{"id":78554,"date":"2020-04-06T08:01:38","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T12:01:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=78554"},"modified":"2020-04-08T07:55:36","modified_gmt":"2020-04-08T11:55:36","slug":"the-faces-of-riverview-manor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/","title":{"rendered":"The faces of Riverview Manor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On March 14, 77 residents at Riverview Manor Healthcare in Owego were put on lockdown, a move to protect vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. For many inside and outside of the home\u2019s walls, it provoked a variety of emotions, and also called for a change in residential activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Staff members Tiffany Johnson and Pat Adams donned their Halloween costumes to brighten the day and bring lots of smiles. Provided photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Located on Fifth Avenue in Owego, N.Y., the residents at Riverview, which is normally filled with community members, loved ones and activities, is much quieter these days, with residents social distancing inside the facility as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey are frustrated that they can\u2019t see their families or eat as a group, but they are doing well with it,\u201d said Debbie Savich, who has served as the activities director at the facility for 25 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do puzzles, crafts, cards, dominoes, and more,\u201d said Savich, adding, \u201cWe have even been doing Facetime and Skype so our residents can visit with their families.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Ron Tomassetti enjoys a visit from a dinosaur and unicorn. Provided photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

She noted that a favorite activity is Bingo, which they play in the hallway now and by their doorway to keep social distancing in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One particular resident at the home, however, is counting down the days, not the number of days until the pandemic ends, but the number of days until she reaches her 100th birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doris Willett, who has resided at the home for several years, and following independent living for 20, will turn 100 years old on April 24; a day she has been looking forward to for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The granddaughter of Mary Edsall shows her engagement ring through the window. Provided photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe has been waiting to turn 100 every day since she turned 99,\u201d said Savich. \u201cShe just kept saying, \u201cI\u2019m going to turn 100 you know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Savich is asking the community to send her cards for her birthday, and suggested that maybe children from the community that are home as well can send in some cards. She did note that they should be sent to arrive by April 19, as the mail has to be held for several days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSend them a few days early,\u201d said Savich.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Verna Tomassetti shows off the quilt she just finished. Never one to be idle, she is now making teddy bears to give away. Provided photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Doris\u2019s family will be arriving on her birthday as well so they can see her through the glass, and has prepared a film to show her to commemorate her birthday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We caught up with her family last week to talk to them about what they were planning for Doris\u2019s special day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Barbara (Hendery) Willett, Doris\u2019s daughter-in-law, they will have a cake in the Riverside Room for her 100th, and the family will be able to look in the room and watch her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Pictured, is Richard Willett and his mom, Doris. Provided photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Barbara also described Doris as being in good health, and with no big issues. \u201cShe has arthritis, and those types of things that come with being 99,\u201d said Barbara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doris\u2019s only son, Richard, is having a tough time with not being able to visit his mom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Richard, he visited Doris a couple of times a week, and now he calls her every morning at 8:15 a.m. He added that living in Owego helped him to stop in and see her more often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, Richard hasn\u2019t seen his mother since March 9; and it\u2019s been what he described as tough; tough on him, and tough on his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe talk every day,\u201d said Richard of his mom, \u201cbut it\u2019s not the same.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Doris Willett is pictured a few years back with her family. Pictured on the top, from left, are granddaughter Jen Everritt, great-grandson Jeffrey, great-granddaughters Jamie and Cassidy, great-grandson Dexter, and son and daughter-in-law Dick and Barb; on the bottom, from left, are grandson-in-law Dean Everritt, grandson Scott, Doris Willett, great-grandson Griffin, granddaughter-in-law Sarah, Lila Hendery (Barbara\u2019s mom), grandson Chris, Anne Murphy (Barbara\u2019s sister). Absent is great-granddaughter-in-law Devi. Provided photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The family had been planning a 100th birthday celebration for Doris, in which family was going to arrive. Now, they can only celebrate through the windows and walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been an ordeal for everyone,\u201d said Richard, adding, \u201cMy kids and grandkids wanted to come. I wanted to do something, a big family deal; so I\u2019m glad they\u2019re (Riverview) doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the goal, then and now, is to get at least 100 cards to Doris for her birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the opening of things that she loves,\u201d said Savich, about activities. She mentioned Doris\u2019s baking, and some of the awards for cooking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Denise Corcoran and her family play music for residents at Riverview Manor on Thursday, from outside. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoris wears her medals proudly,\u201d said Savich.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also noted, however, that Doris understands what is going on, and is very excited about her upcoming birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A glimpse at Doris\u2019s journal offered a glimpse into what her life was like. She went to her first eight grades in a one-room schoolhouse that was right next door to her homestead. She had the same teacher for the full eight years, who was very artistic and had beautiful penmanship (referred to as The Palmer Method). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doris wrote about the teacher bringing baby lambs into the classroom from her home to teach the children how to care for them. Also she brought in branches of fruit trees to teach grafting techniques for growing two or more kinds of apples on the same tree.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Denise Corcoran and her family play music for residents at Riverview Manor on Thursday, from outside. (Photo by Wendy Post)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The students had to go a mile away to take their regents exams in 7th and 8th grades. Those same years she had the job of being the janitor in her one room school – unlocking the door every morning, starting the wood stove, and keeping it going all day long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her jobs included sweeping the room and coat closets, shoveling snow in winter, cleaning the chalkboards, bringing in pails of water (they all used the same drinking dipper), and washing windows on sunny days. All this for $1 a week; so she was excited for four weeks to go by, as that was when she was paid $4.00!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No doubt, a much different time from where we are at today. As a matter of fact, if born a couple of years sooner, Doris would have been alive during the entire 1918 influenza\u00a0pandemic, which lasted until December of 1920.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to her son Richard, Doris also lived alone for 20 years in her Endicott home following her husband Gordon\u2019s passing. Thanks to her independent living, it appears that Doris is faring well, at the honorable age of 99, soon to be 100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you would like to send cards to Doris, you can mail them to Riverview Manor, 510 Fifth Ave., Owego, N.Y. 13827, Attention: Doris Willett.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Photo of my own visit with my dad in Rochester. Photo credit: Shawn Dowd \/ Rochester Democrat And Chronicle.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We Are In This Together<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because many are separated from their loved ones in this fashion, The Owego Pennysaver also invited the residents of the home to share their face with the community, and let everyone, on the outside, know that they are doing okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personally, I visited my own father at his independent living facility in Rochester last weekend. I was able to take pictures drawn by my grandchildren, his great-grandchildren, to be looked at through the window. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside of not being able to visit Owego and visit and go to the casino, as well as his drives to Batavia a few times a week to bet on the horses, my dad is doing well. He does miss a good game of bridge, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many others in the same situation, or worse; there are those that have lost loved ones and are not able to hug them, or say their goodbyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This pandemic is tearing families apart, yet somehow bringing them together, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please feel free to share your stories and photos; we would love to have them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can email to wpost@owegopennysaver.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On March 14, 77 residents at Riverview Manor Healthcare in Owego were put on lockdown, a move to protect vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":78555,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nThe faces of Riverview Manor - Owego Pennysaver Press<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The faces of Riverview Manor - Owego Pennysaver Press\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"On March 14, 77 residents at Riverview Manor Healthcare in Owego were put on lockdown, a move to protect vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic....\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Owego Pennysaver Press\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/The-Owego-Pennysaver-49179420591\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-04-06T12:01:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2020-04-08T11:55:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2020\/04\/Riverview1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1927\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1740\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"psadvert\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"psadvert\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/\",\"name\":\"The faces of Riverview Manor - Owego Pennysaver Press\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2020\/04\/Riverview1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-04-06T12:01:38+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-04-08T11:55:36+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#\/schema\/person\/e03684194434956dfb61f5ffcbc19492\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2020\/04\/Riverview1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2020\/04\/Riverview1.jpg\",\"width\":1927,\"height\":1740,\"caption\":\"Doris Willett, who turns 100 on April 24, is pictured making pinecone bird feeders for the back yard. Provided photo.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The faces of Riverview Manor\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#website\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/\",\"name\":\"Owego Pennysaver Press\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#\/schema\/person\/e03684194434956dfb61f5ffcbc19492\",\"name\":\"psadvert\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0f42612cb07a4c4b7f1eb18ddb88bac4f8054cf2755aff2b1ac4f82d9e9ffd01?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0f42612cb07a4c4b7f1eb18ddb88bac4f8054cf2755aff2b1ac4f82d9e9ffd01?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"psadvert\"},\"url\":\"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/author\/psadvert\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The faces of Riverview Manor - Owego Pennysaver Press","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The faces of Riverview Manor - Owego Pennysaver Press","og_description":"On March 14, 77 residents at Riverview Manor Healthcare in Owego were put on lockdown, a move to protect vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic....","og_url":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/","og_site_name":"Owego Pennysaver Press","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/The-Owego-Pennysaver-49179420591\/","article_published_time":"2020-04-06T12:01:38+00:00","article_modified_time":"2020-04-08T11:55:36+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1927,"height":1740,"url":"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2020\/04\/Riverview1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"psadvert","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"psadvert","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/","url":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/","name":"The faces of Riverview Manor - Owego Pennysaver Press","isPartOf":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2020\/04\/Riverview1.jpg","datePublished":"2020-04-06T12:01:38+00:00","dateModified":"2020-04-08T11:55:36+00:00","author":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#\/schema\/person\/e03684194434956dfb61f5ffcbc19492"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/#primaryimage","url":"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2020\/04\/Riverview1.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/owego\/files\/2020\/04\/Riverview1.jpg","width":1927,"height":1740,"caption":"Doris Willett, who turns 100 on April 24, is pictured making pinecone bird feeders for the back yard. Provided photo."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/04\/06\/the-faces-of-riverview-manor\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The faces of Riverview Manor"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#website","url":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/","name":"Owego Pennysaver Press","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#\/schema\/person\/e03684194434956dfb61f5ffcbc19492","name":"psadvert","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0f42612cb07a4c4b7f1eb18ddb88bac4f8054cf2755aff2b1ac4f82d9e9ffd01?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/0f42612cb07a4c4b7f1eb18ddb88bac4f8054cf2755aff2b1ac4f82d9e9ffd01?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"psadvert"},"url":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/author\/psadvert\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=78554"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78554\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/78555"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=78554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=78554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=78554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}