The Little Sisters of the Poor's parade celebrates the birthdays of two residents in their 100s

As sisters, staff and residents celebrate the birthdays of two centenarians today at the Little Sisters of the Poor James P. Wall Home for the Aged in Brighton Heights, they are also celebrating what God has done there.

“If you don’t believe in God, then come and live with us for a little while,” said Mother Mary Vincent Mannion, the administrator.  

Without the volunteers who ordinarily help with activities for nearly 100 residents, the staff has improvised during the COVID-19 lockdown. Socially-distanced bingo – with residents playing from unit doorways – is popular.

Today they pulled out all stops with a drive-by parade for two widowed residents as Kay Canyock turned 100 and Mary Sahayda turned 103.

Canyock was born in England, where she served in the Land Army during World War II, helping on a farm in place of men who were fighting. At a tea dance, she met Joseph Canyock, an American motorcycle escort to General George Patton, who was recuperating from wounds. They married in England but she had to wait three years for a visa to join him in Pittsburgh, where they eventually had three daughters, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Canyock, who has taken up painting at the Little Sisters, has a proper English tea every afternoon.

Sahayda, who attended Irwin High School, was a private housekeeper who raised twin boys and a daughter with her husband, Michael. At St. George Parish she was famous for her cabbage and cottage cheese pierogies, continuing to help make them when she was 95 and nearly blind. Limited eyesight hasn’t interfered with bingo at Little Sisters because the grandmother of four has her card memorized.

“The residents are wonderful. They are so spiritual,” Mother Mary Vincent said. “You would think they would scream and carry on about the lockdown but they go with the flow. They have so much to teach us.”

Early on, supporters donated iPads so residents could Skype and Facetime with loved ones. They had been doing “patio visits” through a window via cell phone, but those were halted last week after the home had its first positive test for COVID-19.

Mother Mary Vincent suspected a false negative. The resident was in her 90s, had no symptoms and no one else had tested positive. But all protocols for the virus were in force.

In order to fulfill those protocols, “you have no idea of the miracles that have happened here,” she said.

Initially, the home lacked the necessary protective equipment and sanitizing supplies. UPMC then donated so much that the Pittsburgh home had enough to help the Little Sisters in Chicago, Delaware, Baltimore and Philadelphia – if they could transport it.
Mother Mary Vincent asked whether any known donor worked for FedEx. One did. He turned out to be a high-ranking executive. The supplies were swiftly delivered.

Meanwhile the sisters, staff and many Catholics among the residents – the home serves people of all faiths – have responded to a worldwide call by the Little Sisters to pray a million rosaries for an end to the pandemic. As part of that, Mother Mary Vincent arranged for the local “pilgrim statue” of Our Lady of Fatima to be in their chapel for her feast day, since it couldn’t go to any parishes. Though residents can’t gather in the chapel, many came one-by-one to pray the rosary.

Last week, Mother Mary Vincent returned the statue “and we had holy hallelujah,” she said, in a wry euphemism.

The freezer broke, the boiler broke and the they had that one positive test. One of the residents asked her, “Mother, would you get the Blessed Mother back here?”

Back came the statue, hot water and the freezer. Then, back came the news that the one positive test was proven false.

The pilgrim statue “likes it here,” Mother Mary Vincent said. “She in the chapel and she’s smiling at us. She’s happy and we’re happy.”


Above: Kay Canyock, 100


Above: Mary Sahayda, 103