Thirty years is a remarkable milestone in the life of an organization – one worthy of gratitude, celebration, and reflection. For the RSHM LIFE Center, this 30th anniversary is more deeply meaningful as we remember with love and thanksgiving our founding Executive Director, Sister Susan Gardella, RSHM.
The RSHM LIFE Center began with RSHM Sisters Susan’s and Betty Kolb’s vision of a place where all would be welcome, where neighbors could gather, learn, grow and support one another. With their characteristic faith and determination, they planted the seed that would grow into the vibrant community that we know today. Sisters Susan and Betty gave the Center its start, but it has never been theirs alone. From its earliest days, the LIFE Center has been built by the hands and hearts of many – staff, volunteers, families, board members and supporters who have carried the mission forward.
Over the past three decades, the LIFE Center has become more than a building; it has become a home. Children have taken their first steps into learning here, parents have found resources and encouragement, teens have discovered their leadership skills and neighbors have become friends. Generations of families have walked through our doors, each leaving a mark on the LIFE Center’s story.
The journey has not been without its challenges. As we were planning for our 25th anniversary in June 2020, COVID hit in March. Instead of preparing for reunions and parties, we had to navigate lockdowns and determine how we could best continue to serve the Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollow community. While that 25th year ended without fanfare, we were deeply grateful for what we had achieved together. In the years since, the LIFE Center has restored beloved programs – After School, Parents & Tots, Adult English Classes, Friday Night Fever Teen Club, Smarty Saturday and Summer Fun – while continuing to adapt to new challenges.
Now, as we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we do so with full hearts. We remember not only the thousands of families whose lives have been touched by this community, but also the extraordinary leadership of our beloved Sister Susan. Her vision, compassion, and tireless dedication shaped the LIFE Center into what it is today. Sister Susan’s dream lives on in each program, in each act of kindness, in each life touched by the Center.
This anniversary is both a celebration of the LIFE Center’s enduring mission and a tribute to Sister Susan’s legacy of love and service – a legacy we are committed to carrying forward for the next 30 years and beyond. Sister Susan closed her reflection on the 25th anniversary with the words of Dag Hammarskjold, former UN Secretary-General, and I think it still holds true: “For all that has been, THANKS… for all that will be, YES!”