A family tradition

Three generations of a local family bring mothering spirit to Salem health care facility

SALEM -- The caregiving gene is strong in this family of mothers.

Patti Bryan set the example by caring for her parents, followed by her daughter Sunshine Champney, who grew up to become a nurse.

Sunshine was then followed by her own daughter, Autumn, who's a nursing assistant on the verge of becoming a nurse.

Three generations -- all caregivers -- sharing the bond of family life, love and even work at Salem North Healthcare Center, until Patti retired when Covid-19 hit last year.

She's now spending her time caring for the fourth generation, Autumn's two children, 4-year-old Gianna and 2-year-old Kingston, all so Sunshine and Autumn can respond at a moment's notice if needed back at work during the pandemic.

Could a fourth generation be joining them? Time will tell, but Gianna already has her own play stethoscope and three role models to emulate.

"I just think it's so great that there's four generations of us," Patti said.

She's glad she's able to watch the children. She didn't know her grandparents, let alone her great-grandparents.

Sunshine, 45, helped with the care of her grandparents, who were a lot older than her mom. Grandma was a diabetic. After graduating from Leetonia High School in 1993, Sunshine got a job as an aide at the nursing home now known as Salem North Healthcare Center on Continental Drive, worked her way through nursing school and was a member of the first class to graduate from Kent State Salem with a four-year nursing degree. She's now the Director of Nursing at the facility.

Patti, 67, previously worked many years at Church Budget in Salem, then she worked in housekeeping at Salem North Healthcare Center for three years before retiring, then coming back part-time to do laundry, then retiring for good in March 2020.

Autumn, 24, who also graduated from Leetonia High School, went to nursing school at the Columbiana County Career & Technical Center Adult Education program. When the pandemic hit, the state issued her a temporary license so she could work at Salem North Healthcare Center as a licensed practical nurse.

She's now working at the facility as a nursing assistant until she takes the state test to become an LPN and will remain working there.

"We're a really close family," Sunshine said.

She remembers her grandparents helping her mom out when she was young and then her mom caring for them.

"I gravitate toward older people," she said.

Autumn recalled coming to the nursing home when she was young. Sunshine said she used to help out with the residents and play cards with them. Plus, grandpa, Patti's father, Tom Eichler, was there to visit until he passed in 2001.

"Dad always had candy stashed away in his room for the kids," Patti said.

For these women, family is number one, and that includes their family of co-workers at Salem North Healthcare Center. They care for one another and Sunshine said they do everything together. Their normal Mother's Day activity is planting flowers and having a barbecue. The weather may put a damper on the planting this year, but there will be a barbecue.

In describing the relationship between mother, daughter and granddaughter, Patti said "we're like three peas in a pod."

As for the caregiving gene, Autumn said "we all have that within ourselves."

She said it's rewarding to see people get better and she likes being part of that with her family. To take care of someone else's family member as if they were our own is really rewarding, she added.

"I remember watching my mom save somebody's life for the first time. I thought, 'my mom's a hero, wow.' I hope I can make a difference,"

As the words came out, the tears flowed in both mom and grandma.

"Proud mom moment there," Sunshine said.

Patti joined in, "I'm quite proud of my girls."

Sunshine also has a son, Devon, who's going to be a senior engineering student at The Ohio State University next year. He's also someone who will stop and help somebody who needs help.

"If it wasn't for my mom, I wouldn't be who I am," Sunshine said.

Their advice for other families is to spend time together, talk it out when there's an issue and love each other. Keep those bonds strong.

Salem North Healthcare Center Admissions Director Katherine Brock commented that the longevity of the employees, the relationships built over time, impacts the quality of care. There are many dedicated caregivers who have worked at the facility for a long time. And Sunshine and family aren't the only multi-generational group of women there.

Gloria Hinchliffe started working when her daughter Jody was 6 years old. Jody Kozma is now a social worker at the facility and started volunteering at the age of 10. Jody's daughter, Lilly, 17, works at the front desk. The family matriarch, Dorothy Hinchliffe, who passed away in 2018, worked in activities at the nursing home.