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"Everyone loved our father, but first and foremost he was a family man," said Acton's son Bill Black. "He was always supportive, but he also had us sit and think and be ready for what would happen if our plans didn't work out. He had integrity and we always knew we were loved."
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The Black Family - Lori, Acton, Lynn, Bill, Angelina and Charles, carrying on a commitment of giving.
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"Dad would push us to take a risk, to be the best that we could be," added daughter Lynn Black. "But, he was so kind and had a smile for everyone. No matter what, Dad would learn everyone's names - whether in the hospital, at hospice or in his community. He felt it was so important to make people feel recognized."
Acton Black's commitment to giving respect to others and building community will live on in a special way at Celia's House. The Black Family has started a program to ensure any family member visiting their loved one in hospice care will be able to receive free meals. The family has opened the Acton Black Family Food Program to maintain this gift to other families for years to come; to feel nurtured and taken care of, in the way their family felt at Celia's House.
"Our (hospice) story starts like a lot of others," said daughter Lori Black. "We had been through so many hospitals, doctor's appointments...taking care of so many things. When we finally found Celia's House, we had been doing everything. When we walked through the door on the first day, exhausted, we were greeted so warmly. Volunteer John offered us all a bowl of Karen's delicious homemade chicken soup. It felt so wonderful - like no other place we had been with Dad."
"Celia's House staff made the whole experience so much easier to deal with," said son Charles Black. "The whole place made me feel good about my dad being there. The smell of good cooking, the piano being played, the walks in the garden. I was so glad that he was there - I could go home for the night and feel okay." "The great care here really blew us away," added Bill. "The staff was like family - going through this journey together with us."
"Because of COVID-19, we haven't been able to hold a celebration of life for our dad," said Lori. Starting this program to cover the costs of other families' meals is our way of honoring our dad. This is our celebration of his life. It is our goal to make it easy for all families, including those with fewer resources, to be able to count on meals when visiting Celia's House."
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