admin – Page 6 – Merica House

Sonja (Sunny) Parr

By admin | October 13, 2011

Sonja (Sunny) Parr is Cathy’s mom, one of our residents. She also has a son, Sean, who is 29. Sunny is an occupational therapist, currently working in skilled nursing facilities with geriatric patients.

Currently, Sunny is secretary for the Board of Directors. Ironically she doesn’t really like to type and do secretarial duties, saying she is not a desk person. But like so many others who help Merica House, she agreed because there was a need for someone to do the job.

Merica House would not be the same without Sunny. She volunteers time at Merica House usually one or two times each week. She says, “I truly enjoy being with the residents, and feel they are my good friends. Some are like extended family to me.” Sunny says that Cathy and Sharita have been friends and shared many experiences since the first grade.

She enjoys reading, traveling, running, walking and needlework projects. She says she is “very mechanical and will try to fix anything. I’m usually pretty good at it, too, and many times I succeed, surprising myself.”

Betty Wawrzaszek

By admin | October 13, 2011

Betty and her late husband have been involved with Merica House since its founding. Their son, Sean, in one of the original residents. She now serves as a board member and part time fund raiser for Merica House.

Betty spends a lot of time around Merica House because she enjoys helping people. She is particularly involved with her son since he has cerebral palsy and is non-verbal.

Betty says what she likes best about Merica House is that it provides physically disabled adults, especially those coming out of high school, the opportunity to live in a home versus a nursing home. The perpetuity of The Alliance for the Physically Disabled and Merica house is what is most important to Betty. She is eager to see the creation of another similar home.

Betty was born in County Cork, Ireland. She left there at the age of 21 to study and work in Heidelberg, Germany. She met her husband there while he was employed at the U.S Army Headquarters. He was then transfered to the U.S. where their son, Sean, and their daugther, Siobhan, were born in Illinois.

Betty says, “As for myself I take great pleasure in helping other people. I like to read , garden, and socilalze.”

Our Volunteers

By admin | October 13, 2011

Many people work together to make Merica House succeed. On this page you’ll meet our Board members and Volunteers.

Frederick J. Day – Board President

Mitch Opalski – Board Treasurer

Sonja (Sunny) Jarvis- Secretary to the Board

Christine Metz – Board Co-Secretary

Board Members :

John Renfro

Art Shields

Deirdre Shields

Annette Porter

Anita Dosik

Pamela (Pam) Sanchez

Rev. Matthew DeForest

Debra J. Johnson

Chuck Sickles – Attorney Consultant to the Board

Barbara Fulton – Accountant

Diane Constantine- Web Master

Martin Tillett – Volunteer

Resident Services Coordinator

By admin | October 13, 2011

Roxane Burkhart

My name is Roxane. I took over as Resident Services Coordinator at Merica House right after Memorial Day.

I grew up in Dallas, Texas. My husband and I met in church and have been married for 30 years.

I have a Bachelor’s Degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, a beautiful little town in East Texas. My degree is in Criminal Justice, with a second major in English and a minor in Psychology.

I began my Criminal Justice career as a Parole Officer in Dallas. While it is a fascinating field, I wasn’t cut out for it. Life intervened and I resigned to begin our family.

My husband, a computer programmer, was offered a transfer to Washington, D.C. in 1995. We set out for Virginia with visions of snow in our heads!

We lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia, for 14 years, raising our sons in an atmosphere of family and faith. I was a stay-at-home Mom until my youngest son was in high school. Both my sons graduated from VCU in Richmond. One is still in Richmond, working as Tech Support for the State Corporation Commission. My eldest lives in Philadelphia as a Service Coordinator with Pathways to Housing. Neither are married yet.

Eleven years ago I began mentoring developmentally delayed teens. A year later I took a part-time job in a day program, spending my day with 25 developmentally delayed Senior Citizens. This was a joy. After 3 years I moved into Group Home supervisory jobs.

Once our children were gone for good, my husband and I moved to our current home in Ashburn, Virginia.

After only a few days at Merica House, I realized this would be a completely different experience from my other jobs. The residents, their families, and the Board have welcomed and encouraged me.

The residents specifically are a delight. I love spending my days with them. They are always quick to laugh (with me – not at me). Their appreciation for even the slightest little contribution to their lives has inspired myself AND my husband (Merica House’s newest volunteer) with a passion to make Merica House as warm and “homey” as possible.

Our Residents

By admin | October 13, 2011

Cathy Parr

My name is Cathy Parr. I was born in Memphis. TN and I’m 39 years old. I have had spastic cerebral palsy since birth. I moved with my family to Fairfax County, VA when I was 6 years old. My parents live in the area, as well as my brother, his wife and their 8 month old twins. When I graduated from Falls Church High School in 1990, I moved to a group home in Prophetstown, IL, since there was no appropriate living arrangement to be found in the area. There I worked on skills I would need to cope with my severe disability in a community living environment.

I also received an Associate Degree in Word Processing from Sauk County Community College. I use one finger of one hand to access my computer and am quite good at getting around on the Internet. Currently I participate in a social/service club two days a week and volunteer one day a week at a local rehab equipment company. I would love to have a job, but have not yet found the right match for my skills.

I enjoy ceramics, poetry (reading and writing), dancing (I have my own style!), and music. I am very interested in fashion design and would like to do it on the computer.

See more News from Cathy

Deirdre Shields

I am Deirdre Shields and have lived at MH since 2001. I am 36 years old years old and a graduate of Perkins School for the Blind in Waterstown, Mass. It was there where I learned the skills of independent living and it is here that I use them in my daily life.

I have been diagnosed with an unknown probable white matter disease of the brain. I had what seemed to be normal infant skills up to about 7 months of age and then neurological symptoms developed and over the past years it has left me blind and a quadriplegic.

I moved to Williamsburg, VA three years ago with my parents and one sister and it was there that I met Millie Becker, one of the founders of Merica House. Through her encouragement and help, I applied for residence and have since enjoyed living with the other clients and maintaining my independence.

See more News from Deirdre

Maureen Shields

I am Maureen Shields and I moved into Merica House on March 6, 2007, after living at home for over 27 yrs. I am 32 yrs old and have 2 sisters and one brother.

I have a progressive undiagnosed neurological disease of the white matter of the brain that has left me blind and quadriplegic. Unlike my sister I did not loose my sight until I was 20 yrs of age.

My sister, Deirdre also lives at Merica House and I thought this would be a good place for me to “spread my wings” and live on my own. I attend a respite program two times a week, called SPARC, located in Reston, VA.

I also attend church on a regular basis and I am a member of their choir.

For over 20 years my sister and I have attended the Easter Seals Camp in Hebron, CT and we have met and developed many wonderful friendships there. It is always the highlight of our summer.

I enjoy reading books on tape, going out to eat and shopping.

See more News from Maureen

Matt Renfro

My name is Matt Renfro. My family lives in Gainesville, VA., about 30 miles west of Washington, DC.

I was born 9 weeks premature, weighing 2 lbs. 12 oz. and spent the first 11 weeks of my life in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I have Cerebral Palsy (CP).

I attended public school from pre-school through high school, taking regular education classes. I graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in Manassas, VA. in 2004. I enrolled at Strayer University right out of high school, so I don’t have any work experience yet. I am working on a BS degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS). I’m a big sports fan especially tennis, golf and college basketball. Also, I enjoy reading a good mystery novel.

A Container Garden Blooms and Produces

By admin | October 12, 2011

Merica House residents are so thankful to the Falls Church Garden Club for generously giving of their time and talents to beautify the patios. The flowers are blooming, the herb garden is multiplying, and the tomatoes are growing.

In the photo below, Helen Transue, President of the Falls Church Garden Club, Debbie Wagaman, Program Director, and Linda Martin, Past President are left to right in the back row. Deirdre Shields and Matt Renfro, two of our residents are in the front row.

Welcome to Merica House

By admin | October 10, 2011

Merica House is home to four women and three men with a variety of severe physical disabilities. The Alliance for the Physically Disabled has helped to make possible the dream of Harry Merica for a home that would allow independent living for severely physically disabled adults. Too often the only option is living out life in a nursing home or other institution. By living together these adults can share the cost of rent, aides, and staff. Many people volunteer time, skills, and resources to truly make Merica House home for these seven.

Thank you for taking some time to learn more about this way to make life better and more cost effective for the severely physically disabled.

Cathy, Deirdre, Joe, Matt, and Maureen

Your Friends at Merica House

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