Theresa Sessions, making weekends happen at Lafayette House

When Friday rolls around, Lafayette House goes through a transition. The hustle and bustle of the weekdays, with jobs, day programs, prepared lunches and scheduled rides, dissipates into a slower pace. And the staff transitions too. Theresa Sessions, is now in charge. Theresa has been with Lafayette House for the last three years as the weekend residential relief manager.

“Weekends are a bit looser. People don’t have to go out. People like to sleep in. It’s definitely more kickback. I think the weekends we try to make it different from the week, there are less expectations. They are out every day in the week.”

Chilling at Lafayette House on the weekend can mean watching sports (everyone loves the Patriots), time with family members, or going to events in the community.

Theresa is quite modest about her creativity, but it manifests itself throughout her weekend job.

She is often browsing magazines and online recipe sites for new things to make. During the months that the garden is producing fruits and vegetables she likes to incorporate the bounty into recipes. This past year she had fun with peaches, carrots, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, to name a few. Some of the summer bounty has been creatively extended with pies in the freezer and preserved jams and jellies in the cupboards.

Preparations for a cozy winter dinner for at least twelve

The residents, ten men and two women, enjoy the food and love to hang around the kitchen while she chops, mixes and cooks. In the winter she says everyone wants hearty meals like Salisbury steak and mashed potatoes, in the summer it’s peach cobbler from the harvested peaches.

Theresa also knits and sews. Last winter she knitted hats for the girls. This winter she sewed Patriots infinity scarves for everyone. She also mends clothes and enjoys organizing closets.

Theresa has been involved with Lafayette House for 18 years. She started as an LNA and assisted several residents with showers, laundry and other living skills. She loved her involvement with the House and was thrilled when the weekend job opened up. The families in the house are comforted that on weekends the residents receive as much love and care as they do on weekdays.

Go Patriots!! Getting psyched for the game.

Nancy modeling her new Patriots scarf right before a big game.