Enriching
Lives, Together
Norma remembers her initial interaction with the first administrator, George Leaman. She said, “In that first letter after I sent in an application, George assured me there was a job for me! I moved into the staff house at Landis Homes and started working in May 1972.”
Lois began working as a cook at Landis Homes in December 1972 after moving back to Lancaster. She moved into the campus staff house where she and Norma lived for the next thirteen years, with six other staff members including Lois’s cousin, Elta Ebersole.
“Te few staff and residents ate together in two dining rooms and the food was served family-style. It was a much smaller community, and we knew everyone by name,” said Norma.
“Since we lived on campus, we would unofficially volunteer on our time off,” said Norma. “Tis could include a variety of needs.”
Lois added, “We volunteered wherever help was needed, like with the strawberry socials every year. Sometimes we helped pick the strawberries. We also picked blueberries and cherries, with the help of residents.”
Norma remembered Lizzie, a resident who was over 100 years old and was deaf and unable to speak. Norma would spend time with Lizzie after working her regular shift to help Lizzie sort through her papers.
“After many hours of sorting over a two-week period,” Norma said, “we were able to deposit over $400 to Lizzie’s account of cash we had uncovered.”
Tey each remembered snow events when they lived in the staff house. Tey could walk across the road to work, even in deep snow. Other staff who lived at a distance would stay overnight in the staff house to ensure they could work the next day.
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