My Grandmother Elizabeth S Guenzel lived her life as a
volunteer and philanthropist. The
following two paragraphs extracted from her obituary describe her efforts as
she gave her time and energy to help others.
Betsy spent her time as a community volunteer in
both downtown Chicago and in the suburbs.
The Junior League of Chicago, Children’s Memorial Hospital and Hadley
School for the Blind where she recorded books on tape were a few of her many
activities. She was a Brownie Troop
leader and one Brownie was quoted as saying that “Mrs. Guenzel looked like
spinach in her green uniform”. She was
also a cafeteria line volunteer at North Shore Country Day School where her
children attended school.
In the 1960s, Betsy met Joyce Myers, a Special
Education teacher at the Hibbard School in Chicago, at a course where Joyce was
lecturing. Betsy was very interested in
volunteering in Joyce’s classroom for emotionally disturbed children but she
needed to complete a course that was given for graduate students at The
Institute for Psychoanalysis. Although
she had not finished college, she was able to use her volunteer work and her
life long interest in psychology as “life credits” for entrance into the
course. Upon completion of the two-year
course, Betsy worked as a volunteer four days a week in Joyce’s classroom for
four years and then part time for another two years after her husband’s
retirement.
When I was a senior in high school
I was able to participate in an internship program and also volunteered in
Joyce Myers's classroom for three weeks.
It was at this time I truly understood the role my Grandmother had
played as a volunteer to support these children with diverse needs daily. Her commitment to the work and the families
was unsurpassed.
Often people identify an area where
they may want to contribute their time and energy, but do not pursue it because
it is too difficult. My Grandmother
recognized she wanted to help the children in Joyce Myer’s classroom, but she
had an enormous hurdle to over come and had to participate in two years of
training before she could enter the classroom.
Instead of walking away she faced the challenge and with tenacity
reached her goal. As an advocate for the
well being of young children and families I am often faced with challenges, but
my Grandmother’s example has taught me I
must face forward and stay the course.
It will be worth it in the end!
