Celebrating Beverly Suderman-Gladwell

Beverly was born and raised on a farm in Southern Manitoba. She settled in Ontario for work in the 1980’s and stayed for love. Most of her professional career she has been a chaplain. Beverly has been married for 27 years and has two children. She loves walking, and is an avid gardener with a focus on native pollinator plants.

“I have always been drawn to helping, being a helper!”

What volunteer experiences are you most passionate about in your life?

“I have always wanted to help; my volunteer work has been focused on children and infants.”

“A group I loved being a part of was the ‘La Leche League’ group for new moms. My role was to facilitate the monthly meetings with a theme and questions to encourage sharing and conversation…

“On March 19th of this year, I got a text from a friend (local physician) wanting personal protective equipment (PPE) for non-medical settings (non-hospital settings), PPE for community professionals, PSWs, midwives, long term care team members, and front line workers at shelters. They could not find gowns for these groups. She wanted my support in facilitating these efforts. I used my connections to find ‘sewists’ (combining sewer and artist) and organizations like Lens Mills to donate…

“We have officially completed 1400 medical gowns and 1500 scrub caps, and 600 cloth face masks. It’s very exciting!”

What aspects of serving your community and giving back are most important to you? What motivates you to help in these ways?

“It has been a lot of fun, and eye-opening to make something work from the ground up, so many moving pieces. We described this COVID effort as an ‘octopus,’ working in the fog, all trying to coordinate together, with all the different tentacles moving at once…

“This is how I was raised; my parents and grandparents always volunteered. It’s in my genes. You always help your neighbors. That is just what you did!”

What is something most people in your life would not know about you?

“I grew up going to a one-room country school in southern Manitoba in the 1960’s.”

“I did not speak English until I was 3 or 4. I could only speak German.”

What would you want younger/future generations to know about these efforts? What advice would you share with them?

“The professional reading I’ve done about volunteering speaks about the benefits for self. During these past few weeks, I have had a lot of fun. It’s great for the world and the community and for yourself. Volunteering serves each so well! The friendships you make while working together are wonderful. It brings people together – working so hard towards a common goal – and the best part is that you have fun doing it.”

What would you want people to know about the process of aging that you feel is currently misunderstood within society?

“In having worked in long-term care for as long as I did, there is so much perspective. I was working with people twice my age. I always felt like a spring chicken. But then when I would leave work and volunteer with children, I was still the same person, but I was now the more seasoned in the room. It brought perspective. You can learn so much…

“I have limitations, but I can still push those limits and adapt. We must live to the fullest within our limitations but not be limited by them. As we age, we gain insight and perspective.”

What aspect of your life are you most proud of?

“I am proud of my children and my family. Sometimes I am proud of just getting up in the morning and going. I am so grateful for all those things.”

What does age mean to you?

“It is just what I am. I am all the ages I have ever been: I am 16 and 2 and 39 and 60 all at the same time.”

"The Interview Project" Featuring Beverly Suderman-Gladwell