Celebrating Life

Gloria Rios, a resident of Bristol, Connecticut, had her wish to have police attend her 80th birthday party granted, thanks to our Connecticut chapter. Rios loves the police and believes they aren’t respected and thanked enough. Two officers from the Bristol Police Department showed up for her special birthday celebration!

Larry Pilarski, a resident of Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, had his wish to take his family to a Pirates game granted, thanks our Allegheny County chapter and the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Pilarski, 70, has been battling cancer for over ten years. This past year has taken its toll on him, and he can no longer walk and is very weak.…

Jennie Pyszkowski, a resident of West Haven, Connecticut, had her wish to attend a party for her 106th birthday granted, thanks to our Connecticut chapter.  Pyszkowski is in hospice care and wheelchair bound. Connecticut Hospice and her family members hosted a party for her 106th birthday but needed assistance with transportation to get her to…

Jerelyn Fields, a resident of Hartford, had her wish to see a falcon in person granted, thanks to our Connecticut chapter. Fields, 74, has stage 4 pancreatic cancer and is in hospice care. She is a nature lover and is especially fond of birds. Fields always wished she had learned falconry and now, her one…

Frances Mollyn, a resident of Brookdale Dublin in Dublin, Pennsylvania, was surprised with a ballet performance for her 100th birthday on February 1, 2024. Mollyn is in hospice care. She loves watching ballet and would enjoy seeing a performance, but it is difficult for her to leave her facility. Several performers from Dance with Joy…

The Phillie Phanatic paid a surprise visit to the residents of Neshaminy Manor on December 7th, thanks to locally-headquartered nonprofit Twilight Wish Foundation.  Three of the residents there turned 103 this year and Neshaminy Manor wanted to celebrate their milestone birthdays in a big way! Esther Welch, Emma Ventresca and Ann Nieswander are all Phillies…

Frederick George, a resident of Torrington, Connecticut, had his wish for a book signing granted, thanks to our Connecticut chapter. George, 90, has end-stage renal disease and requires daily dialysis. His beloved wife, Joan, passed away in 2021. With the help of his daughter, he wrote a book about their love story online and they…

Bernadine Novak, a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had her wish for a gravestone for her son’s grave granted, thanks to our Allegheny County chapter. Novak, 85, gave birth to a baby boy in the 1950s who sadly died at birth. Although he was buried in St. Mary’s Cemetary in O’Hara Township, she was never able…

Erwin Williams, a resident of Rocky Hill, Connecticut, recently had his chance to visit his hometown and spend time with his high school friend one more time granted, thanks to our Connecticut chapter. Williams, 65, has several medical issues. He has not been back to his hometown of Tunbridge, Vermont in many years. He wished…

Agnese Fraioli, a resident of Ocala, Florida, had her wish to have an Italian dinner with her family and friends at her favorite restaurant, Milano Italian Grille granted. Fraioli, 90, lives with her son, Bernardo, who is her caregiver. Her original wish was to travel to see family over the holidays, but she was recently diagnosed…

Charlene Gulley, 81, a resident of Crosby, Texas, recently had her wish to go to an Astros game granted, thanks to our Houston chapter. Gulley lives on her own in senior low-income housing. She has been disabled since she was a child and her constant companion is her small dog, Tinkerbelle, who sits on her…

Our Houston, Texas chapter recently granted Melvin Charlot’s wish to meet boxers Jermell and Jermall Charlo. Charlot was battling stage 4 pancreatic and colon cancer and was in hospice. On the day he was supposed to meet the brothers, Charlot sadly passed away. Despite her grief, his wife, Barbara and their children, still met with…