Obituary

Monroe Werblin passed away on Friday, April 6 at Kaiser Vallejo Medical Center in Vallejo, CA.
He was born on October 24, 1916 in NYC to Abner and Cecile Werblin.
Monroe was a graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy and attended New York University. He married the former Mimi Hostin in 1943.
Monroe’s interest in menswear began during World War II when he ran a clothing store that served military personnel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He then worked as a men's clothing buyer for various companies in NYC until 1980, when he and Mimi moved from New Jersey to Delray Beach, Florida to enjoy retirement. After 47 years of marriage, Mimi passed away in 1990. Monroe moved to Deerfield Beach. He was a longtime companion to Henrietta Altman before moving to Merrill Gardens in Vacaville, CA in 2006 to be close to family.
Monroe's interests included nature, gardening, and Asian and American Indian Art and Culture. While residing in New Jersey he served on the Oradell Police Reserves and was an expert marksman.
Monroe was loved by all for his warmth and friendliness; knowledge and trivia fascinated him, and he charmed all who knew him with his many stories and conversations. He adored his family, and considered them to be his greatest accomplishment.
Monroe will be deeply missed by his son and daughter-in-law, Alan and Tina Werblin of Fairfield, CA, his daughter and son-in-law, Cele and Scott McCloskey of Dallastown, PA, and four grandchildren, Ryan McCloskey and his wife Jennifer, Sasha Werblin, Mark McCloskey and DeAnte Harrison.
Although his life with us has ended, his memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.
Services and internment will be held at the Eternal Light Cemetery in Boynton Beach, FL. where he will be laid to rest beside his wife, Mimi.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach, FL 33446.

Monroe Werblin

Sunrise ~ October 24, 1916

Sunset ~ April 6, 2007

Update

Monroe has been re-hospitalized and is now at Kaiser Vallejo's Transitional Care Unit.
Please keep Monroe and his children, grandchildren, and other family members in your prayers during this very difficult time.

Thank you.

Class schedule, visits, telephone calls......

To assist with visits and telephone calls, here is Monroe's schedule for Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy:

(all classes are 30 minutes)

Breakfast

9:30 - 10:00 - class
10:00 - 10:30 - class
10:30 - 11:00 - class

11:00 - 12:30 Break/free time

12:30 - 1:30 - Lunch
1:30 - 2:00 - class

2:00 - 2:30 Break

2:30 - 3:00 - class
3:00 - 3:30 - class

Break/free time

5:00 - 6:00ish - Dinner


Please keep in mind this is a general overview and subject to change.

Kaiser Rehabilitation Center
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo CA 94589
Room 325 A
(707)651-3212


----------------

Monroe is doing very well and has made several new friends at Kaiser Rehab.

Saturday Afternoon at Kaiser Rehab

A new day at Kaiser Vallejo Rehab..........

Monroe's transition to Kaiser went extremely well. This is an state-of-art program with exceptional physicians, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, neuropsychologist, and speech therapist. He will begin an intensive therapy program for approx. two weeks. His sessions are Mon- Fri from approx. 8:30 - 5:00 pm and Saturday 1/2 day in the morning. He has free time Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday.

We know everyone is excited to call and visit, but we are asking that you help us by following a few important suggestions:

1. Visits:

Monday - Friday after 5:30 p.m.

Saturday after 12:30

Sunday - anytime

2. Please do NOT visit during any meals. It is very important that Monroe not talk and eat at the same time.

3. If you call and notice he is having a meal, please do not talk. Kindly tell him you will call back after his meal.

4. If you have any questions, please call Alan or Tina.

Kaiser Rehabilitation Center

975 Sereno Drive

Vallejo CA 94589

Room 325 A

(707)651-3212

http://www.permanente.net/homepage/kaiser/pages/d14029-top.html

The Good Daughter in law

Our family is so greatful to Tina for all she has done for Monroe
The hours and effort she has put in and all the love she has shown
She has been a blessing!~!!
She is a modern day RUTH!!!!!!
"I've been told all about what you have done for your (father)-in-law .......—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge."

Vallejo here we come!!

Monroe is outta here!!!

Monroe has progress so well these past few weeks. He is now going to Kaiser Vallejo Rehabilitation for a few weeks. They will continue the good work begun at Fairfield Nursing & Rehab. Vallejo Rehab will begin focusing on life skills and continue his speech development.

I believe Monroe is pleased with his progress. He went around the nursing home thanking everyone and saying his good-byes. It seems he will be greatly missed. He promised everyone that he will return for a visit.

Thanks again for all the cards. We will post information about Kaiser Vallejo this weekend, so stay tuned.

God Bless!

Sasha and Grandpa

Sasha visited from college and went to see Monroe
He is doing SOOOO much better
Scooting around with his walker
Talking up a storm (though there are words he can't think of)
And eating such treats as Whitefish salad, matzo ball soup and creamed spinach
We are prayerful of a near complete recovery

His new fav hat...Mickey Mantle

Monroe loves the MickeyMantle hat that we brought him on Saturday.

He practically hasn't taken it off since!!

He continues to do well: advancing his walking skills (it's hard to keep up with him), speech fluency, and ability to swallow food.

A little at a time........

Good News!!! Monroe passed his swallowing test!!!! Of course I wouldn't cook the steak tartar just yet......but this is wonderful. They will incorporate soft foods into his diet.
We will keep you updated.

Thanks again for the prayers, thoughts, and wonderful cards.

Sunday Night Music

We had a very nice evening visit with Monroe on Sunday. The activities director gave Monroe a cassette player and some music from the 1940s. We were pleasantly surprised that enjoyed listening to the music so much. Alan couldn't believe that Monroe was moving & grooving to the sounds. At one point Monroe was almost dancing in his wheelchair. :-))

Alan and Monroe tried to guess the names of the musical artists as the songs played. Monroe seemed to really enjoy himself.

We will definitely do this again.

P.S. - his favorites were Benny Goodman and Ella Fitzgerald.

Dad loving him some cele

Remarkable progress

Monroe is talking up a blue streak!!
And for the most part making sense!!!
He is oriented , reminiscing a lot and in a great mood, though he wants to
"Get out of here!!"
He still is having difficulty with some words and verbally expressing all of his thoughts but he is doing great in his swallowing, speech and walking exercises.

Today he had Ice cream and thickened juice and tomorrow is going to have some Broccoli soup that Cele made.

Keep praying!!
God is Very Good

Dallastown to Fairfield

It has been a tremendous benefit for Monroe (and us) that Cele arrived on Saturday. Monroe was so happy to see her. She has been with him daily (all day and evening). He has improved and has begun all the therapies - physical, occupational, and speech. Cele has helped him in his sessions and will continue to work with him doing speech & swallowing exercises. Her creativity and educational background has been an added benefit. This afternoon we played Scrabble and when I left, they were beginning to play the card game, Uno.

We are all pleased that Monroe is continuing to improve day by day. We are also grateful for all our friends and family that have been supporting us during this time. Thank you.


Tina

I know this will make Monroe happy......

Cele McCloskey (Monroe's daughter) will be with us for a week beginning Saturday. I know Monroe will be absolutely delighted to see her. Alan told him this morning and as soon as I saw him this afternoon, he was asking, "Where's Cele?" :-)

Thanks for your continued support, concern, and prayers.

Tina

Address change

Cards may be sent to:

Fairfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Mr. Monroe Werblin
13B
1255 Travis Blvd
Fairfield, CA 94533

Visits, Phone calls & Cards........

Visits:

We appreciate all who want to visit Monroe. We are asking that you not visit just yet. We will keep you updated when visits are welcome.

Telephone calls:

Sorry, not at this time

Cards:

Yes, that is okay

Fairfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Mr. Monroe Werblin

35C

1255 Travis Blvd

Fairfield, CA 94533

At Fairfield Rehab

It's been very trying
Yesterday Monroe was transferred to the skilled nursing facility , close to our home in Fairfield
to get Rehabilitation in Speech, Walking, and swallowing
he became very distrustful, didn't want anyone to touch him and said he wanted to leave
Tina was an absolute trouper
she was there from 10:30 AM until after 4
I left work early and we went back together at 5 and stayed til 7, then we ate dinner and returned at 9 to check on him
By that time i had talked to him and they had sedated him and he was sleeping
This morning I arrived at 7:15 AM and unfortunately he had pulled out his feeding tube
though he was more awake and seemed to understand what was going on for the most part
There was a lot of back and forth about whether to reinsert the tube
Of course we said yes, as he is still unable to swallow safely and effectively
So, Tina will go and sit with the nurses as they attempt to reinsert it
Both of us had a long talk with the speech therapist this morning,who seems to be on the same page for optimism as we are
Keep praying!!!
God is GOOD

Fairfield Rehabilitation Center

It appears Monroe will be leaving Kaiser Vallejo Wednesday morning for Fairfield Rehab. After he is admitted, we can provide information about visits, phone calls, and cards.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

KOJAK

We are still waiting to confirm which Skilled Nursing Facility Monroe will attend. It looks like Fairfield Rehab, but we are not sure. We are eager for him to begin his rehabilitation. Also, he can't wait to leave the hospital! :-)

Monroe's sense of humor is alive and well. When he uses these glycerin styrofoam "lollipops", he recalled that KOJAK always sucked on lollipops. He then did his Telly Salavas impression.

Sorry, you probably had to be there, but it was pretty funny and now this is our standing joke when he uses them.

Be well.

Saturday

I went to see Dad this morning
he walked 200 feet with the help
of the Physical therapist.

We spoke--at times appropriately, for about an hour and I gave him a new
Get Well card that Cele had sent for him
(She plans to send one daily)

We are awaiting a room at the Vacaville Convelescent Center , where he can receive the best training in Walking, Speech, and Swallowing
Keep praying for him

Vacaville Rehab or Fairfield

Our 1st choice for a rehab facility was Vacaville Convalescent and Rehab. Currently they do not have a male bed available. Please pray that ones becomes available this weekend. If not, that our 2nd choice will be just as good.



Alan and Tina will be checking out the Fairfield facility this weekend. Blessings to you all.

Skilled Nursing Facility - maybe Monday

The physicians will continue to monitor Monroe over the next few days. He may go to the SNF, this weekend or Monday. 'Not sure yet. Let's pray he continues to tolerate his feeding tube. He was in good spirits this morning and was fascinated about the birds flying outside his window.

Cele & Scott - he loved the card......

He Loved the card, it brought a smile to his face. He said, "Cele can do anything".

'Nice large font too.

Cele - what is the story about Lancaster, PA?

Your dad saw the postmark on your envelope. He tried to recall something about Lancaster, but couldn't remember. Any ideas????
:-)

Tina

Thank you Jeremy

Thur AM:

Jeremy from the Physical Therapy Department is a wonderful care-taker. He has such compassion for his patients.

Monroe was able to sit up, get out of bed, and walk out of his room. Jeremy was very impressed with his mobility. I know a lot of this is due to Jeremy's motivation.

Monroe on Thursday evening

Monroe is: a little clearer, A little Calmer
A little more verbal
Understanding what is going on with him a little more
He is tolerating being fed through the tube quite well

We spent about an hour and 1/2 talking this evening
He is very fed up with the TV in his hospital room--"too much talking and Garbage"
He may go to a Skilled Nursing facility by the weekend to get training in
Swallowing, Walking and Speaking

Thank you all for your love, prayers , and concern

Red Sofa

Temporary..........

Monroe is doing well and had a good night's sleep (Thank God!). Alan and Tina visited with him late yesterday and he was full of conversation. He seemed to tell us that he wants to know what the doctors and nurses are doing to him.

Today they will try to continue his nourishment via a tube. The doctors (and family) are hoping this will be temporary and he will soon be able to eat on his own.

Keep the prayers coming for the McCloskey and Werblin families.

What if I want to call or visit?

If you want to send a card:

Kaiser Medical Center
Mr. Monroe Werblin
Room 417
975 Sereno Dr
Vallejo, CA 94589


Visits:
Please call Alan first to confirm if visits are okay


Telephone calls:
Sorry not at this time


At this time, we are not sure when he will be transferred, so please check back for updated information.

So what happened..........

Tuesday Feb 6 I was on my way to a meeting. I received a frantic call from Alan. "My dad fell in his apartment". I quickly turned the car around and headed to Merrill Gardens. Before I arrived, they decided to take him to Kaiser Vallejo.

It was confirmed that he broke his hip and they operated by putting three pins. His spirits were good and was ready to be transferred to a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) on Sunday.

Monday morning he was drowsy and a bit confused. They postponed the transfer. It look like he has suffered a stroke.

With prayers from our family and friends, he has gained some speech and some motor skills.

Alan will keep you all updated.

Keep the prayers going.

Love & Blessings,

Tina