Co-workers are Extended Family at Lake Forest Village
By Rita Martin, Good Samaritan Society, Denton LIVING WELL Magazine
I came to work for Good Samaritan Society – Denton Village in 1987, expecting it to just be a good job. I quickly realized that it is much more. I left Denton Village after 12 years and transferred to Lake Forest, and my extraordinary journey continued.
What I have experienced is an extended family relationship with residents and staff members. This family has celebrated the good times with me and has also been there during the unhappy times. Since most of my family lives far away, the support I get at the center is so important to me.
Throughout the years, I have made many trips to Tennessee and Kentucky to spend holidays and vacations with my loved ones. But this last year, I have made even more trips to Memphis to spend time with my mother. She was an extraordinary lady who led a very active life – hardly ever being sick for almost 100 years!
She and my dad, before he died in 1990, made trips to both Lake Forest Village and Denton Village and got to know several residents.
So this past year, when Mom became ill, she was remembered in many prayers. These prayers continued for me and my family following her death. She died exactly one week before her 100th birthday.
To work in an environment that supports you with prayer and unconditional love is almost unheard of. This is not the case at Good Samaritan Society – Lake Forest Village because we truly do live out our mission to share God’s love in word and deed.
I will be forever grateful to my precious extended family for their love and support.
Author Rita Martin is the director of senior housing at Good Samaritan Society – Lake Forest Village and may be reached at 940-891-6443.
