People of Perley - Judi Sarginson

Every Wednesday, no matter the season, Judi Sarginson wraps ice cream cones in serviettes and watches the action unfold in front of her. Hundreds of people are served, and hundreds of scoops are dished out. It is highly co-ordinated chaos, but she wouldn't have it any other way. 

“It's a great place to be,” says Judi. “The sense of camaraderie is beautiful. It's an opportunity for residents to sit around a table with other people that they don't usually meet with.” Even those who cannot communicate easily enjoy the energy. “It's noisy. I've even had people come over and say, ‘Do you have a cribbage board here?' And they'll play a game of cards while they're having their ice cream. It's a fun place.”

Judi has been volunteering at Perley Health for eight years. She began by helping with Catholic Mass and portering Gatineau residents on Thursdays and Sundays. Over time, her role expanded. Today she belongs to three volunteer teams: Mass, the ice cream parlour, and palliative care. 

“That probably is the most difficult, but the most rewarding part of what I do here,” she says of her work with residents who are in palliative or end-of-life care.  

Judi's experience working with people spans generations, from the youngest members of our community to its oldest. Judi worked as an educator and elementary school principal. After retiring, she served as Executive Director of the Youville Centre for young teen mothers and later volunteered at an AIDS hospice. 

“I thought maybe it was time to deal with older people,” she recalls of her move to Perley. “I think I've come to appreciate that the senior years can be very productive years. And I have learned a whole lot more about senior living than I ever imagined.” 

Judi is quick to credit the culture around her. “If Perley is faced with a challenge, they look for a solution,” she says. She points to initiatives such as the on-site child care and the organization's commitment to intergenerational connection. “Perley is so innovative, answering needs in the community,” she says.  

“I just find Perley very open, very positive, very person centered and creative. They're refining and improving all the time. And it's wonderful to be part of that dynamism.”

Some of Judi's most poignant memories at Perley happened during the pandemic. It was a time when volunteers were asked to take on other roles.

At a time when testing was scarce and families could not enter the Perley, Judi helped facilitate outdoor visits. One woman arrived whose name was not on the list. Judi called the unit anyway, and the staff brought her husband down to meet her. 

“As she was leaving she stopped and thanked me for making it possible,” Judi recalls. “She said she had not seen her husband for five months. When she saw him he didn't know her.” 

The woman wept. “Even though that was awful, through her tears, she was just so happy to see him.” 

Judi wrestled with the moment, and it took her a long time to process it. She eventually came to understand that seeing him, in a place they both knew, made a difference. 

In her work as a volunteer with the palliative care team, her tasks can seem simple on a resume. She sits at a bedside so visiting families can rest. It may seem like a small thing but it is not. Her presence gives loved ones permission to step away and take a breath.  

While the work can be heavy at times, Judi insists the balance tips toward joy. 

 “I think it surprises you, the things that make you feel rewarded for being here,” says Judi. “They can be small things, and they can be large things. And I'm just overwhelmed by the feeling of gratitude we receive as volunteers. We receive much more than we give, much, much more.”

She speaks just as warmly about her fellow volunteers. The support, the generosity, and the shared purpose have made a lasting impact on Judi. 

“Perley is like a village. It's like a big family,” she says. “I feel very fortunate to be a little part of it.”

“I just find Perley very open, very positive, very person centered and creative. They're refining and improving all the time. And it's wonderful to be part of that dynamism.” Judi Sarginson, Volunteer