Brothers of Mercy

Colonial statesman, scientist and philosopher Benjamin Franklin once said, “...nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes…” Although nothing can be done about that first inevitability, a member of the Brothers of Mercy Campus Foundation staff might be able to help with taxes this year.

The Brothers of Mercy Campus Foundation will provide free tax preparation advice and support for those whose annual income is less than $49,000 on Mondays, Jan. 18, Jan. 25, Feb. 1. Audrey Nguyen, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) certified tax preparer will coordinate the program through the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Interested individuals can meet in the privacy of an office in the Brothers of Mercy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 10570 Bergtold Rd., Clarence.

Thirty-minute meetings will be scheduled throughout the day. Appointments are required. Participants are asked to bring all tax-related paperwork needed for filing including their copies of state and federal income tax forms for 2008, W2 form, receipts for energy credit, new home purchase credit, or new vehicle incentives credit. In addition, the filer’s Social Security card and social security information for all dependents, information related to mortgage payments, medical expenditures, unemployment benefits for 2009, documentation about debt cancellation and deductibility of property taxes should be provided. A copy of bank account information is also needed if a direct deposit refund is preferred.

To reserve an appointment date and time, or for more information, call Audrey Nguyen at 759-7808.

Two nonprofit eldercare facilities in Clarence invite men, women and teens to join their volunteer teams. Individuals and couples who would like to spend a little time each week as part of an active and uplifting volunteer effort are needed throughout the week at the Brothers of Mercy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 10570 Bergtold Rd., and the Brothers of Mercy Sacred Heart Adult Home, 4520 Ransom Rd.

Adult volunteers are especially needed to help in the small gift shops in each facility. The Nursing and Rehabilitation Center gift shop is open between 8:30 a.m.and 8 p.m., every day. The Sacred Heart Adult Home gift shop is open Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. and between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Volunteer schedules are flexible to meet the preference of the individual.

Volunteers enjoy free parking and a free meal each time they volunteer, and they are guests at an annual recognition event. In addition, they are entitled to discounts at Brothers of Mercy Foundation special events including the annual Bavarian Fest, Garden Gala, Caritas Awards Dinner, and Columbus Weekend 5K Nature Run/Walk.

For more information about volunteer opportunities contact Valerie Sonnenfled at the Brothers of Mercy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 759-7617, or Missy Trzeciesski at the Brothers of Mercy Sacred Heart Adult Home, 759-2644 ext. 331.

Sacred Heart Adult Home: 4520 Ransom Rd., Clarence, NY
Brothers of Mercy Senior Apartments: 10500 Bergtold Rd., Clarence, NY
Brothers of Mercy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center: 10570 Bergtold Rd., Clarence, NY

Dash’s Markets
Clarence/Lancaster: 8845 Main St., Clarence, NY
North Buffalo: 1770 Hertel Ave., Buffalo, NY
Kenmore/Tonawanda: 1210 Colvin Blvd., Tonawanda, NY
East Amherst/Williamsville: 499 West Klein Rd., East Amherst, NY

Members of the Knights of Columbus
Our Lady of Hope Council
Grand Knight Anthony Piciulo 716-807-8009
1530 Kenmore Avenue, Buffalo

Br. Jude Holzfoerster, FMM has been re-elected to serve as the American regional superior and president of the board of directors of the Brothers of Mercy. It is the fourth consecutive time Br. Jude has been elected to s six-year term.

As regional superior, Br. Jude oversees the entire Clarence campus on the corner of Ransom and Bergtold Roads in Clarence. It is the sole American region. He will closely with Br. Stephan Geissler, FMM, superior general of the order, and other brothers in Germany and the Netherlands. Br. Jude is a native of Kentucky.

Br. Kenneth Thomas, FMM was elected first assistant council member and Br. Fidelis Verrall, FMM were elected first and second assitant council members, respectively. They will serve six-year terms on the board of directors. They will be joined by newly elected members of the board of directors Br. Gabriel-Joseph Parisi, FMM and Br. Matthias Moller, FMM.

Br. Jude made his first profession of vows and received his habit in 1952, and he made his final vows in 1960. He has worked at several of the brothers’ former facilities in Buffalo and Kansas City, Missouri, and served in various leadership positions including assistant general between 1967 and 1973.

Br. Kenneth is the Brothers of Mercy Campus Foundation assistant. He has also held several positions on the Clarence campus including cook, unit clerk and financial advisor. He entered the congregation in 1998 and is a native of Fredonia.

Br. Fidelis became a Brother of Mercy 45 years ago. A nurse, he has also served the order in numerous capacities. Currently, he is director of spiritual care at the 240-bed Brothers of Mercy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He is a native of North Tonawanda.

Like Br. Fidelis, Br. Gabriel-Joseph is in charge of spiritual care. He serves residents of the Brothers of Mercy Sacred Heart Adult Home. He has been a member of the congregation since 1995 and is a native of Tonawanda.

Br. Matthias has been a member of the Nursing and Rehabilitation’s Center’s fiscal services team since 2008. He serves as fiscal assistant. Br. Matthias will make his final profession of vows in Feb. 2010. He is a native of Westchester County, NY.

Brothers of Mercy Sacred Heart Adult Home administrator Marion Hummell has promoted two employees at the Clarence facility.

Mindee McDonald, BSN, and Gina Tedesco will provide additional administrative support and serve as assistant administrators in addition to their previous duties at the 80-unit senior care facility on Ransom Road.

McDonald will continue her responsibilities as health services director. She has been a Sacred Heart Adult Home employee for 11 years, initially with the dietary staff and, later, with health services. She graduated from the Orleans-Niagara Board of Cooperative Educational Services nursing program and the State University of New York at Buffalo. She resides in Lockport.

Tedesco began her healthcare career as an assistant with the Brothers of Mercy Campus Foundation. After several years in other healthcare settings, she returned to the Brothers of Mercy campus in 2008 as business manager. The Depew resident holds a bachelor’s degree from D’Youville College and an associate’s degree from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.

The Brothers of Mercy Sacred Heart Adult Home provides comfortable, affordable care to elderly men and women who do not require 24-hour skilled nursing care, but would benefit from personal care aide assistance, medication supervision, and the comfort and convenience of meal preparation in addition to housekeeping and maintenance services in a stimulating and friendly atmosphere. The Sacred Heart Adult Home is located at 4520 Ransom Rd. For more information, call 759-2644 ext. 348.

Akron resident Noreen Graney says it’s hard to believe she has been employed at the same senior care facility for 20 years, but, when she was handed a commemorative pin and a large bouquet of mixed flowers, it became reality.

The items were presented by Marion Hummell, administrator, during an Oct. 14 ceremony at the Brothers of Mercy Sacred Heart Adult Home, Clarence.

A personal care aide, Graney said she didn’t anticipate working at the same place for 20 years when she first opened the door at the Ransom Rd. facility. “I walked in…and said, ‘Give me something to do,’ and they did!” She trained as a personal care aide and has enjoyed it ever since. “I trained here, and I love it,” she said. “I assist residents in the dining room, in their bedrooms, on the patio, in the game room…anywhere and everywhere they need me.”

Although the facility and some of the staff have changed over the years, the focus of care has remained the same. “The residents always come first at Sacred Heart,” she said. “They always do!”

The Brothers of Mercy Sacred Heart Adult Home is a nonprofit senior care facility that offers supportive care to men and women who do not require 24-hour skilled nursing care, but would benefit from medication reminders, meal preparation, stimulating activities, and housekeeping and maintenance services. For more information, call 759-7629.

Employees honored for dedication to others at Brothers of Mercy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Three women have been honored for their dedication to the residents of the Brothers of Mercy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Clarence. They were named Employee of the Month at the 240-bed skilled nursing and sub-acute rehabilitation center during the past several months.

In August, the honoree was nutritional service manager Linda Reitz of East Amherst. The September honoree was Erin Saraf, LPN, a member of the center’s nursing staff. She is a Lockport resident. Lisa Merrill, a resident of Attica, is the October honoree. She is the nonprofit senior care facility’s laundry manager.

The Brothers of Mercy Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a nonprofit senior care facility that offers long-term skilled nursing care and sub-acute rehabilitation services including speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy, specialized rehabilitation nursing care, social services and other interrelated services. For more information call 759-7629.

Updated: Tuesday, 31 Mar 2009, 10:14 AM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 31 Mar 2009, 9:52 AM EDT

BUFFALO, N .Y. (WIVB) - If you love to work with people, you are patient and looking to work in the healthcare industry, there is an opportunity just for you.

Tuesday's story 4 Your Job is about becoming a certified nurse's assistant. It's one of the few hot careers not feeling this recession, CNA's.

Patricia Ryan from Brothers of Mercys said, "A certified nurse's assistant provides all care for residents, work with them, social, dressing, grooming, bathing."

At Brother's of Mercy , they are always looking for good CNA's. They have part-time positions open, and if you aren't certified, once you're hired, they'll help you get certification.

"You don't need prior experience to this job. You do all full training here. The training program is about 100 hours, during a 3 week period."

There's no education requirement such as GED or high school equivalent, and you get paid during training.

"Initially in nurse and training, you're paid a minimum of $7.15 an hour. After completion and state testing, if you pass, they will increase your wage to $10.25/hour."

Pay after years of service can go up to $15 an hour. There are three different shifts, with a slight increase in pay for those working afternoons and overnights.

Brothers of Mercy also offers various benefit plans for both part-time and full-time workers, and for those looking to go the next step into nursing, there's also help.

"We offer tuition reimbursement encourage to take license practical nurse or reg. nurse."

Brothers of Mercy wants to help those who want to help others.

Bro. Fidelis Verrall from Brothers of Mercy said, "We're looking for people who are compassionate, loving, understanding, dedicated, all part of our mission statement."

The Buffalo Employment and Training Center downtown offers free vouchers to get CNA training for those who qualify.