Nun survives COVID-19, celebrates 105th birthday in nursing home
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Sister Anne Marie Solomon, a nun who recently survived her battle with COVID-19, celebrated her 105th birthday on Monday, March 8.
Solomon marked her special day with seven other nuns from Sisters of the Good Shepherd in The Emmanuel Center nursing home in Pennsylvania, as reported by local newspaper The Danville News.
“What was planned was going to be a window party at a door,” Sister Mary Carol McClenon was quoted as saying, as she spoke about their order’s original plans for Solomon’s birthday. They intended the party to be socially distanced, considering the risks of holding the festivities in the nursing home.
Fortunately, all of the nuns in the order were allowed to come in person for a scheduled visitation, stated nursing home representative Dawn Orzehowski.
The nursing home’s staff set up colorful balloons, a stuffed lamb, a pink poster and gold balloons with the numbers 1, 0 and 5. Solomon’s visitors all wore masks as they enjoyed the party.
McClenon said Solomon was diagnosed with COVID-19 last December, but her condition was not severe and did not require hospitalization.
Both McClenon and Orzehowski noted that Solomon is a loving person, but was too tired to express her joy during the party.
“Of course, the day she’s having her 105th birthday, she was tired. She was up most of the night being vocal. She tells everyone ‘I love you,'” Orzehowski said in the report.
“When she’s not sleepy, she’s quite communicative… When I said ‘Are you enjoying your birthday?, she said ‘Yes,'” McClenon added.
Apart from her role as a servant of the church, Solomon has served many people, before and after entering the convent in 1936. As per report, she taught science and English in different countries such as Japan, Alaska and Guam. She was also given assignments in a domestic violence shelter and her order’s pre-school. Dana Cruz/JB
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