LET s CHAT. A lot for which to be grateful. SAVE THE DATE Christmas at LABDARA C H R I S T M A S

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C H R I S T M A S 2 0 1 7 LET s CHAT Labdara residents news is published by

, Toronto, ON M9A 5G1 WARM CHRISTMAS GREETINGS!

CONSOLATION OF FAITH A lot for which to be grateful 2017 was a special year

of service to the seniors in our community.

We sent humble words of thanks to them and the staff, volunteers and donors

We are grateful to have this place to call home.

into the future! SAVE THE DATE Christmas at LABDARA CONCERT Sun. Dec.

1 C H R I S T M A S LET s CHAT Labdara residents news is published by the Activation Department. Lithuanian Nursing Home, 5 Resurrection Rd., Toronto, ON M9A 5G1 WARM CHRISTMAS GREETINGS!!! WE SEND YOU THREE GIFTS: THE BEAUTY OF HOPE THE SPIRIT OF LOVE THE CONSOLATION OF FAITH A lot for which to be grateful 2017 was a special year for the Labdara Lithuanian nursing home it was the year that marked 15 years of service to the seniors in our community. We celebrated by remembering the founders. We sent humble words of thanks to them and the staff, volunteers and donors who have supported the home over the years. We are grateful to have this place to call home. We are grateful for the service we receive here and wish it a long life far into the future! SAVE THE DATE Christmas at LABDARA CONCERT Sun. Dec. 3; 1:30pm GINTARELIAI children s Christmas concert for the residents KŪČIOS Sat. Dec.9; 9-12pm Maironio Lithuanian School students bring Kūčios to Labdara. CONCERT Sat. Dec.16; 2pm Christmas carols by Holy Family Angels & D. Peck in Tado Svetaine.

EVENING OF THANKS On October 14, 2017 at the Resurrection Parish Hall, across from Labdara, we celebrated an EVENING OF THANKS to mark the end of events honoring Labdara s 15 th Anniversary.

MC s Virginia Peciulis and Julija Simonelis expertly guided us through an evening packed with interesting segments, from the Napoleon torte contest with 12 entries (won by Angela Ambrozaitis) to a

DONATIONS at the entrance raised enough funds to complete the purchase of new resident dining room furniture for all three floors of the home.

!! They served up a delicious dinner buffet featuring salads, roast beef with mushroom sauce, stuffed chicken with sweet & sour sauce, roast vegetables, green bean sauté, rice pilaf, potatoes and, of

2 EVENING OF THANKS On October 14, 2017 at the Resurrection Parish Hall, across from Labdara, we celebrated an EVENING OF THANKS to mark the end of events honoring Labdara s 15 th Anniversary. VOLUNGĖ Womens Ensemble entertained us with a splendid performance of medleys of various rarely hear Lithuanian songs interspersed with self-accompanying movement and rhythmic clapping. MC s Virginia Peciulis and Julija Simonelis expertly guided us through an evening packed with interesting segments, from the Napoleon torte contest with 12 entries (won by Angela Ambrozaitis) to a taste test of the Labdara surprise (a sampling of Labdara-style blended food enjoyed by our residents). DONATIONS at the entrance raised enough funds to complete the purchase of new resident dining room furniture for all three floors of the home. The smiling faces of Vytas Valaitis and Rymantas Petrauskas, at the donations table were encouragement enough! GENUTĖ and her Team did it again!!! They served up a delicious dinner buffet featuring salads, roast beef with mushroom sauce, stuffed chicken with sweet & sour sauce, roast vegetables, green bean sauté, rice pilaf, potatoes and, of course the Labdara surprise! Everyone got a taste of the Napoleon tortes with their coffee/tea for desert. Not a crumb was left anywhere! Sincere thank-you to the bakers who donated their tortes: V. Baliunas, G. Budra, B. Greiciunas, J. Gurklys, I. Gutauskas, I. Peciulis, J. Pike, D. Steponaitis, O. Stoncius, J. Vaitkevicius, R. Siauciunas, R.&L. Samonis, D. Peciulis. RAUDA and her Team of ORGANIZERS worked hard for months leading up to this event and kept the focus on the purpose to give recognition and thanks to the founders, staff, volunteers, donors and supporters without whose participation we would not have Labdara serving our elders at a critical time of need in their lives. Thanks to the organizers for a job well done: Chair - Rauda Dickinson, members: Angelė Ambrozaitis, Genė Kobelskis, Regina Masionis, Gabija Petrauskas, Julija Šimonėlis, and, Rūta Vaišvila. 2

R.J.Juodis, E. Steponas, J. Slivinskas and Dr. R. Zabieliauskas along with Rev. A.

Pamataitis received certificates of thanks by mail.

Home oversight manager since the beginning is Robert Berg, ACC.

Gavrilovic, (Activation Department) Daliborka Lazic (Assistant DOC), Tamara Szczepanska (Food

Funds raised built the portico entrance to the nursing home.

GALA 2012 Palais Royale on Toronto s waterfront.

3 THE FOUNDERS At Oct. 14/17 EVENING OF THANKS we were joined by: LCAT Labdara Foundation and Build Committee Chair, R.J.Juodis, E. Steponas, J. Slivinskas and Dr. R. Zabieliauskas along with Rev. A. Simanavicius and T. Stanulis. V. Kulnys and E. Pamataitis received certificates of thanks by mail. First Home Administrator was Joan Ciupak followed by Vida Narusevicius-Proctor and Eric Harela. Home oversight manager since the beginning is Robert Berg, ACC. Managers working at Labdara since 2002 are: Beata Malizia (Director of Care), Ljiljana Gavrilovic, (Activation Department) Daliborka Lazic (Assistant DOC), Tamara Szczepanska (Food services). GALA 2009, 2012, 2016 GALA 2009 St. George Golf & Country Club. Funds raised built the portico entrance to the nursing home. Co-chairs: Giedra Paulionis & Angela Abromaitis. GALA 2012 Palais Royale on Toronto s waterfront. Funds raised bought new electric beds and matresses for all 90 residents of the home. Co-chairs: Mary Anne Kuslikis & Angela Abromaitis. GALA 2016 Weston Golf & Country Club. Funds raised for resident safety and security enhancement through a video security camera system. Chair: Judy Kavaliauskas. SINCERE THANKS to all of our generous donors and benefactors. Without your support we would not have the only Lithuanian nursing home in Canada. 3

LABDARA FOUNDATION Board of Directors past Chairs: Leonas Radzevičius, Dr.

celebrated Labdara s 15 th Anniversary by holding a series of events: in April we started a fundraising campaign

outdoor and indoor signage on the Home, celebrated the opening of the doors to the first residents in June 2002

Toronto (LCAT) who initiated the nursing home project and built the home in 2002, as well as the many people who,

We counted over 150 people to thank and sent or delivered VIP intivations and certificates of appreciation to them

4 LABDARA FOUNDATION Board of Directors past Chairs: Leonas Radzevičius, Dr. Raymond Zablieliauskas, Giedra Paulionis, Grazina Laurinaitis, current chair - Gabija Petrauskas This year we celebrated Labdara s 15 th Anniversary by holding a series of events: in April we started a fundraising campaign for new resident dining room furniture (new furniture was installed on all three floors by November), put new outdoor and indoor signage on the Home, celebrated the opening of the doors to the first residents in June 2002 with an Open House and blessing of the new plaque at Labdara and ended the celebrations on Oct. 14 th with an EVENING OF THANKS. The Board of Directors thought it would be most fitting to thank the Lithuanian Canadian Community Association of Toronto (LCAT) who initiated the nursing home project and built the home in 2002, as well as the many people who, over the past15 years, have contributed to the success of the Labdara Lithuanian Nursing Home. We counted over 150 people to thank and sent or delivered VIP intivations and certificates of appreciation to them all. We are grateful to all of you for your generous gifts of time, talents, financial resources. Without you we would not exist. A special Thank-you to the former Chairs of the Labdara Foundation Board of Directors (see above) for their leadership in putting this home on a solid foundation that bodes well for the future. ADMINISTRATION s GREETINGS The Management & staff of Labdara Nursing Home wish everyone a peaceful Christmas. Eric, Robert, Beata, Ljiljana, Tamara, Rita, Daliborka, Vladas, Marie and all the staff of the home. 4

5 LIFE WITH US 5

6 FOOD FOR THOUGHT Prepared by Aina The Holy Scriptures are the manger in which the Child was laid. Martin Luther Have you ever started telling a story only to lose your train of thought and finish it with an entirely different ending? That happens to me... But God doesn t have such difficulties. From the beginning of the Bible He speaks of the Saviour. He shares details of His coming. Therefor the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Emanuel Isaiah 7: years later, this prophesy came true. A son was born to Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem. He looked the same as everyone else. He was not rich, nor powerful. But through Him, God showed the world his love and continued to show us the path to salvation as He had done a thousand years before His birth. Did you know the name Emanuel means God amongst us? God became man through Jesus. St. Augustine wrote: He through whom all things were made became one of His creatures. The Creator of the sun lived under the sun. He who fills the world, lay in a manger If we stop to think about this, we will understand that by becoming man, God showed His sincere concern for us. He came to serve us. He came to give, not to take! From a love greater than we can understand, Jesus experienced all of our weaknesses and limitations that we live with daily. He felt exhaustion, thirst, hunger. His heart felt sadness and despair. He was lonely, betrayed and abandoned He felt pain when those He loved did not understand Him. He even experienced that which is the hardest to bear - death. By being born as man, He became one of us. Emanuel. God among us. And what does all this mean? It means that we have a God who understands us completely. He not only understands, He empathizes with us and is ready to help us. Two thousand years ago, God gave us the best of all gifts possible He gave us Himself. Let us rejoice and be glad and share it with others! Never Tire of Doing Good What s most important in life? Friends, family, happiness? What if they are not to around? When there is no one to give you a smile? Then you must give the gift of a smile to another. When no one wishes you a good day? Then you must wish someone a good day. Oh how easy it is to become self-important Are we naught but a passing sigh? Even in the brief time we are here we can profoundly effect in the lives of others. Things, gifts, money what is their value? Do they bring us true happiness? No. We need friendship, a loving glance, a warm embrace. And if we don t get them, let s give them to another who needs them more than we do. Our smiles and love given to others will come back to us; if not immediately but eventually they will return. Let us love the way we want to be loved, Let us give thanks for what we have, and, Let us not be preoccupied with what we do not have. Never tire of doing good. 6

LET'S CHAT UPCOMING EVENTS COME VISIT US AT LABDARA THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

LET'S CHAT UPCOMING EVENTS COME VISIT US AT LABDARA THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING 5 Resurrection Rd., Toronto, ON M9A 5G1 5 Resurrection Rd., Toronto, ON M9A 5G1 LET'S CHAT WINTER 2018 Labdara residents news is published quarterly by the Activation Department UPCOMING EVENTS COME VISIT