‘Like they’re part of my family’
Volunteer forges a special bond with seniors at St. Anthony
This is the second in a four-day series on the role of women who are served by, donate to, work and volunteer at Boston’s St. Anthony Shrine. The downtown landmark is preparing to host its third annual fundraising gala at the Boston Marriott Copley Place on Thursday.
Gloria Estefan’s upbeat music fills the basement of St. Anthony Shrine, where a group of fitness enthusiasts well into their golden years sit in a circle, stretching green and orange exercise bands over their heads.
Their instructor, Patti D’Angelo, is right at home, calling out the moves and praising the elderly folks who’ve traveled near and far by bus, T and train, to take her class. They are widows and widowers, greatgrandparents and retirees.
“I feel like they’re part of my family,” Patti told me.
Patti, 52, a personal trainer, is one of the shrine’s big-hearted volunteers. She’s been teaching her class at St. Anthony’s for more than a year. It’s so popular she’s adding a second class in January.
Patti has always felt a special bond with elders. When she was young, she helped care for her grandmother, Virginia, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 50. Virginia would sit in her favorite green chair in her Buffalo, N.Y., living room and tell Patti stories. She’d talk about her days working as a secretary and trips to the Jersey Shore.
“We spent a lot of time sitting and talking,” Patti recalled. “She couldn’t really do much from an activity standpoint.”
Patti later became certified in senior fitness.
Four years ago, Patti was living in Westford when she saw a “Chroniny’s. cle” TV segment on St. Anthony’s Lazarus Ministry, which provides funeral services and burial for homeless people and abandoned, mostly stillborn, babies. She was moved to tears.
Patti wanted to help and connected with the shrine. Eventually, Patti and her husband, Larry, moved closer to South Boston. Patti thought her class would be a perfect fit at St. Antho- She was right.
Every other Wednesday, as part of the shrine’s seniors program, elders attend Mass and then gather in the basement for coffee, Patti’s class and lunch.
After teaching, Patti makes the rounds, chatting with her new friends.
“It’s wonderful for all of us because not many of us get to do exercises too much,” said Jeanne Risti, 87. “I really love her. We all do.”