90-Year-Old Champions the Christmas Cheer

The Christmas spirit is alive and well at a not-for-profit Mercy Health aged care home, thanks to the creative talents of one of the residents - 90-year-old Ethel Delmenico.

Mrs Delmenico has knitted over 50 Christmas stockings and, together with the help of a volunteer and staff member, each of the 71 residents at Claremont-based Mercy Place Mont Clare are set to receive a handcrafted stocking filled with sweets and candy.

As a dedicated member of the home’s weekly knitting group, Mrs Delmenico has spent several months knitting the stockings, which will be distributed to each resident by Santa and his Christmas elves on Christmas morning.

And Mrs Delmenico has also dedicated time to knitting teddy bears, which she is donating to the sick and injured children at Ronald McDonald House who are unable to spend Christmas Day at home with their families

Mercy Place Mont Clare Service Manager, Surabh Nair, says Mercy Health’s residents are selfless and caring members of the community.

“Ethel has been knitting tirelessly for several weeks now, and it’s a credit to her dedication and commitment to others that she has handmade dozens of Christmas stockings, as well as Christmas teddy bears for West Australian children,” Mr Nair says.

“Some of our residents may not have the opportunity to spend the festive season with family or friends, so we’re incredibly grateful to Ethel for what she has done – the stockings will bring much joy to our residents on Christmas Day. Bringing happiness to others at this special time, as Ethel has done, is the real spirit of Christmas.”

Find out more about Mercy Health.