Drs. Michael and Kate Bárány May House Courtyard dedicated at Episcopal Church Home

Drs. Michael and Kate Bárány were Holocaust survivors who exemplified the art of living, both personally and professionally. We were privileged to serve them and their family at the ends of their remarkable journeys. Son George, who works in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Chemistry, says that his family was deeply touched by the kindness of the people at Episcopal Church Home.

“Deb Veit and the Episcopal Church Home staff went to great lengths to enable my parents to be together at my mother’s end,” says George. “After her passing, my father – who was in transitional care – took comfort sitting in the sun, watching the waterfalls and butterflies in the courtyards. That inspired our family to make the Church Home’s fourth courtyard a beautiful, peaceful refuge like the other three. It is our wish that current and future residents, with their families, should derive their own joys and lasting memories when they visit and relax in the Michael and Kate Bárány May House Courtyard.”

Amen! The dedication was Sunday, July 22. Here are a few pictures from the dedication gathering.

(1) The commemorative plaque. (2) George Barany thanking Dr. Mark MacDonald, former Minnesota Viking (’85-’88) and Medical Director of our Transitional Care Center. (3) Brothers George and Francis thanking Marvin Plakut (Episcopal Homes President & CEO) and Deb Veit (Community Relations Director). (4) George Barany addressing the gathering. (5) Miniature houses and a barn, ponds, and the gentle murmur of little waterfalls. (6) Chaplain Kay Provine, Director of Spiritual Life, tells of a little boy who had been enchanted by the courtyard when visiting his grampa in Transitional Care the day before the dedication. (7) Francis Barany with Rabbi Adam Spilker of Mount Zion Temple in Saint Paul. (8) Although the Barany family is from the Jewish tradition, Chaplain Kay was a major source of comfort to all. (9) The buffet after the dedication was accompanied by a slide show of Michael and Kate Bárány’s remarkable lives.

CLICK HERE for the story about the Báránys life journeys that we published in the Fall/Winter issue of our At Home newsletter.