Cordy’s Crew: The Right Thing To Do

Gloria Beaudin’s big, rambunctious family is planning to have a lot of fun on Thursday, May 31 at Assiniboine Park. On that day, Gloria and her three siblings, along with all their children and grandchildren, will participate for the first time in the Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer’s.

Accompanying them will be Gloria’s father, Anton Thomaschewski. Anton is the family patriarch, and he has recently been diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Anton’s wife, the family matriarch, was Cornelia “Cordy” Thomaschewski. “Mom passed away last December 8,” says Gloria. “She also had Alzheimer’s disease and lived with it for over three years.”

The fact that both parents have been affected by dementia gives pause to Gloria, brother Joe and sisters Irene and Marie. For them, getting involved in the Walk feels like the “right thing to do.” They named their team “Cordy’s Crew” in honour of their mother.

“Our parents were married for 60 years,” says Gloria. “After Mom was diagnosed, Dad was her caregiver. Everyone in the family helped out – we all live within walking distance of the farm house near Headingly where we grew up.”

Cordy’s dementia progressed, and in June 2017, she moved to a personal care home. It was tough for them at first, but they knew their mother would be safe and their father would no longer have so much responsibility for her care.

Planning for the Future
When Anton started to show signs of Alzheimer’s, Gloria and her siblings knew what the future would bring. They were happy to receive support from Karen Lambert, the Alzheimer Society’s North Central Region Coordinator. “I wish we’d had the same kind of information when Mom was diagnosed,” says Gloria.

Anton still lives at the farm house with the support of his close-knit family. Family members keep him busy by taking him to Bingo and other community events.

He’s also involved in the Society’s Minds in Motion program. One of the clan accompanies him and they participate in the physically and mentally stimulating activities and the socialization time that the program provides.

“Dad smiles and laughs for the whole two hours,” says Gloria. “We would take him twice a week if it was offered!”

The family has another connection to Alzheimer Society events: Gloria’s sister Irene’s husband, Ken Sleva of K Sleva Contracting, has purchased a table at the Society’s Gala for the past nine years. Ken did not know his family would be affected, and now his participation is even more meaningful.

As for the Walk…the day can’t come soon enough for Cordy’s Crew, which is made up of 25-plus family members and friends. They have pledged to raise a minimum of $100 each. They all fully expect that Anton will be smiling when he joins them at the finish line!

Click here to help Pave the Way and Walk WITH US with the Alzheimer Society at the Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer’s — Walks take place this May and June across the province. The Winnipeg Walk takes place May 31 at Assiniboine Park.

Hope to see you there!