When Juanita Stokes first stepped into the home of Frank and Viola Paulus as a temporary Home Care Assistant (HCA) through Lutheran Social Services of Illinois’ (LSSI’s) Intouch Home Care Services five years ago, no one could have predicted the lasting impact she would have on each other’s lives. What began as a short-term assignment quickly blossomed into a deep, enduring connection.
Despite their advanced age, the Pauluses were engaged and alert. The couple, along with their daughters, Kristi Gunther and Holly Mair, were immediately impressed by Stokes’ strong work ethic, attention to detail, and heartfelt dedication to the parents’ well-being. They requested that she be assigned to them permanently.
“Juanita learned their routines very quickly and showed great initiative, both with them and the house,” said Mair. “She was present and bereaved when Mom died (just months from her hundredth birthday). Over time, she became a part of our family.”
Stokes’ caregiving journey began at a young age, regularly visiting and assisting her shut-in great-aunt after school at age nine. “It was a gift I had for love and compassion,” she said. “People need someone to respect and care for them, and that was me.” She views her work as a calling.
Stokes affectionately calls Paulus “Pop.” The fifth of seven children, Paulus joined the Air Force in 1939 and was stationed in Rantoul, Ill. He met Viola in 1942, and they married two years later—on the same day he shipped out to the Philippines during World War II. Following the war, Paulus became a farmer in Colfax, Ill., under the mentorship of Viola’s father. Together, the couple raised two daughters, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
He was active at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Colfax, and served as Sunday school superintendent. They made frequent trips to Chicago to visit their daughters and eventually moved there to be closer to family. In 2004, Paulus suffered a brain stem stroke but worked tirelessly to regain mobility and independence. “His recovery was a testament to his strength,” said Mair.
At age 105, Paulus is no longer ambulatory but remains remarkably lucid and engaged.
Last summer, Stokes faced her own health challenge: a breast cancer diagnosis. After surgery and chemotherapy, she attempted to return to work but realized she needed more time to heal. “I didn’t want to be there unless I was able to give him 100%,” she said.
When Stokes learned her cousin, Khadeja Wood, who had also worked as a caregiver, had moved back from Texas, she immediately suggested that Wood apply to LSSI to become Paulus’ HCA. “He needed someone reliable, that they could count on,” said Stokes. Wood is now an Intouch HCA and has served as Paulus’ caregiver for about two months.
Paulus’ wish is to remain in his family home, surrounded by loved ones—a wish Stokes helped fulfill with grace and devotion. “He’s a beacon of light,” she said. The two often prayed together, sharing a deep spiritual bond.
Mair wishes for Stokes the same health and well-being Stokes showed her father, saying, “I pray that her strength and faith will help her on the journey to wellness.”
