Board of Managers member Sue Zaccano: Giving from the heart

/in /
test

Sue Zaccano toured three retirement facilities looking for the right place for her mom. She specifically wanted a nonprofit that would continue caring for her mom after she expended her resources.

At the second place she visited, the guide suggested she try Homeland Center.

“I could tell the people were special, and we decided this was where my mom would come,” she said.

Zaccano’s mother lived at Homeland, in Personal Care, and the Ellenberger Unit for Memory Care for her final two years. After her mother died, Homeland approached Zaccano about serving on its Board of Managers.

For Zaccano, who describes Homeland as an “oasis,” the answer was an immediate yes.

The Board of Managers is Homeland’s unique, all-women volunteer group. It continues in the tradition of the 18 women who founded the “Home for the Friendless” in 1867 to care for the widows and orphans left by the Civil War. Together, its members tend to the details and little touches that give Homeland its renowned homelike feel — throwing parties, decorating, and talking with residents.

“It’s more like a home,” she said. “It’s really nice to hear the residents say that Homeland is their home.”

Zaccano retired from The Hershey Company after a 39-year career in product development, though she still works there part-time. She initially worked in research and development, later serving as part of a team developing snack items and overseeing product recipes for accuracy and quality across multiple divisions.

In retirement, Zaccano devotes her time to helping others.

She gives away her homegrown, handmade catnip toys and knit caps for the homeless. With her love for cooking and baking, she makes chicken soup with bone broth and vegetables for Homeland Hospice families. Her daughter’s Coast Guard station recently got a fresh-from-the-factory shipment of Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs.

Zaccano’s daughter gifted her with a four-pack of Hershey Gardens tickets, so on her visits, she finds her companions by approaching people in the parking lot and offering them her extra passes.

“One group at Hershey Gardens didn’t speak much English,” she said. “Afterwards, the one person who did said, ‘Can I give you a hug?’”

Although she is selfless with her volunteer time, she calls it selfishness because of the enjoyment it gives her.

“I don’t expect anything in return except for the feeling it gives me,” she said. “It’s a feeling I get for doing something that makes somebody else feel good.”

Zaccano gets that feeling by helping at Homeland. She enjoys writing birthday cards to staff members and meeting the residents.

During a recent resident trip to the area’s new L.L. Bean store and Hershey’s Chocolate World, she happily used her retired-employee card to get discounts on hot chocolate for everyone. For the upcoming Board of Managers’ spring party and its “Sound of Music” theme, she volunteered to help bake batches of applesauce muffins.

Zaccano grew up in Cooperstown, NY, and worked at a Lancaster veterinary hospital after earning an associate’s degree in veterinary science. She then attended Elizabethtown College, where she met her husband. She returned to the Harrisburg area after moving to upstate New York to work as a medical technician.

Her daughter, Tahnee, a U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduate, serves as a search and rescue coordinator in the Seattle area. Her son, Mike, known as “Mushroom Mike,” has a Pittsburgh-area mushroom farm that supplies local restaurants.

Volunteering at Homeland helps give back to the place that cared for her mother – a place where the care is genuine.

“The people here wanted to know more about my mother,” she said. “It wasn’t like she was just a patient. She was a person. I feel like they cared enough about her, that she was a person and not a number.”

The hills are alive: Homeland residents celebrate “Sound of Music” anniversary

/in /
test

Miniatures of bright copper kettles, white dresses with blue satin, warm woolen mittens, and wild geese flying with the moon on their wings hung from the chandeliers of Homeland’s Main Dining Room.

Edelweiss and Austrian flag centerpieces decorated the tables. Brown paper packages tied with string were stacked by the piano.

It wasn’t hard to guess the theme of the Board of Managers’ annual spring party.

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the premiere of “The Sound of Music,” the Board of Managers turned the dining room into an Austrian dreamland of goatherd marionettes and mountain vistas.

The Board of Managers is the unique, all-women volunteer group devoted to maintaining Homeland’s renowned home-like feel. They lead redecorating projects, deck the halls for the holidays, support upkeep and maintenance, and host quarterly parties that residents eagerly anticipate.

The parties are always themed and festive. Past events have celebrated sock hops of the 1950s and brought casino nights directly to residents.

The “Sound of Music” party idea seemed like a natural fit, full of music, food, thematic décor, and memories. Crisp apple strudels and pretzels were on the menu, plus lemonade served in cups festooned with musical notes. Child-sized Bavarian dresses hung on the walls. One staff member wore genuine lederhosen. Another dressed as a nun.

BOM member Joyce Thomas often spearheads the décor choices, using her knack for design and a basement full of props collected over years of organizing high school proms.

“We all remember ‘Sound of Music,’” she said. “It’s 60 years old. All these things bring it back.”

This afternoon, the windows, normally draped in drapes that the Board of Managers had installed for the dining room’s most recent redecoration, were hung with an exact replica of the green and white damask curtains that Maria turned into play clothes for the Von Trapp children.

Sarah Pugh, who played Maria von Trapp in Allenberry Playhouse’s 2024 production of “The Sound of Music,” provided the entertainment. Rehearsing for the Homeland appearance reminded her how much she loves the Richard Rodgers-Oscar Hammerstein songs.

“This is my favorite musical,” Pugh said. “My dream role was Maria, and I was lucky enough to get cast in it and play in it.”

Between songs, Pugh shared interesting factoids about the difference between the movie and the stage musical – for instance, that the onstage Maria doesn’t sing “My Favorite Things” with the children but with the Mother Abbess.

Singing for the Homeland residents, Pugh added, “is an honor. It’s a pleasure.”

When she stepped up to sing, residents mouthed the words along with her, singing, “The hills are alive with the sound of music,” and “Do, a deer, a female deer.”

The theme’s popularity was evident in the standing-room-only crowd. Residents filled the seats, and staff members watched the fun from the doorway and hall.

Resident Margie Welby recalled that much of the movie was filmed on location in Austria.

“This is very nice,” she said of the party. “I loved Julie Andrews’ singing. I went to see it when the movie came out. I saw it in Europe because I lived in Germany.”

Margie’s tablemates included Steve and Sue Valoczki.

“I liked the Germanic part of it because it made me think of home,” said Steve, who immigrated to the U.S. from his birthplace in Germany at 5 years old. “The music is excellent. It’s a favorite.”

“We’re trying to figure out where Steve’s lederhosen is,” joked Sue.

As the son of a Hungarian soldier who rebelled against his conscription into the German army during World War II, Steve recognized that “The Sound of Music” has a dark side — one that the spirit of the von Trapps vanquishes in the end.

“It’s not a happy story,” he said.

“Back then, it was a matter of survival,” said Sue.

The party, she added, was a lovely effort by the Board of Managers.

“They did a fantastic job,” she said. “I love the curtains. Somebody really put it all together.”

Ory Bower Finds Calling in New Role as Volunteer Coordinator

/in /
test

Ory Bower’s experience with Homeland Hospice has come full circle. He began as a volunteer in 2018, and was quickly inspired by Homeland’s mission to make a difference in the lives of others. Ory joined Homeland’s staff in an administrative position in 2021 and has worked in a variety of positions over the years. He recently took on the role of volunteer coordinator, which gives him the opportunity to work alongside Homeland’s inspiring volunteers.

“When I started as a volunteer, I really connected with patients,” Ory says. “I made regular phone calls to lift their spirits.”

During his time talking to patients, Ory learned to understand what makes each person tick. He fondly remembers a woman who loved to quilt, and would update him on her latest projects and what she planned for future creations.

“She found comfort in completing tasks,” Ory remembers. “This gave her a sense of control in her life.”

Ory believes his perspective as a volunteer will help him in his new role. He understands no detail is too small. Every conversation, note, and encounter can make a difference in someone’s life. He looks forward to new and different ways he can engage with volunteers as well as patients and their families.

Since taking on this role in January, Ory has connected personally with each volunteer to gather their insights and feedback on current and future programs. Homeland’s life-changing work is made possible by volunteers who share their time and compassion with others. From working directly with patients to helping with administrative tasks, volunteers are the lifeblood of the organization.

One of the most popular volunteer opportunities is home visits with patients and their families. Volunteers read aloud, chat, play games and look at family photos to help provide patients comfort and friendship. These moments can be moving, and often lead to strong bonds between volunteers and patients.

In addition to personal visits, volunteers have opportunities to connect with patients through programs such as Homeland’s Soup & Casserole program that provides meals for patients and their families. Another program called My Life, My Legacy gives hospice patients an opportunity to tell their life story. The end result is a book with photos and memories for families cherish after their loved one’s passing. This program is very popular among volunteers.

“Our volunteers have so much dedication and compassion,” Ory says. “We truly couldn’t do our work without them.”

Ory grew up and lives in Newport. He attended Messiah University where he earned his degree in ministry. While he didn’t know about Homeland after graduation, he felt a calling to refocus his life to help others. This internal call to action along with his understanding of Homeland’s work will help him thrive in his new role.

“There is so much joy in this work,” Ory says. “I am proud to be part of the Homeland team.”

For more information on volunteer opportunities with Homeland Hospice, call Ory at (717) 221-7890.

Homeland resident Robert Zimmerman: A life of art, church, and family

/in /
test

Homeland residents bring their cherished furnishings, heirlooms, and art to their bright, comfortable rooms.

Robert Zimmerman brings an extra-special touch to his walls – extraordinary watercolors and one oil – painted by him.

“Patty on the Porch” shows Zimmerman’s wife gazing at the lovely scene at their son’s Long Island place. In other images, waves crash on the shores below lighthouses, a curious giraffe halts its grazing to gaze at its photographer, and a man and two boys in silhouette cross a farm field.

“Zimmy,” as his friends call him, has been settling into his personal care suite since April 2024, making Homeland his home.

“As soon as we walked into Homeland, I got the vibe,” he said. “You can tell from the warmth of the place. The warm colors, wood, and homey elements gave us a good feeling.”

Zimmerman can reflect on a life full of art, family, work, and church. He grew up in Harrisburg after his father moved the family from Middleburg, PA, to ensure his children got a good education.

He met his wife when they were high school students. She was babysitting for a neighborhood family and invited his gang of friends to visit. As they were leaving and Zimmerman was walking down the steps, he thought, “If I don’t do something about this girl and me, I’m going to miss an opportunity.”

They married in 1954 and had two sons, Andrew and Craig. After his first job with the city water company, a friend who worked for Central State Door Service suggested he apply there.

Calling the company “the best place to work,” Zimmerman stayed for 42 years as a garage-door installer for homes and industries. During that time, he also served 10 years in the Pennsylvania National Guard.

Meanwhile, Patty got a job in a Central Dauphin School District elementary school cafeteria, rising to cafeteria manager and eventually to administrative assistant in the superintendent’s office. When the district adopted computerized operations, Patty took computing classes and helped lead the conversion.

“They both worked really hard to put my brother and me through college,” Craig Zimmerman said.

Robert Zimmerman’s introduction to art came via a gift from Patty. She had a cousin whose husband, Don Lenker, cofounded the Seven Lively Artists, Central Pennsylvania’s preeminent group of painters, founded in 1956 and still going strong. The couple enjoyed their shows, and one Christmas, Patty presented Zimmerman with a large box. When he opened it, her surprise gift included a sketchbook and pigments. Lenker noticed that Zimmerman had a talent for watercolors, and Zimmerman started joining the Seven Lively Artists on their painting retreats.

“The first year, I wouldn’t even let them see it,” Zimmerman recalls.

Finally, they called him into the sunroom at Warm Springs Lodge sunroom in Perry County and told him they had voted him into the group.

“That was one of the highlights of my artistic life,” he said.

The experience led to other memorable moments, including the group’s Christmastime showing at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence and a dinner with Gov. Ed Rendell.

The Zimmermans’ devotion to their church included Patty’s service as a youth fellowship leader and Zimmerman’s as a church elder. He also wrote and directed Christmas plays for the church, putting new spins on classic Christmas tales. He still recalls “Marley,” his reworking of Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol,” which gave the beleaguered, enchained ghost of Jacob Marley a shot at redemption.

Zimmerman cared for his beloved Patty for 10 years before she passed away. Their lives included gifts of passage to Europe on Queen Elizabeth II for their 30th anniversary and Queen Mary II for their 50th.

Craig Zimmerman said Homeland is a good place for his dad to live.

“He’s a social guy, and he’s had that opportunity here,’’ Craig Zimmerman said. “People are so friendly and helpful.”

Homeland Resident Carmen Vishnesky: Enjoying People, Music, and Empanadas

/in /
test

Carmen VishneskyCarmen Vishnesky, a cherished resident of Homeland Center, passed away on March 25, 2025. We remember her with deep affection and gratitude for the vibrant spirit she shared with our community.

As a resident of Homeland since early 2023, Carmen Vishnesky has come to love the people. 

“The residents are great,” Carmen said. “Certainly, the workers are exemplary. I don’t have any relatives, and I don’t know what I would have done without the people here.”  

Carmen grew up in rural Mountoursville, PA. Her father worked for Sylvania, which made Kodak Instamatic’s rotating flash cube for cameras, then later traveled as an analyst for a vending machine company. Her mother, a trained classical pianist with a music degree from Lycoming College, traveled the area with a violinist friend, playing at events. 

Carmen studied with her mother’s teacher and became an accomplished pianist herself, but she stopped playing when she attended Bloomsburg State College (now Bloomsburg University) to concentrate on her studies as a French major.  

She also earned her master’s degree from Millersville State College (now Millersville University), then known for its foreign language school. This led to a 35-year career teaching French in the Central Dauphin School District. Outside of the classroom, she found her niche running the high school drama program.  

Carmen met her husband, a physics teacher and assistant principal, and they married in 1981. Though she had never been a sports fan, she “inherited” the world of Penn State football fandom from him. They attended games in the slush and snow in their early years together, but she said she ultimately drew the line in attending games after October. 

 “At that time, he went with his friends or with his son,” she said with a smile, “Then he wanted to sit home and watch it on TV with me.” 

After her husband retired, he pursued his passion for cooking by teaching at the Carlisle Kitchen Shoppe and Cooking School. She was still teaching when he suddenly announced that he wanted to attend a culinary school in France. Before he left, she taught him two French words: “rouge” for “red” and “blanc” for “white.” 

“I knew nothing about wine, but I told him that when they asked him about this vintage or that, he could just say ‘red’ or ‘white,’” she said. “That’s as sophisticated as it gets. We laughed about that forever.” 

Today, Carmen looks back at her “wonderful life.” When she retired, she and her husband traveled together. They went to France multiple times, especially loving the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean region of Camargue, where horses frolic in salt flats. The pair also traveled to Poland and Southeast Asia.  

In Budapest, they rented an apartment and lived like locals, even though they didn’t speak Hungarian.  

“I loved the food,” she said. “I loved walking across the street to the market and pointing to whatever I needed to buy. It was just wonderful. The people were wonderful.” 

At Homeland, Carmen originally lived in skilled care before moving to a spacious end unit in personal care. Here, she indulges her childhood love of classical music. On days of “Piano with Ralph” during lunchtime, she and her friends at the table enjoy a dose of the classics. 

“He plays Rachmaninoff,” she said. “He knows Italian music. He knows Beethoven.” 

She also enjoys Homeland’s cooking classes and was looking forward to an empanada-making class with the Homeland activities staff. 

“I told them I’d just been to a Mexican restaurant and the restaurant’s empanadas were not nearly as good as ours,” she said. 

Homeland Center offers levels of care including personal care, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Homeland also provides hospice, home care, home health and palliative care services to serve the diverse and changing needs of families throughout central Pennsylvania. For more information or to arrange a tour, please call 717-221-7900. 

A “Souper Bowl” of a cookoff delights residents with comfort-food favorites

/in /
test

And the winner is . . . the mushroom soup!

“Five kinds of mushrooms, a gallon of roasted garlic puree, a gallon of caramelized onion puree, sherry, white wine, black truffle oil, and heavy cream,” said Homeland Assistant Director of Dietary Services John Scunziano, rattling off the recipe for the soup he originally created for a steakhouse. “I used black truffle, which is very subtle. White truffle is very strong.”

Homeland’s first soup cookoff was held on a chilly and rainy day, perfect for everyone’s favorite comfort food. Inside, the Homeland Main Dining Room was warm and scented with the enticing aromas of soups simmering in a line of crockpots.

The Homeland Activities Department, always looking for novel experiences for residents to enjoy, proposed the soup cookoff. Nine Homeland staffers pitched in with rich broth- or cream-based concoctions made from cherished recipes.

Representing the traditional soups were the tomato, vegetable, chicken and wild rice, chili, and beef stew. Non-traditional got to shine, too — roasted garlic cream of mushroom with black truffle oil, smoked chicken sausage tortellini with kale, chili, beef stew, and lasagna soup.

Each soup was served in mini portions, and the cook’s name was unknown, so the name of the chef wouldn’t sway voters. At the table of residents tapped to be the judges, Carl Barna, an experienced cook, and Homeland’s resident gardener, said he likes broth-based soups.

“You have to start with a good broth,” he said. “If it’s got a good broth, then it’s good to me. If you have a good broth, you can throw in anything, and it’ll be good.”

He added that the chicken noodle soup he used to make was flavorful with dark meat “and gizzards and hearts and things.”

Another judge, Joe Pulaski, said he was having difficulty deciding.

“They are delicious,” he said. “I’m pretty much a ‘whatever is in front of me’ kind of guy.”

When he was a child, his mother always made vegetable soup and potato soup.

“She always did a pretty good job cooking,” he said. “She had three boys and my big dad, so she had to be a good cook.”

Resident Bonnie Waddell, another judge, was lining up her soups according to her preferences. After tasting six soups, she had the vegetable in first place, but there were three more to taste. She had never heard of lasagna soup or truffle oil, but she was happy to give them a taste.

“I find it interesting because I’m a fan of cooking,” she said. “I’m a believer in seasonings. My mother taught me that. She was a good cook.”

Waddell honed her culinary style by working in homes, cooking, and caring for children.

“I learned what they liked, and from there, it was what I liked,” she said. “I can tell you if something is going to be good or not by the way it’s brought to me. If I have to season it, you can forget it.”

Sandra Ware, a housekeeper in Homeland’s personal care, made the popular vegetable soup.

“It’s something my auntie used to fix for us, with corn, stewed tomatoes, okra, and a little seasoning,” she said.

Activities Coordinator Diomaris Pumarol also contributed an aunt’s soup – the Dominican chicken soup traditionally served when her family gathered to mourn the loss of a loved one.

“Instead of going to a restaurant, we would go to a home, and she would make that for everybody,” she said. “That’s why it’s a comfort food. We related with being together and sharing the tradition.”

Finally, Assistant Director of Activities Emma Lengyel announced the winners, the top five of whom won kitchen goods and soup bowls. Three soups tied for third place – the chicken tortellini, vegetable, and tomato. Second place, lasagna soup. And first place, that delectable, creamy mushroom soup.

Resident Mike Ennis was thrilled to learn that non-judge attendees didn’t have to cast votes or rank the soups.

“I felt a responsibility to taste them all because so much effort went into making these,” he said. “And then I realized that the judges will pick the winners so that I can enjoy them. It took all the pressure off. I could just enjoy it for the flavor of one until the next one came. They were all so well done. They were all so flavorful.”