Rebecca gets married!

St. Andrew's Terrace residents share in very special day
7/25/2014  - Lisa Bailey
Rebecca Gillelan and Betty Wood hug on Gillelan's wedding day.  

Every bride wants to share her wedding with the people who matter most in her life. And so it was Rebecca Gillelan’s wish to be with residents of St. Andrew’s Terrace on her special day.

They were all together at a small reception held after Gillelan’s nuptials to Jordan Killam on July 19. Welcomed with applause and cheers, the couple mingled with residents in the Cambridge long-term care home’s community lounge for about half an hour early in the evening. They enjoyed strawberry-topped cheesecake and punch at tables adorned with lace tablecloths and hydrangeas freshly cut from St. Andrew’s gardens.

“It was so nice that they took that time out of such a busy and important day to celebrate with our residents,” says life enrichment manager Sara Byma, whom Gillelan came to with her wish a few months earlier.

Asked if she was absolutely sure she wanted to do this, Gillelan said yes, and the reception was subsequently planned.

“When she came back and confirmed she wanted to do this, she said the residents are such a big part of her life, like a grandparent that you want to have a presence on your special day. You want to be able to share it with them,” Byma says.

Gillelan has gotten to know many residents in her seven years working as a casual and part-time life enrichment aide at St. Andrew’s Terrace, and they no doubt talked about the wedding as the preparations progressed.

Seeing Gillelan on her wedding day brought residents a lot of joy. They congratulated her and commented on her elegant dress and stunning bouquet, Byma says.

The celebration also brought back memories for residents of their own weddings, which they shared.

Residents had some marriage advice for the newlyweds too, which team members helped to collect for a display that was created at the home. Byma put it together and had help from her two daughters in decorating the community lounge. Family members visiting St. Andrew’s Terrace on the day of the wedding were very helpful too, which Byma very much appreciated.

A collection of photos from the wedding day has been posted at the home for residents to see.

“It was most definitely going above and beyond for Rebecca to come visit the residents on her wedding day,” Byma says. “And it means so much to our residents.”

If you have a story to share or feedback on this article, please contact the newsroom at 800-294-0051, 25, or e-mail lisa(at)axiomnews.com.

   
 

~ contact us  ~ corporate profile ~ privacy policylegal infocareers ~ HOME

 

The Steeves & Rozema Group, Copyright © 2011 All rights reserved.
All content on this site, video, graphic and text is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without expressed written consent.