (left) and Hilja Iverson.
Smiles and good cheer abounded as more than 150 people turned out to congratulate Eleanor Waha on her selection as the LeadingAge Minnesota District B Volunteer of the Year. The award was presented to her by Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center Administrator Kimber Wraalstad.
Wraalstad said, “No one could be more deserving of this award than Eleanor Waha. She even came in early to help set up the room for her party, but the residents and staff wouldn’t let her bake her own cake when she offered to also do that. That was their treat.”
Wraalstad made the presentation at the Care Center on Thursday, Feb. 25 in front of a packed house of friends, relatives, well wishers and residents, all of whom know, love and appreciate what the energetic 91-year-old has done with her life as a kind and caring servant to others.
Wraalstad said when Care Center Activities Director Kay Rosenthal retired last year, her last goal was to see Eleanor honored. “So working with Kay and Kelly Swearingen [another hospital employee], we submitted the nomination application,” said Wraalstad.
It is easy to see why Waha was picked for the award.
“Eleanor has been a volunteer for Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center since before the Care Center was even built in 1963,” Wraalstad explained. “She has over 50 years of commitment and dedicated service to the residents of the Care Center and she continues to volunteer her time almost daily, one to two hours, to come in and interact with residents and swing bed patients at our facility.
“Eleanor began her service by making resident birthday cakes. Current estimates have Eleanor making over 600 cakes.
“In addition, Eleanor provides rides to others who want to visit the Care Center. When there is a special event at the Care Center, Eleanor will pick up and take home residents’ family members so ‘no one misses the action.’”
Before going to the Care Center Friday mornings, Eleanor first stops at the Cook County News-Herald to pick up the care center’s newspapers and personally delivers them. On Sundays she distributes church bulletins to residents and no one who has a birthday is ever forgotten. She bakes them a cake or makes sure one is there for them and she gives them a card.
In the application sent to the LeadingAge Committee, it was noted, “One of her greatest contributions is the one-on-one time she spends with individuals. She will stop in and assist a resident working on a puzzle, bring local newspapers or will just stop in and visit with someone who may prefer to be in their room instead of attending events. With those who seem to be more introverted and quiet, Eleanor makes a special effort to greet. She never overstays, but just has a brief conversation to say ‘Hi, how are you today?’ and lets the resident dictate if the conversation should continue beyond a greeting.
“Eleanor tries to make sure that while they may be in the Care Center, each person is still a member of the community and they are not forgotten.”
“Eleanor’s commitment to the aging population of Cook County and to our residents is a true inspiration to others. North Shore Care Center residents have benefited greatly from the over 18,000 hours Eleanor has shared of her time,” said Wraalstad.
Ever humble, Eleanor tried to deflect the kind words coming her way, saying there were many others who also dedicate a lot of time to the care center, but Wraalstad, laughing and shaking her head no, said with a merry smile, “No. No Eleanor, we don’t have any other people who have dedicated 18,000 hours of volunteer time to the Care Center.”
With that Eleanor was presented an exquisite glass inscribed award, a shirt, and a necklace made by the residents. Each piece of the paper cutout necklace was inscribed with words of encouragement, affection, appreciation, and most of all, thanks for someone who is there day in and day out.
Or, as Wraalstad said, “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, stays Eleanor from her daily visits to the Care Center.”
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