Although we may have had differences with family members in the past, it is to them we turn in times of need. This amazing story is about five such siblings who found each other, once again, when they needed support the most.
It was at the Jeffrey and Susan Brudnick Center for Living in Peabody, Massachusetts, a small nursing home, that the five surviving siblings out of a family of 11 have got to to spend their golden years together. The four golden girls are – Mary Cena, 92; Carmen Wesala, 98; Georgia Southwick, 93; Lucy O’Brien, 85;and their lovely brother Lawrence Mallia, 90.
These brothers and sisters lived apart from each other for over 70 years, each one with their respective families.
“We are all just so happy to be together again. I just wish my other brothers and sisters could have experienced this with us,” Cena told TODAY.com. “The 11 of us always got along. There was a lot of love in our family and you can see so much proof of that today,” Cena said.
Even the rest of the family find it easier to follow up on their loved ones. Janice Regis, Southwick’s daughter, who comes to visit them says, “It’s wonderful, because I just go up there and I can easily check in on all of them at once, If it ever happens that I end up going away somewhere, it’s reassuring to know they have each other. They still enjoy each other’s company, for sure.”
Betsy Mullen, the chief operating officer for the facility’s parent company, says she’s never had an opportunity to see something like this in her entire career. “I’ve had sisters together. I’ve had brothers, husbands and wives, mothers and daughters,” she says. “This is so unusual. I’ve never seen the likes of it.” They find it difficult to understand how it happens that siblings have so many differences that they break all bonds. “We were very good to one another growing up and that still rings true today. That’s how we were able to all be together again.” “I can’t understand how brothers and sisters can go through life without ever speaking to each other again. Each of us has to accept the others’ differences because it makes us who we are,” she said.
Indeed, siblings go through the same things, good times, and hard times during their early years, they share each other’s pain and joy, are always there, come what may, to support each other. In earlier days, you could always count on your big brother, or sister to stand up for you if you have had a squabble at school or at the playground. But as we grow older, find life partners, have our own families, priorities change. We drift apart and get busy with our own individuals lives.When our fledglings grow their wings and fly away, leaving the nest empty, one becomes lonely. It is worse if you are left without your partner. That is when, once again, you may turn to your brothers and sisters, re-living your childhood, sharing old jokes, old stories, that bring back pleasant memories and warm your heart.This loving family is a good example and a reminder of the importance of family ties.
