Photo/courtesy MaryEllen Kuras
Marlborough – Helen Jarzobski recently was presented with the 2015 Resident Spirit Award at the 25th Annual Massachusetts Assisted Living Facilities Association (MASS ALFA ) Awards Gala held at Lombardo’s in Randolph. Boston media personality Susan Wornick hosted the event.
Jarzobski, 100, originally from Webster, Mass., has resided at Christopher Heights in Marlborough for the last five years. According to her biography noted on the association’s website, “Jarzobski is a force to be reckoned with. She successfully raised four beautiful children as a single mother living in poverty with vision in one eye during war, the Depression and at a time when women were heavily discriminated against.”
Two years ago, at the age of 98, Jarzobski fell and broke her pelvis. Many elders never recover from that type of devastating injury but Jarzobski, once again proving her mettle, defied the odds by ambulating 20 feet without assistance a mere two weeks after her fall.
“Shortly after, she went shopping with her family for a new and exciting walker. Helen is a positive, strong, determined woman, and she is vital to her community—out and about every day in head-to-toe matching outfits with her bright shiny red walker, helping new residents and encouraging everyone to get involved in community activities,” the biography continued.
Always dressed to the “nines” and ready to enjoy the day’s activities, she loves to socialize and tell stories about her life. And proving that you are never too old to fulfill your dreams, at age 70 she attended modeling school and then modeled for 10 years.
When Jarzobski turned 100 in March, she was the guest at two parties: one for her family and friends and one thrown by the Christopher Heights staff for her to enjoy with the other residents.
At the MASS ALFA gala, Jarzobski was accompanied by her two daughters, MaryEllen Kuras and Darlene Joyal, as well as Walter Ohanian, managing director of the Grantham Group, Stephanie Nordstrom, admissions and marketing director at Christopher Heights, and Christopher Heights Executive Director Denise Jones, who nominated Jarzobski for the Spirit Award.
“Helen was chosen because she is a survivor- her lifetime of hardships and struggles and her determination and spirit to keep going made her who she is today,” Jones said. “That determination and strength to survive is brought into our community every day. She is an exemplary woman that lives a life we should all be proud of. I am honored that she chose to live in our community.”
After Wornick presented Jarzobski with the Spirit Award, the entire audience rose to their feet with a standing ovation.
Her Christopher Heights friends noted when she returned to the table after receiving her award she had tears in her eyes and was “grateful for the recognition.”
She also modestly noted, “I knew I’d win.”
The 25th Annual MASS ALFA Awards honored the best in the assisted living industry in categories including employee leadership, program innovation and volunteers.
For more information visit http://www.christopherheights.com/ and http://www.massalfa.org/education-events-listing/25th-anniversary-awards-gala-dinner
