Doesn’t Marie DelGais have a beautiful smile?
It’s been on display a lot over the past few months, ever since she joined the Catholic Charities of Long Island senior center in Wantagh.
Marie, 81, came to the center at the urging of her daughter, Kathy. Marie, who does not drive, arrives each day on the center’s bus. From the moment of her arrival, she was welcomed as a friend.
She enjoys socializing with other members, and they share good times at parties, working on craft projects and, of course, playing BINGO!
Before finding her place at the center, Marie would sit in her house day after day, spending a lot of time by herself after the passing of her husband three years ago.
When Marie was introduced to the senior center, she felt ready to socialize again. Now, she says, she has stories to tell and people to meet. While she still misses her husband each day, she feels his peaceful presence alongside her.
She is a warm, caring person, who recently introduced her neighbor and friend, Carmela, also a widow, to the center. Marie said one good turn deserved another, and she was glad to share her good fortune.
Marie’s family, including her three grown children and eight grandchildren, are so happy their matriarch is finding a whole new circle of friends at the Catholic Charities center.
And Marie also happily stays in touch with many of the more than 50 children she babysat when her children were growing up.