Therapy through art
Lewin’s Cove woman gets help from a special friend
Nella Hodder, 78, continues to spend many hours with the sick, lonely, aged and youth of her Burin Peninsula community.
Her daily hospital visits, whether it is setting up a tea party for the residents, sitting at their bedside, chatting oneon-one or with a group, pushing a wheelchair or simply walking the corridors of the U.S. Memorial (USM) Health Centre in St. Lawrence, Hodder provides many quality hours of companionship, love and devotion for those she calls “her friends.”
One of her dear friends, a resident of USM, Marie Cleal of Lewin’s Cove, certainly took a fondness to Hodder.she loved to walk with Hodder. Walking the corridors of her unit, she would frequently point to a framed canvas by Ed Roche, hanging on one of the walls.
She would say, “Look at the boats in the harbour; I would like to draw a picture of that, someday. Look at the wheelbarrow, the big white house reminds me of my grandfather Harfitt’s house. The pailing fence and the boats tied up in the harbour.”
Her eyes would sparkle as this framed picture reminded her of her home and her life back then.
Last year, Hodder said to her, “Let’s try it,” and it went from there. Materials were gathered together and her drawing began. She would look at Roche’s canvas and try to duplicate all the details and the way she saw it through her eyes. Hodder helped her to keep focused and to be patient, as her mind would wander.
When her family and friends arrived, she would proudly show them her progress. The work would be put away many times “for another day,” as Cleal would say.
Cleal shared many fond memories with Hodder while sketching and coloring — all quality time with the aged and her friends.
Every white pailing was cut out and glued to the drawing, taking many long hours of time and concentration — all therapy and companionship for both ladies.
Cleal has decided to give this drawing to her daughter, Goldie who cannot wait to have it framed and hung on her living room wall.
Hodder was the recipient of the seniors of distinction award by the province in 2015 for her more than 60 years of simple acts of kindness, her dedication and volunteerism to her town, church, school, hospital and local theatre.
In 2016, she received the Cecilia Bungay award at the Annual Regional Drama Festival for an individual who has shown exemplary dedication to drama and arts on the Burin Peninsula.
For the past few years, Hodder has been slowly recovering from major surgery with complications, but she is doing very well. She continues her volunteerism, especially at the hospital on a daily basis, spending time with her children and grandchildren — travelling long distances to be with them. Recently her travels took her to Italy and she is currently in British Columbia with her daughter.
When asked what her favourite and most honourable thing to do is, Hodder said, “My most treasured moments are sitting with people during their final days.”