This was From my Uncles Eulogy... Ray passed on May 22, 2020, By the grace of God we got Ray into a wonderful, small family like nursing home in Dobson Plaza in Evanston. The minute I walked in there, I felt the Lord tell me that was his home. The director Cathy, understood Ray immediately, She made the comment once that Ray wants to be around people but not participate , like he is watching live television! We were floored by her insight, no one ever explained him so accurately. On official move in day it was just Ray and I, my Mom and Uncle Jerry were both working. When it came time to leave I was so scared he was going to ask me to take him with me. I left him in the community room to play BINGO, I had butterflies in my stomach , it felt as though i was leaving my child at school on his first day. As I walked away he didn't look back for me and I smiled with tears in my eyes As The elevator doors shut. My Uncle Jerry called him later that night to ask him how he was liking it and he said "lm alright, ok I'm going to go watch tv bye" He acclimated immediately. From that point on Ray thrived in his home, he became the king of bingo, watched the news every morning in the community hall with others and as God had designed it, made his first friend at 73. As the home got to know Ray they roomed him with Joel.The staff told me they heard Ray and Joel checking in with each other when one was leaving the room or when one of them needed to use the bathroom for a shave. Cathy told me that Ray and Joel really developed a son and father relationship in the end. Joel was definitely the closest person to Ray in his lifetime outside of our family. The staff said Ray also started attending Jewish services (Ray was Catholic) as he heard they gave out grape juice and cake, the bonus was he would already be in his favorite seat for the bingo that followed. When I went to collect Rays belongings, Cathy and the Some staff shared with me they would miss their Buddy and the residents their little brother. And of course his smile. Ray really didn't have an easy time expressing positive thoughts, but he told us many times he really like his home! It was a miracle to our family that Ray lived out the last year and a half of his life so very happy, and so well taken care of. This year at Rays Annual Birthday celebration, Ray was cracking jokes! He really gained a type of confidence being lovingly cared for, accepted and supported by his Dobson home. He had a very happy life in the end, and for that we are grateful. read more