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Jan. 25, 2007
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Life rich with ministerial opportunities
for mother, nurse |
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Name: Susanne Malestic
Age: 48
Occupation: Senior resource care coordinator, Aurora Health Care
Parish: St. Patrick, Elk Horn
Book recently read: “Directions for Our Times,” by Anne, A lay Apostle
Favorite movie: She does not watch movies or television.
Favorite quotation: “It is not how much we do, but how much love we put into the doing. And it is not how much we give, but how much we put into the giving. To God, there is nothing small.”— Mother Teresa (Catholic Herald photo by Allen Fredrickson) |
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If laughter is the best medicine, Susanne Malestic of Elkhorn can prescribe a heavy dose of it.
A registered nurse with degrees in psychology and philosophy, Malestic believes in the healing power of laughter and uses it to brighten lives.
“I am ‘Snaps’ the clown, who is a silent, hobo clown,” she said. “Through clowning, I trained in puppetry and ventriloquism and I minister through my Tumbleweed Puppet Company. I also perform with storytelling called Enchanted Moments Storytelling, and tell stories such as ‘Grubbs the Pirate’ and other colorful characters. I write the stories that I use for storytelling, and my dream is to have one of my children’s stories published one day.”
She takes God seriously, but rarely takes herself seriously. Humor is one way Malestic has found to deliver her point, reach someone who is feeling down or ease the burdens of a stress-filled life. Often engaging adult groups in silly songs such as “Baby Shark,” she helps others realize that while stress is part of life, it doesn’t have to take over life.
“Whether I am a pirate, with his parrot, Gusty Winds, a tragic hobo clown, or a ventriloquist with my puppet, Mr. Snudge, I have learned that people love to laugh. A lovely parish nurse named Lynn Robards gave me a T-shirt with the quote, ‘Laughter is an instant vacation!’”
Laughter wasn’t always so easy for Malestic. At 21, she became a single mother to Travis, now 26 and in the U.S. Navy. When Travis was in second grade, they were involved in a head-on auto accident. The wheel from the oncoming vehicle rammed into the engine of their car. Travis was removed from the wreck on a spinal board and the fire department had to extricate Malestic using the Jaws of Life.
“I wanted to cry,” she said. “But I just replied ‘OK, just don’t scratch the paint.’ It wasn’t the funniest joke I ever told, but it helped me recover enough so I could stay calm for my son.”
As a senior care resource coordinator for Aurora Health Care, Malestic uses humor and compassion in a free service for the elderly and their families. The program identifies seniors who might be “at risk” for falling, depression, dementia, and poorly controlled diabetes; it provides support, resources and education for seniors as well as their family members.
“Resources such as transportation, assistance with medication, home medical equipment to prevent falls, home care, food, and heat assistance are just some of the resources this program addresses,” Malestic explained. “Family caregivers are also supported with education and resource referrals. I also facilitate an Alzheimer’s caregiver support group and present seminars in the community.”
Complimenting her work with seniors, Malestic is involved in her parish, St. Patrick, Elkhorn. She is an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, including ministering to the homebound, and lectors for weekend Masses.
“I have taught religious education for many years, often using puppets and storytelling to bring the message of Jesus with joy with the children,” she said. “As you can see, life is rich with opportunity for ministry.”
With working full time, finding occasions for puppetry, clowning, storytelling and parish work might be a challenge. Malestic, however, makes the time by foregoing TV viewing. She believes that the habit of hours in front of the screen is the number one stealer of time.
“I stopped watching television several years ago and I have recently stopped watching movies as well,” she said.
In her spare time, Malestic plays with Professor Higgins, her golden retriever and Dr. Wu, her cat. She is an avid reader, and is currently reading a series of books written by Anne, the lay apostle.
“The books contain life-changing messages that provide guidance for spiritual growth and emphasize the importance of family life, children and the invitation for salvation for all souls,” she said.
As a child and young adult, Malestic described herself as odd, often willful, and never fitting in to societal roles.
“I tried to live according to the world at that time,” she admitted. “So, at 21 years old, I was pregnant and unmarried. God had better plans for me than I had for myself. He gave me a wonderful son, and he provided a ministry that used all of my eccentricities for his glory.” |
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