Swimmers, special angel help keep Santa fund afloat.

PositionNEWS

Byline: Ellie Oleson

COLUMN: TELEGRAM & GAZETTE SANTA

In 2004, a $50 donation came to the Telegram & Gazette Santa Fund from eight Worcester area swimmers, who said they were prompted by a golden angel.

This year's $1,036 donation from the Water Lilies and the Lily Pads was made in memory of a "special angel," Elaine Russell Dunn, 67, one of the original eight swimmers. Mrs. Dunn, a registered nurse, lost her battle with cancer on Sept. 8.

Virginia R. Barbon has been swimming for many years with the Greendale YMCA Aquatics Arthritis Group, who call themselves the Water Lilies. The Lily Pads were added when three men joined the group, which now numbers up to 50 swimmers.

One day in 2004, Mrs. Barbon went to a fair at St. Matthew's Church at 695 Southbridge St. in Worcester, where she purchased an angel with feathers for wings and a golden dress.

"She was beautiful. That year, I decided to raffle her off to benefit the Gazette Santa. I hoped to raise $50," Mrs. Barbon said.

Fellow Water Lilies Elaine R. Dunn and Janice H. Bjork added prizes to the raffle, which raised $500 for the T&G Santa and became an annual tradition.

"Elaine and Jan offered to take over the raffle. They were wonderful," Mrs. Barbon said.

Mrs. Dunn graduated from North High School in 1960, then from Hahnemann School of Nursing in 1963. She married James P. Dunn of Millbury, raised four sons and enjoyed nine grandchildren. She was a nurse at UMass Memorial Medical Center - Memorial Campus for 17 years, until retiring at age 65 two years ago.

Mrs. Barbon, who organizes trips for members of Our Lady of the Angels Parish in Worcester, said, "Elaine loved to travel, and joined us on one last trip to the Baltic Sea and Scandinavia. It was beautiful. She was signed up for a trip to Montreal and a St. Lawrence cruise, but she didn't make it. She died way too young. Elaine was an angel."

Water Lily Jeanne Gauthier of Worcester said, "Elaine was a wonderful person. She was talented at crafts, and was so kind. She was a friend and a fun person, and is well remembered by all of us. We are dedicating this year's donation to help the children to our special angel."

The T&G Santa is holding its annual fund drive. In its 71st year, the T&G Santa Fund collects thousands of donations from generous readers and area residents to help buy toys for children in need in Central Massachusetts.

Children 12 and younger who would otherwise not receive any holiday gifts are eligible to receive two...

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