Carol Feltman's Story: A Divine Partnership

After raising her own kids, Carol Feltman spent a good portion of her retirement raising her two granddaughters from the time they were two and three-years-old. It kept her busy for the next sixteen years. When her youngest granddaughter left home to travel in 2017, Carol felt lost.

“I had no place to go, and I felt useless,” she explains. Carol planned to go back to bed and have a pity party. But the phone rang that very day, and it was a call for help that could only be explained as divine intervention. The Chaplain at Patriots Colony, Travis Greenman, needed assistance.

“God put us together,” says Carol. “She needed help and I needed to be needed.”

Carol had an apartment at Patriots Colony, even though she lived about a mile away at the time. She would take advantage of the social activities at Patriots Colony and spend occasional nights there, although it was not her full-time residence until October of 2018.

Travis wanted help setting up a filing system for her office. Carol had spent 23 years of her career doing administrative work. With a husband in the Air Force for more than 20 years and the many moves that came with it, Carol preferred to be a “temp” and provided secretarial support to many offices over the years. She had the highest security clearance and worked for a USAF Colonel for a few years. She enjoyed her work and found that she was always learning.

Her experience has proven valuable to Travis. Pre-COVID, Carol set her hours from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday. She appreciates that her skills are put to good use, and she no longer worries about the deadlines associated with her administrative jobs in the past.

“When I retired in 1998, I swore off deadlines,” Carol says. “Travis will give me things to do, but it is up to me when and how they get done. She tells me what she would like done, but never tells me how to do it.” In what has become a great partnership, Carol and Travis enjoy mutual respect and admiration for the service each provides.

“I do everything I can do to free her up to go visit sick people,” explains Carol. “Every paper I file means she doesn’t have to do it. Travis respects my time and my contribution. She lets me know every day that she appreciates me.”

Carol’s work goes beyond administrative support. For the past four years, Carol has been the Associate Editor (for Layout) of the Patriots Press, a 20-page, quarterly publication published for and by the residents of Patriots Colony. And because she is somewhat of a night owl, she does most of the administrative work at home at night.

Carol takes a lot of pride in the great work and many accomplishments Travis has helped spearhead at Patriots Colony. From establishing a Low Vision Support Group, starting a Dementia Friends USA group, organizing activities that help enrich residents’ spiritual lives, and more. Carol loves that Travis is patient and compassionate with every encounter.

Despite her busy volunteer schedule, Carol regularly enjoys social activities, including happy hours, playing bridge and being the only female member of the Patriots Colony Men’s Poker Group on Wednesday nights.

“I like to joke that my work with Travis helps balance my life,” laughs Carol. “I enjoy the work I do to support the Chaplain, and I also drink wine and go to casinos.

One of Carol’s fondest memories of her work with Travis was in January of 2020. There had been a considerable amount of loss during November and December of the previous year, and she described the mood at Patriots Colony as grim. During those weeks, Travis invited residents to bring their Three Kings and other Nativity scenes for display at an Epiphany brunch to be held in January. She purchased 250 party crackers, which Carol helped her stuff with small toys. They had hats and decorations. And when the party started, Carol was delighted and amazed at how the event had lightened the mood.

“It was like telling everyone: It’s a New Year and a new start,” Carol says. “Travis turned the whole mood from grim to happy. One brunch. And people laughed again.”

Travis and Carol are an ambitious team and even COVID did not slow them down much. They worked together to create a neighborhood directory for Assisted Living residents with restricted activity. The directories include photos and bios of the residents.

As she approaches her 88th birthday, Carol continues her support with multiple projects such as the memorial celebration to be held in September for the 29 residents who passed when gatherings and goodbyes were limited. For some people, balancing multiple projects at once and having a to-do list that never ends is daunting. But Carol is grateful for the work and her relationship with Travis.

“I wake up every day and say a prayer,” she says. “I thank God that I have something meaningful to do. Not a day goes by that Travis doesn’t impress me. When I grow up, I want to have that disposition.”