Ice cream parlour for 'beloved' care home worker
Belle Vue HouseAn ice-cream parlour is being opened at a care home to pay tribute to a staff member who "worked ceaselessly for residents" before her death at the age of 53.
Jody Redman died in December last year and her colleagues wanted to ensure her legacy continued at Belle Vue House in Sunderland.
The parlour, named Jody's Scoops of Love, will be opened by her father Edward to celebrate all the work she did during eight and a half years as activities coordinator at the home in Gray Road. This will be followed by a street party celebration.
Care home manager Alison Oliver said she hoped the celebration on 11 June would be "full of love for a very special person".
'Life and soul'
Oliver said staff at the care home had "worked so hard to pull this off" for their former colleague.
"The love shown for our beloved Jody has been immense," she said. "It will be a very special day.
"Jody was the life and soul of Belle Vue House, always putting the residents' needs first, but, away from work, her family and friends were her world."
Oliver said it would be lovely for family, friends and colleagues to come together to remember her.
Jody's Scoops of Love will be run entirely by volunteers with the help of residents.
Money raised from the sale of its ice creams will be donated to the home's chosen charity - local grassroots football team Leon Under-11s whose members visit the home monthly to engage with residents.
