Fran Lesher, front, enjoyed spending time with co-worker Bonnie West, left, and her daughter, Fran.
When asking co-workers what is his/her favorite part of the job, the answer is always the same…the residents!
West Shore Community Life Associate Bonnie West’s life was changed when she met resident Fran Lesher, who has a gift for inspiring others.
“Fran is a dear, precious lady, who has such a good nature and wants to be there for everyone,” explains West. “She’ll see someone in need and pray for that person. She always sees the good in people.”
After repeated invitations, West accompanied Lesher to church. Not only did West find a small, welcoming church where she could grow in her faith, she also found an outlet for her musical talents. She joined the choir, began doing special performances at other venues, and is now the Sunday morning vocalist. Now she uses music for ministry in the community and to connect with residents at work, including a weekly music session with the Connections Club for residents with early-stage memory loss.
“Working with residents who have dementia, often they can’t carry on a conversation, but when you play a tune they know, they can sing every word. It just blows your heart up,” says West. “There’s no language barriers with music.”
As their friendship grew, West discovered that Lesher overcame many challenges in her life to become the positive force she is today. “My whole goal in life has been to overcome negative thinking, which is so prevalent. Words of inspiration came to me in dreams just as they were needed,” explains Lesher. “It’s my sacred duty to pass this along because there’s only one place they could have come from, and that is God.” And at 93, Lesher compiled the messages, and her poetry, into a book called “Pearls of Wisdom.”
West refers to the women’s friendship as a “God job.” Her awakening to the power of music even inspired West to write a song to connect with a resident who has dementia and speaks about seeing his father.
“I think of Fran as my angel because she encouraged me to go to church, and I have grown so much through that,” says West. “In growing closer to Fran, I have learned what she has overcome, and she’s such an inspiration.”
Note: Sadly, Fran Lesher passed away since this story was written. Rest in Peace.