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Pets of the week

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Santa is everywhere at this time of year — even behind the wheel of an LCTA bus

<p>FORTY FORT &#8212; Candy Vincent-Mamary&#8217;s legacy is one of love and family.</p><p>Three generations recently gathered at Candy&#8217;s Place, a Wellness Center, and took opportunity this holiday season to come together and reflect on Candy&#8217;s life which, they said, was defined by courage and kindness.</p><p>The center, the brainchild of Penny Cunningham shortly after the death of her sister Candy from cancer in 1998, provides free services to cancer patients and their caregivers, thus increasing their quality of life.</p><p>Massages, reiki therapy, reflexology, exercise classes and facials are among options available to patients and caregivers.</p><p><strong>Its beginnings </strong></p><p>&#8220;Candy died in January and we had the cancer walk, our first fundraiser, in May,&#8221; said Cunningham. &#8220;I had promised my sister that I would provide services for others that she would have appreciated.&#8221;</p><p>Cunningham said she simply started with what she knew - yoga.</p><p>Was is evident as the family reminisces about their lives is more important than any specific service, they say, is the spirit of family and support the staff at the center offers.</p><p>Juanita Namey, another of Candy&#8217;s sisters and a member of the facility&#8217;s board of directors, is always encouraging younger members of the family to get involved in the community, to be helpful and volunteer their time to benefit others.</p><p>Candy&#8217;s niece, Angela Falzone, also on the board of directors, said in their chosen fields, the family has chosen jobs in the helping field, in schools and in hospitals.</p><p>&#8220;We always encourage our children to count their blessings,&#8221; said Namey. &#8220;To be helpful to others.&#8221;</p><p>Alesha Falzone, Candy&#8217;s great niece and a pharmacy student at Wilkes University, also volunteers, especially enjoying seeing patients meeting each other, supporting each other.</p><p>&#8220;I enjoy seeing everyone gathered together,&#8221; she said.</p><p><strong>Overcoming a stigma </strong></p><p>Cunningham said the very basis of the program does just that: brings cancer patients and their families together and helps them to understand they are not alone.</p><p>A nurse, Cunningham remembers when people called cancer &#8220;the big C,&#8221; not wanting to fully refer to it, believing it was contagious.</p><p>&#8220;Having cancer used to be a death sentence,&#8221; she said. &#8220;It&#8217;s not anymore.&#8221;</p><p>Still, she said, there is work to be done in regard to eradicating the stigma of cancer.</p><p>&#8220;Some employers still fire people because they have cancer,&#8221; she said.</p><p>&#8220;And some parents are let go when they take time to care for children with cancer,&#8221; said Falzone.</p><p><strong>Celebrating life </strong></p><p>Candy&#8217;s family knows how to celebrate life.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re Italian,&#8221; said a smiling Cunningham. &#8220;We want to nurture others. When there&#8217;s an event in our lives, happy or sad, we show up with food.&#8221;</p><p>When patients&#8217; lives have been lost to the disease, their story often lives on, inspiring others.</p><p>Peg Dwyer, for example, died from pancreatic cancer recently, but not before she fully lived her life, bringing joy to others.</p><p>&#8220;I remember during the fashion show,&#8221; said Cunningham, &#8220;she just radiated joy and she looked beautiful.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;People thank us for what we give to them,&#8221; said Namey, &#8220;but often it seems they are giving to us, making our lives better.&#8221;</p><p>Cunningham said the center, with an 18-year history, is always ready to add new services appropriate to cancer patients and their caregivers.</p><p>&#8220;Just this last year, we added reflexology,&#8221; she said, &#8220;and, during the upcoming year, we are hoping to offer additional services.&#8221;</p><p>She credits the community, high school students, Scout troops and churches with making the center and its activities possible.</p><p>She said every once in a while someone will overwhelm her with their willingness to give unselfishly and with good spirit.</p><p>&#8220;We recently honored a 7-year-old who raised about $300,&#8221; said Cunningham. &#8220;He was so happy to do that.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Did he have a relative with cancer or something?&#8221; Namey inquired.</p><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t think so,&#8221; said Cunningham. &#8220;I think he just wanted to give from his heart.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Continuing the tradition </strong></p><p>Giving from their hearts is a family tradition that will continue &#8212; something family members say was passed on by their parents and grandparents.</p><p>In the midst of laughter, funny stories and plans for the future, the family is united in its commitment to Candy&#8217;s Place and the community it serves.</p><p>Recently, the family was joined by Candy&#8217;s niece Brittany Stevens, visiting from California for the holidays.</p><p>Although separated by miles, the family is united in spirit, in love and in its willingness to serve.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Angela Falzone, Juanita Namey, Brittany Stevens and Alesha Falzone at Candy&#8217;s Place recently where they regularly volunteer in memory of family member Candy Vincent-Mamary. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Candys-Place1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Angela Falzone, Juanita Namey, Brittany Stevens and Alesha Falzone at Candy&#8217;s Place recently where they regularly volunteer in memory of family member Candy Vincent-Mamary. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Candys-Place3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cunningham </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Candys-Place3.jpg</photo1><caption1>Cunningham </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_Candys-Place2.jpg">
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Candy’s Place celebrates family, supports cancer patients and caregivers