Long-time Volunteer from New York Passes Away
Ronnie, a devoted volunteer, passed away August 22. She had cancer. Though weak and still taking chemotherapy treatments, her physical condition didn’t stop her from making one last trip to SHSM this spring. She spent several weeks in Holly Springs, doing what she did best--working with the students at Holy Family school and helping in the Garden Cafe.
For several years, Ronnie would come down for two or three months at a time. Health issues made her cut back on the length of her stays, but certainly did not curb her enthusiasm.
In a past interview, Ronnie recalled one of her very first volunteer visits. She said she was out traveling with Elvira, who has since retired. They were visiting an elderly woman. Among other concerns, the woman complained about her toes and her feet. “Without blinking,” Ronnie said, “Elvira got a wash basin and immediately washed the woman’s feet and clipped her toenails. I imagined Jesus at the Last Supper... it was at that moment that I knew this is the work of Christ.”
For Ronnie, Sacred Heart Southern Missions was a home away from home. Dedicated to our mission, this this veteran volunteer made an annual pilgrimage from Long Island, New York to north Mississippi for seven years. She said, “Its like coming home... I am so glad I found this place.” Thank you, Ronnie for your service.
