'Explosion Of Cards' Sent To LI Senior Lonely Due To Coronavirus

RIVERHEAD, NY — The story of a lonely senior at a Riverhead nursing home touched hearts across the nation as an appeal for notes or cards sent literally hundreds of greetings pouring in. With coronavirus cases continuing to spike, new restrictions for nursing homes went into effect statewide, with only medically necessary visits allowed.

But, while the state is asking nursing homes to set up online systems so families can communicate with their loved ones — the lack of visitors has left some seniors feeling lonely. That's why Kathleen Berezny asked people to "drop a note" to her friend Bertha Kulesa, a 96-year old who lives at the Acadia Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Riverhead.

A Patch story about the appeal sparked a massive response.

"Bertha Kulesa received an explosion of cards," Berezny said. "Hundreds were mailed directly to her."

Daniel Mazzone, director of nursing at the facility, "couldn't believe the mail she received. It's come in from all over the United States; it's unbelievable. She got hundreds of cards and letters from Alaska, Texas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Delaware and, of course, from family and friends," Berezny said.

And now, the goal is to reach out to other residents who feel lonely and isolated.

Cards, letters, and drawings can be sent to any resident, or to Kulesa, at Acadia Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, 1146 Woodcrest Ave., Room. 123, Riverhead, NY 11901. All cards and letters will received will be distributed among residents, Berezny said.

"I'm so happy," Berezny said. "I never expected this amount of love spread to a wonderful lady, Bertha. Thanks to all. The art of letter writing returns. How wonderful."

Kulesa, Berezny said, has a daughter, Pat, and two sons, Donald and Thomas, as well as two grandsons and a great-grandchild; she lost her husband Henry and daughter Juliana.

Before coronavirus, Berezny said, Kulesa's daughter would visit her in the daytime, her sons, at dinnertime, and she and a friend, Peggy Sparrow, would go once a week, to do her hair, and to visit and chat. "We have Valentine's Day parties, Peggy's birthday party in February — and I have the cakes for St. Patrick's Day, but that's on hold, of course," she said.

The friends have been having lunch with Kulesa for years, even before she lived at the nursing home.

Throughout the years, Kulesa has been a familiar face in the community, working at Polish Hall, Regula's, and other local businesses.

Kulesa has even been recognized for being a 90-plus senior at the Riverhead Senior Center, Berezny said.

"She is a friendly, outgoing, and happy lady. She loves doing her exercises every day; she loves to read. She was never a TV watcher — except for Jeopardy," Berezny said. "She's alway loved feeding peanuts to the squirrels and leaving bird feed for the birds, too. She loved going to the senior center for special events. And she crocheted afghans — she's always loved doing that."