Jim Harvey, left, and Milo Karasek perform with carolers for a group of residents at Nebraska Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation, 7410 Mercy Road. The musicians had performed annually for more than 20 years at the nearby Mercy Care Center, which is closing

CHANGE OF PLANS LETS GROUP OF CAROLERS COME FULL CIRCLE

BY LYNN SAFRANEK 

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

December 17, 2002

The man sat in his wheelchair staring straight ahead with tears streaming from his wide, blue eyes.

Surrounded by carolers visiting him and the other residents of Nebraska Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Sunday, he softly sang along to "Away in a Manger."

"The show must go on," said Vincent Leinen, an organizer of the caroling. "We'll take this circus anywhere."

This was supposed to be the carolers' last year at Mercy Care Center, where Leinen and a group of friends have sung for more than 20 years.

The nursing home at 1870 S. 75th St. is closing because potentially unhealthy levels of mold were found in the building. Its 155 residents will be moved from the building by Jan. 31.

Instead of squeezing in one last performance there, Leinen said, the carolers were asked to sing at Nebraska Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation because many Mercy Care residents were in the process of moving.

The venue change brought back fond memories for original members of the group.

Their caroling tradition began in the Nebraska Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation building 28 years ago when it was called Hill Haven Rest Home.

Leinen and his friend Tom McCurdy gathered the first carolers while they were students at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

A few years later, the caroling moved to Mercy Care.

Leinen now lives in Los Angeles but returns to Omaha every year for the event. He has organized a similar caroling group in Los Angeles for 21 years.

The caroling began Sunday evening in the nursing home's dining hall, where some residents joined the singing in between bites of red Jell-O.

"I never knew so many people got together to do something like this," resident Norman Nelson said.

Santa Claus walked from table to table greeting residents with a carnation. About 100 carolers, joined by three accordion players and a violinist, filled the hall with song while Leinen took special requests.

"I've just been told by this lady in the blue shirt that we are the joy of her life," Leinen told the group.

Later, the carolers moved upstairs and split into groups to visit bedridden residents' rooms.

Sitting upright in her hospital bed, Margaret Fous wiped away a tear as carolers wrapped up their last song. Before long, Santa Claus and a new group of carolers crowded into Fous' room.

"I've been a good girl," Fous told Santa. "At least 'til Christmas."

Next year's caroling date has been set for Dec. 14. Leinen said it's likely they'll return to Nebraska Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation.