Gina Marcello — an Aid to her Community
Marion, New York resident, Gina Marcello, 55, is a fighter, working to help people battle through the COVID-19 pandemic. Working with the Center for Disability Rights (The CDR) for 30 years as an independent living aide, Marcello has provided care and comfort to over a 100 clients from young to old. In 2014, Marcello, along with three other aides, became caregivers to 82-year-old Ellie Knebel, a resident at Quinby Park Apartments, who, at the time, had early onset Alzheimers and Dementia.
“She was the most dependable aide for my mother, by far,” Sam Zarcone, the son of Knebel says. “Gina was dedicated from the get-go…she had the best intentions for my mother and really showed it with the way she quickly brought her into her own family and everyday life,” Zarcone says.
Marcello, during the six years of being Knebel’s aide, has seen multiple aides come and go from the position, making her even more dedicated to taking care of Knebel.
“It’s so hard to depend on other aides to make sure that they are taking care of her in the way that she needs to be taken care of…it’s not just the aspects of making sure that she eats, goes to bed, bathes…it’s her happiness. It’s her joy. It’s her comfort…you can’t always rely on others to make sure that they are treating her as a human rather than a job,” Marcello says.
Marcello, since dedicating most of her time to caring for Knebel, has found that her job is much more than the CDR’s job description.
“Ellie is apart of my family, I care about her as much as I do my own family. I know the way she functions, I know how to manage her emotions — I truly believe that she knows me more than she does her own son, so of course I’m going to make sure she knows I care for her and respect her,” Marcello says.
In 2019, Knebel’s illness had progressed severely, making it almost impossible for her to comprehend words, formulate sentences, and move around her apartment easily.
“Having to take care of someone on its own is hard as it is,” Linzey Zarcone, granddaughter and former aide of Knebel says, “but having to take care of a full-grown woman who doesn’t understand what you or she is saying…it’s almost impossible.”
With the copious amounts of hardships it takes in being an aide, COVID-19 has only added onto the stress and pressure of caring for another. Marcello, like most, is learning to adjust and adapt to the new normal, however, working with someone with a disease like Knebel, can make everyday life more of a challenge.
“Because Ellie has dementia, she doesn’t understand why we are stuck in the apartment all day or why we can’t walk around Walmart or the hallways and hug people who live around her and know her. We have to force her to wear a scarf around her face since she has severe asthma and can’t breathe with the masks on…and the thought of her contracting this virus is pretty much a death sentence,” Marcello says.
With the pandemic creating limitations for Knebel, Marcello’s empathy for her during this time has grown.
“It’s easy for me to not be scared of the virus, but for Ellie it’s really limiting the little time she has left with us. She’s 82 and stuck at home and can’t see family now as it is, so if she gets sick and has to go to the hospital — she’s alone completely…and that really makes me want to protect her and do as much as I can to give her the best,” Marcello says.
Marcello, by wanting to provide joy to Knebel for the remainder of her life, has taken it upon herself to become Knebel’s sole, full-time aide. Within the next month, Marcello plans on moving Knebel into her own family’s home so that she can be surrounded by people who love and care for her, even during the pandemic.
“I have to make sure that not only my daily life isn’t disrupted by the virus, but also Ellie’s…I want to have her with me at all times so I can make sure she’s safe and happy…Her health is just as important to me as my health,” Marcello said.
This past month, the Marcello family was met with a new obstacle — having two family members contracting the Coronavirus in a span of one week.
“I have four people who live in my house, as well as four others who are over frequently…almost everyday. My son was the first to get the virus and then I did shortly after,” Marcello says. “I immediately isolated myself from my family…I stayed in a hotel for a week and then had my daughter, Chantelle, stay at her other sisters’ house to make sure that she could still go and take care of Ellie.”
Chantelle Marcello, 30, also one of Knebel’s aides, says she was surprised by how suddenly her family contracted the virus and how her mother stayed strong through it all.
“My whole family are essential workers, so for even one member of our family to have gotten Covid came as a wake-up-call for us all. My mother, since the pandemic started, was all for following restrictions and guidelines and making sure that she, my family, and Ellie were safe. So it was a shock to see her get sick and have to be away from Ellie for so long,” Marcello said.
Marcello, after being isolated for 14 days, took careful precautions in going back to work with Knebel after her positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
“I made sure I got multiple tests that all came back negative…wearing my mask around Ellie for the first week back…and made sure that Sam, Ellie’s son, was comfortable with me to return to work with his mother,” Marcello says, “I was ready to go back to work and see Ellie…I felt lonely being away from her for this long.”
Marcello, alongside bringing company and joy to Knebel, also cures many people’s sadness and loneliness in the form of some sweet treats and friendly smiles during the pandemic. Ridge Donuts Cafe, founded in 1977, has been run by the Marcello family for decades.
“During this time, it’s so important to spread love and joy in anyway you can…for me that’s by being a good mom, a good aide, and forcing donuts onto people,” Marcello says, “My family and I are currently in the process of opening a new location in Wayne County across from Yia Yia’s Ice Cream Shoppe…I think that during this time we realize that we can make people happy with something as simple as a donut — and by seeing how happy I make people in that moment, it’s enough to keep me doing it and bring as much joy as I can to my customers.”
Marcello, by notoriously putting others first, continues to provide selfless love and says that she lives with the cards that life deals to her with help from her faith and strong morals.
“I try very hard not to be fearful and do the best that I can each day and I think my faith has a lot to do with that…Whether I did get the virus or not, it’s important for me to remain safe and make sure I take care of my family, friends, Ellie, and myself,” Marcello says.
Marcello’s daughter says she prides herself in being the daughter of such a strong, providing, and compassionate mother.
“I admire everything about my mother…I cannot emphasize that enough. Her strength, her patience, her love for anyone — strangers…she is so caring it amazes me. She’s teaching me and everyone she meets how to not only care for yourself but for every single person around you,” Marcello says.
Whether it be providing donuts or full-time care, Marcello is making a difference in the lives of many, especially during this time of uncertainty and chaos.
“Gina’s life goal is to make a difference in someone’s life. What she does, most do not have the strength, patience, or heart to do. For my mother, she continues to give the remainder of her life purpose, joy, and laughter. For her family, she provides comfort, resilience, and serves as a loving example to her children and grandchildren. Gina is an extraordinary woman, and I don’t think I will ever meet someone that has the amount of compassion and love that she does,” Zarcone says.
