Housekeeper's Decorative Touch Enhances Marymount Place Lounge

At the far end of Marymount Place’s second floor hallway is a winter wonderland that rivals most displays at your local garden or craft store.

The decorative flower cart is bedecked with poinsettias, a sleigh, and Santa Claus himself — and trimmed with pines, snowflakes, and red ornaments. Picture frames have been wrapped to resemble gift packages and a Christmas tree stands in the corner.

The creator of this display is Marymount Place housekeeper Susan Belliconish, who also was our  October 2011 Franciscan Spirit Award winner.

For the past five years the Garfield Heights resident has taken it upon herself — and uses her own money — to ensure that the lounge is always festive and in step with the season.

“I usually decorate the lounge for each holiday and about three times during the summer in scenes that fit the time of the year,” Belliconish explained. “I look at the area before I start and try to decide what I’m going to do.”

You may have guessed that Belliconish loves craft-making, but she said her busy schedule leaves her little time to enjoy her hobby at home.

“This is my little creative outlet,” Belliconish said of the lounge. “The residents and their families appreciate it so I keep doing it.”

Belliconish said it takes her about an hour or so to tear down and then rebuild the lounge scene. She said Easter is her favorite design theme because the holiday signals an end to winter and the rebirth of spring.

“For a lot of our residents, this is all they have in the way of decorations to look at,” Belliconish said. “Many tell me they have to stop by to see what I’ve done.”