Honoring Our Colleagues Lost to COVID-19: A Salute to VNSNY Partners in Care Home Health Aide Jacquelyn Maxwell

The heroism shown by the staff of the Visiting Nurse Service of New York in tremendously challenging times is legendary. From the influenza epidemic of 1918 and the polio outbreaks of the mid-20th century, to the emergence of AIDS in the 1980s and the devastation of the 9/11 attacks and Superstorm Sandy, VNSNY’s courageous women and men have always been there to provide care and comfort to New Yorkers in troubled times, despite the risk to themselves.

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. Over the past several months, we have been working tirelessly and with unsurpassed determination under incredibly difficult circumstances so that our patients and plan members can continue to receive the care they need. Many of our colleagues have been stricken with COVID-19 themselves. Thankfully, most of them have recovered and many have even returned to work. Sadly and tragically, however, twelve of our coworkers have died. They include nine home health aides with Partners in Care, a physical therapist with VNSNY Home Care, a social worker with VNSNY Hospice, and a behavioral health nurse from VNSNY Home Care.

“These VNSNY heroes dedicated their lives to caring for others, and their contributions will never be forgotten,” says VNSNY President and CEO Marki Flannery. “We will remember them, honor them, and celebrate their lives.”

Jacquelyn Maxwell

Jacquelyn Maxwell, a Home Health Aide with Partners in Care since 2009, passed away from COVID-19 in early April. According to Hillary Peart, a Home Health Aide Supervisor with Partners in Care, the experience of working with Jacquelyn could be described in two words: “smooth sailing.” Talking about the skillful care that Jacquelyn provided to her clients, Hillary says, “If I had lots of Jacquelyns all over Staten Island, I’d be good!”

“Jacquelyn was a bigger-than-life personality,” recalls Lisa Magliente, a Registered Nurse Field Supervisor with Partners in Care. “She had a real presence as soon as she walked into the room.” Jacquelyn was always interested in the details of her clients’ plans of care and how to make them better, notes Lisa. “She knew all the details of her clients, like doctor appointments and eating needs. She was very involved, and a good client advocate.”

Most recently, Jacquelyn worked steadily with one client on Staten Island for over two years. “The client and the family loved her and trusted her,” says Lisa. “When she was away, they refused replacements, and just wanted to know when she’d be back.”

“She was my best friend,” says Jacquelyn’s mother, Belinda. “There’s no one I can go to now.” Belinda adds that Jacquelyn, who lived and worked on Staten Island, was “a beautiful mother” to her two children, her 11-year-old daughter Jaslene, and her 29-year-old son Jayvon. “She would do anything for you, immediately, and she cared for everybody but herself.”

Jacquelyn is survived by her mother Belinda Stoney, her son Jayvon Mann, her daughter Jaslene Crook, her father Bobby Maxwell, and three brothers and three sisters.

If you would like to make a donation in Jacquelyn’s memory, please click here to visit her GoFundMe page. If you would like to submit a special story or remembrance about Jacquelyn, please send it using the Contact Us page on Frontline. We will post these responses as they come in.