'Plain old lady' does beautiful things: 'Moo' not cowed by people who have AIDS

Mary Louise Hamlin calls herself "a POL -- plain old lady."

Some POL. Recently, the Schodack Center resident was awarded the American Red Cross's Hometown Heroes Humanitarian award for her extensive volunteer work. She was chosen from among 150 Capital District candidates.

Mrs. Hamlin was honored for her dedication to victims of the AIDS virus and their families, senior citizens in Rensselaer County, members of the Catholic laity in the Albany Diocese, and fellow parishioners at Sacred Heart Church in Castleton.

More on 'Moo'

She shares her enthusiasm for service and zest for life with her three adult children, seven grandchildren, and an extensive network of community friends and acquaintances who have known her for the past 50 years as someone who encompasses the embodiment of the word "volunteer."

"I'm really not a hero," Mrs. Hamlin told The Evangelist with regard to her award. "I'm just a POL -- plain old lady, doing what needs to be done and having a good time in the process!"

Getting it done

Both "Moo" and her husband Edward were parishioners of St. John the Evangelist Church in Rensselaer. As far back as she remembers, she was always involved one way or another in programs at the school or church. Additionally, she has always believed in helping others out, according to the way she was raised by her parents.

"During the Depression years and into World War II, helping neighbors cope with lack of food and money, or the loss of loved ones was part of what we did in our neighborhood," she said. "In those days, everyone pitched in to help those in need."

Pivotal moment

"When Ed suffered his stroke, I had no idea where to turn or what to do," she said. "I just didn't know how to begin to take care of him. But I learned."

She began calling around the Capital District, looking for answers to her questions on how to take care of someone who was completely physically disabled. As time passed, she got answers -- through such agencies as Rensselaer County Social Services, Catholic Charities of the Diocese, and the Visiting Nurses Association. Soon, she was spending her days taking her husband to the doctor, the bank, outpatient therapy and shopping. She also learned how to keep his still-alert mind from becoming bored and disillusioned.

"I would take him everywhere with me," she said, recalling the days when the employees of their bank would hold the front doors open for her husband's wheelchair to pass through as she brought him in to do his weekly banking. "Those were the days before handicapped access was required for all public facilities, but we never let that stop us."

New goals

As a result of this meeting, Mrs. Hamlin became involved with a caregivers support group that consisted of women whose husbands were incapacitated to the point that they required around-the-clock care.

"It was a wonderful group. We supported each other, cried on each other's shoulders, gave strength to each other in caring for our husbands day after day," Mrs. Hamlin recalled.

Looking back, she now sees these times as the bridge that allowed her to cross over to the work she does today.

"One day, my husband died. I lost the love of my life," she said. "The next day, I woke up and realized I didn't have a thing to do. I looked around my house at the dust and suddenly decided, 'Forget it. It'll still be here in a couple of hours. I'm going out and help someone today."

Making a difference

"My faith was challenged in that program! I was raised in the '30s with a very strict faith," she mused. "The program allowed me the opportunity to renew and refresh my faith. It was wonderful for me!"

Once commissioned for lay ministry, Mrs. Hamlin chose to work with victims of AIDS as part of the Eddy AIDS Care team. She transported disabled patients to doctors' appointments, shopping, haircuts and dinner.

Three years ago, she was asked to help cook and serve meals at the Damien Center in Troy, a program that serves meals to victims of AIDS.

For children

In addition, she recently turned an idea she had into a program for senior citizens on AIDS awareness.

"I tried this out on the seniors at the Rensselaer Senior Citizens Center this year," she explained. "I went there and talked to them about AIDS awareness and how important it is for us to educate the younger generation. I pleaded with them to talk to their grandchildren about how dangerous this disease is and to let their grandchildren know how much they love them, how much their grandkids' health means to them as grandparents. Just think how wonderful it can be if young people can be educated with love by their grandmothers and grandfathers!"

As if her work in these programs is not enough to keep her busy, she also:

* volunteers at Sacred Heart parish in several ministries;

* helps out as a volunteer for the diocesan Formation for Ministry program;

* is an active member of the diocesan Commission for the Aging, sponsored by Catholic Charities; and

* is a member of a support group for families of AIDS victims.

"People in need are the reason I do this," Mrs. Hamlin said, "but it is to those who have provided me with the ways and means of doing it that I am most grateful. I absolutely love doing what I do. I get so much happiness and joy out of it all. My work makes me feel so good!"

(07-05-01) [[In-content Ad]]