Easter Seals Disability Services

Lova Mae

At 91 years young, Lova Mae has wisdom from years, heartache from loss, faith that’s seen her through good and bad — and a smile for everyone.

Some have said the hardest thing for a parent to do is experience the loss of a child, and Lova will tell you it’s true, she has lost two. Her daughter passed and then her son a year later.

“This place brought me out of it,” Lova said about Easter Seals Adult Day Services in Piqua. “They are so friendly and they treat me so nice.”

Lova has been participating in activities at the center two days a week since July of 2004.

“If I wasn’t here, I’d be at home crying,” Lova said. “I used to cry all the time and I said I couldn’t do that, so I started coming here.”

“I love it here,” Lova said. “It’s my second home.”

Even though Lova is on a fixed income, she donates clothing and bingo prizes to the center so those less fortunate can have nice things.

“Lova is one of the most caring, compassionate, thoughtful humans that I’ve met and we feel fortunate to have her at the center,” said Michelle Caserta, coordinator of adult day services and transportation, Piqua. “She has a beautiful face and a beautiful soul.”

After the loss of her son, Lova took care of her son’s affairs and came back to the center where friends who cared about her counted on her positive outlook to keep them smiling.

When Lova isn’t at the center, she lives independently in her own home, which makes her very proud.

“I still do my own cooking and cleaning,” Lova boasted. “As long as I can go, I’m going.”

Giving up isn’t something Lova knows how to do.

“She exemplifies feminine strength in a gentle and genuinely sweet way,” Michelle said. “She has fought hard to maintain her independence through her many adversities, and she shares her strength with others.”

These days, you won’t catch Lova without a smile.  She says if people can’t find their smiles, they can have one of hers.