Singing praises for Eleanor
HAMLET — Organist Eleanor Adeimy has been the melody of St. James the Greater Parish for 60 years. Every smile, every hug and every good turn have been the notes she's played just as deftly as she's fingered the keys.
Now, at 93, Adeimy is ready to retire, and on July 23 the close-knit Hamlet parish family gathered to say thank you.
Mass was offered by Father Jean Pierre Swamunu Lhoposo, pastor, who only half-jokingly noted in his introductory prayer, "We pray God to send us another organist – another organist who is as patient, as kind as Eleanor."
Adeimy started playing the organ for the parish in 1956. The young wife, mother and nurse also played the piano, and thought her musical gifts could be put to good use. All three daughters grew up playing and singing beside her, which they say greatly enriched their faith and family life.
Adeimy now has 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. All three daughters and many more family members and friends were at the Mass to celebrate with her.
Also there were Father John Starczewski, the former pastor of St. James, and Benedictine Father Kieran Neilson of Belmont Abbey, who gave the homily.
Adeimy and Father Neilson have known each other for years. In his homily, Father Neilson recalled the many pilgrimages they had taken to Fatima, and he thanked her for her years of joyful service to the Church.
He encouraged parishioners to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, especially during this Jubilee Year of Mercy, and he entreated, "Pray that God will give you those things that you persistently pray for, and don't give up."
Appreciate what gifts God has given you, he also told them, and "use those gifts to the best of your ability, for His honor and glory and for the honor and glory of those with whom you live and those with whom you associate.
"God has given us life, He has given us everything we have. Let us, then, not take for granted those gifts."
His message was echoed by members of the parish council after Mass, who expressed gratitude for Adeimy's gift of music to the parish over the past six decades.
"Your ministry of music has constantly lifted our hearts in praise and worship for the glory of God," said one parish council member.
They presented her with a crystal sculpture engraved with Psalm 40:3: "He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God."
Father Lhoposo also presented "our young sister" Adeimy with an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis.
Adeimy was at a loss for words in reaction to others' compliments and messages of thanks, but her face beamed as she laughed and talked with parishioners after Mass.
"When I was 75, I tried to retire," a smiling Adeimy told well-wishers gathered in the parish hall. Since 75 is the retirement age for bishops, she joked, "I thought I'd do the same." But a friend told her, "Eleanor, we can replace the bishop. We can't replace you!"
Parishioners agreed that Adeimy may be replaced as organist, but she is irreplaceable.
"She has been a gracious, uplifting, righteous person who has been kind and outgoing," said parishioner Ella Ratliff.
Butch Adeimy, one of her nephews, noted, "Had it not been for Eleanor, there would not have been any music in our church."
Gayla Eichorn has served alongside Adeimy for years. They divvied up the weekend Masses between them, and the two ladies have sung and played together for years. Eichorn sang the Communion hymn at the July 23 Mass, standing beside Adeimy, who was seated at the organ just as she has done so many times before.
"It was a huge gift to have her come up and play with me," Eichorn said afterwards. "Eleanor taught me how to pray. She taught me that when you sing, it's a prayer, not a performance."
For her part, Adeimy thanked Eichorn for their musical partnership over the years. "She has stood by me for almost 30 years. She has been very special to me. I couldn't have done it without her," Adeimy said.
Besides her musical ministry, Adeimy has been active in other aspects of the parish. She helped start the parish's annual barbecue several years ago, and still lends a hand at the successful fundraiser. She also encourages others to get involved in parish life. In fact, many parishioners nodded in agreement when Eichorn commented, "It's absolutely impossible to say no to Eleanor Adeimy."
"That's what she does: she runs things," Butch Adeimy said.
"There's nothing that she hasn't stepped up to do for people in need," said Connie Lindstrand, from cooking meals, sewing blankets and donating a wheelchair to sharing a smile and a warm hug with everyone she encounters.
"She believes in the good of all of us St. James family," added Kim Kondrat, who has known Adeimy since she was 8.
Parishioner Don Meany recounted the day he met Adeimy 30-plus years ago. After burning his hand, he had to go to the local doctor's office every day to have the dressing changed. Adeimy was the nurse who tended to him during each visit, and when she had to be absent one day she called in the other nurse to explain how to change his bandage just the right way.
"From that moment on she has been a very special person in my life," Meany said.
Every time he sees Adeimy, he said, "I could always expect a warm smile, a gentle hug and always a kind word.
"There's just nobody like her."
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, Editor