05/18/2026
Today, we would like to share a belated Mother's Day reflection from Kenosis owner Christine Turo-Shields. You can read her full reflection about her mother, Joan Turo, below:
"Social Work Lessons from Mom…
This Mother’s Day I spent a lot of time thinking about my mom, Joan Turo.
In her later years, she was a shrinking petite woman with somewhat of a shaky voice that seemingly paralleled her trembling hands. She seemed weak…and as anxiety gripped her throughout life, she lived weak.
And yet, what an incredibly strong force she was in my life, especially shaping my worldview as a social worker.
Without ever preaching, my mom exposed me to diversity…just simply lived acceptance of all…
Mrs. Kenley, a fellow nurse and dear friend of my mom’s, used to visit with Mr. Kenley and little Jesse (their grandson whom they were raising). Mrs. Kenley was black.
The Baden’s were good friends of my mom from church. Mrs. Baden was a devout Catholic, and Mr. Baden a devout Jew… they adopted two girls from China, and as a family, they attended synagogue every Saturday as well as Mass every Sunday, exposing them to the richness of both religious faiths.
Al was a big guy and was one of my mom’s longtime good friends from school…they graduated together in 1949 from Swatara High with less than 50 in their class. Al was gay, and partnered.
Arlene P and Ed M were drunks and friends of Bill W and Dr. Bob, just like my mom… Arlene struggled to stay sober and relapsed a lot; Ed suffered with manic depression and would call or stop by to talk for hours at a time.
This cast of characters came into my life in the early-mid 1970’s when I was at a very impressionable age. All that I knew about them was just context about their lives, never said in judgment…without knowing it then, it offered a glimpse into their lives of complicated struggle.
Sadly, I was not kind to my mom during my middle and high school years throughout her personal struggles with alcoholism, depression, and anxiety…but from her, I was taught that alcoholism was a disease, not a character flaw, and I now understand that the acceptance she longed for in life, she extended to others.
She welcomed those with diverse lives into our home…they were accepted for who they were, complexity and all… and they were just part of the fabric of our lives…of my life.
I am richer for those lessons which have carved deeply into me and compassionately shaped my worldview and my professional journey.
And it is truly with an abundance of gratitude for my mom that I live life each day!
Celebrating my mom, Joan Turo, in all ways, for a lifetime and legacy of learning💞
November 11, 1931-July 26, 2015"
