Family Hoping to Flood Terminally Ill Grandma with Cards During Final Days

OSWEGO, IL — Just over a month ago, 90-year-old Clara Nycz was living independently in Naperville. She had moved there around two years ago in order to be closer to her family. A recent visit to the hospital for excess fluid in her legs showed she has terminal kidney failure with only around two months left to live. And while her kidneys are declining, her mind remains sharp.

“It’s just put her in this really bad place,” said her granddaughter Mary Sorensen, who lives in Romeoville. “She’s scared and depressed.”

She’s now living at Symphony at the Tillers in Oswego. One day she commented to her son, Rick Nycz, a former Plainfield resident who currently resides in Naperville, about how much mail a fellow resident was receiving. Rick then took to Facebook to request that people send her cards and letters.

Rick told Patch he did it as a surprise to his mom to give her comfort in her final days.

“There’s been lots of interest,” he told Patch.

He also wants the cards to help keep her mind on more positive things.

Sorensen has since shared her father’s post with a Plainfield moms group on Facebook, which helped spread the word.

“Day cares are sending cards, and Girl Scout troops and people have gone to sing to her,” Sorensen said. “It just completely turned her world around. She went from sitting there scared all day, every day to having something to look forward to.”

Clara’s husband died more than 20 years ago, and she hasn’t had the easiest or most fulfilled life over the past years, her granddaughter said.

“I just thought that with two months to live, we could flood her with these beautiful letters and cards,” Sorensen said. “Just give her a beautiful sendoff.”

Clara grew up in Detroit and lived there her entire life before moving to Naperville. She turned 90 in March. She also loves kids and was one of 13 children. She has eight great-grandsons, but no great-granddaughters.

“Hundreds and hundreds of people have responded (on Facebook and by dropping off cards),” Sorensen said. “She’s just completely touched and overwhelmed.”

If you would like to send Clara a card, send it to:

Clara Nycz
Symphony at the Tillers
Room 109
4390 Route 71
Oswego, IL 60543

Photo 1: Clara Nycz reads a previous birthday card. Photo 2: Some of the first arrivals for Clara. Photos courtesy of Mary Sorensen.