On Friday, Feb. 2, Parmly Senior Housing & Services held its 6th Annual Employee Recognition Dinner at the Scandia Creamery. The highlight each year is the presentation of the Isabelle Lindgren award for longstanding and compassionate service at Parmly. It was a bittersweet moment as Claudia Monson, former South Chisago County Meals on Wheels coordinator, was posthumously chosen as the 2006 honoree. Claudia died on December 17, 2006 after a heroic battle with cancer. Her husband, Steve, accepted the award on her behalf.

Each year since 1987, the Isabelle M. Lindgren Distinguished Service Award has been given to a Parmly employee for their outstanding, dedicated Christian service to the organization and who exemplifies their mission of serving the elderly.

Beginning in 1919, the "Willing Workers," a group of dedicated women including Isabelle Lindgren, faithfully served and spent their entire lives caring for the elderly. You could certainly feel the gentle and caring hands of Christ in Claudia as she gave unconditionally of herself to make others feel better.

In her nomination letter, she was described as someone who "is very personable and easily approachable by all-co-workers, seniors and volunteers. Whenever you talked with her, she gave you her full, undivided attention. Her commitment to her program and its recipients was unwavering."

Quietly, efficiently and without fanfare for nine years, Claudia coordinated the Meals on Wheels Program from her office in Parmly Lakeview Apartments.

She managed a program that served over 50 people a day through a network of close to 270 volunteers. Knowing how important a hot meal and a visitor are to the frail seniors she served, she diligently assured them that their meals were prepared according to specific diets and delivered on schedule.

"Claudia set her personal work performance standards high and consistently exceeded them," said Mary Cordts, Parmly's executive director.

Claudia will be missed by all who she served and her friends at Parmly, but she will live on in the hearts of everyone who knew her.  Parmly is proud to honor Claudia's steadfast devotion to the elderly with the Isabelle Lindgren award.