More Than Coffee: Retired Nurses Reconnect at Perry Lutheran Homes

There are some professions you leave. And then there are professions that never really leave you.

On Thursday, June 25, local retired nurses gathered at Perry Lutheran Homes for “Cup of Care,” a simple coffee gathering that quickly became something much more.

Around tables filled with coffee cups, former coworkers—some who hadn't seen one another in more than a decade—picked up conversations as though no time had passed. Nurses from Perry Lutheran Homes, Dallas County Hospital, and other healthcare organizations shared laughter, memories, and stories that only fellow nurses could truly understand.

Some memories reflected just how deeply Perry Lutheran Homes became woven into the lives of those who served there.

Former Perry Lutheran Homes Director of Nursing Deb (Hanysh) Koelln shared that she and her husband, Ralph, were married on the lawn at Perry Lutheran Homes. One resident was so excited for the occasion that he asked if he could be the best man; a memory that still brings a smile today and serves as a reminder that Perry Lutheran Homes was more than a workplace. It was home.

Others were reminders of the quiet compassion that defines nursing.

Gloria Larkins, former Perry Lutheran Homes nurse, shared one of the afternoon's most touching memories. She recalled watching her coworker, Deb Koelln, comfort a resident by reading Scripture, holding her hand, and simply being present. Decades later, Gloria said it remains one of the clearest examples of the compassion that defined so many nurses throughout their careers.

The stories reflected the many paths nursing can take.

Karen Liston, former surgical nurse at Dallas County Hospital, remembered caring for children at a time when parents were not permitted to accompany them before surgery or during recovery. Nurses became the reassuring presence, offering comfort, wiping away tears, and helping frightened children feel safe until they could be reunited with their families.

Then there were the stories that could only come from decades spent caring for older adults.

Kara Devilbiss fondly remembered a resident who lived to be 106 years old and jokingly insisted the secret to a long life was "one cigar and one shot of whiskey every day." Everyone laughed, but beneath the humor was something nurses understand well; the privilege of walking alongside people through every stage of life and carrying their stories long after they are gone.

As the afternoon continued, attendees identified familiar faces in historical photographs, remembered coworkers and residents who had since passed away, and reflected on the nurses and caregivers who helped build Perry Lutheran Homes' 70-year legacy of compassionate care.

Perhaps the most meaningful part of the afternoon wasn't any single story.

It was watching retired nurses reconnect with one another as they shared memories, finished each other's stories, and remembered that while careers eventually come to an end, the calling to care never really does.

Perry Lutheran Homes created “Cup of Care” to honor those who have dedicated their lives to serving others. Judging by the conversations that flowed, it reminded a remarkable group of nurses that they are still part of a community built on compassion, friendship, faith, and service.

As the gathering came to a close, one thing became clear: while uniforms, technology, and workplaces may have changed over the decades, the heart of nursing has not. It is found in quiet acts of compassion, shared laughter, lifelong friendships, and the privilege of walking alongside others through life's most meaningful moments.