After Four Years of Letters, Pen Pals Meet at United Helpers Rehabilitation & Senior Care

CANTON - During the COVID-19 pandemic when the whole world went into isolation, Myrtle Butterfield, then a resident in the Assisted Living Program at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton made a new friend with whom she would communicate for years before meeting each other face to face for the first time earlier this week.

At the time Brianne Printup worked at Clarkson University. She thought it would be fun to write letters to residents at area nursing homes and assisted living facilities. 

Since that time Ms. Printup and Mrs. Butterfield continued writing and have done so on a regular basis for the past four years. Today, Mrs. Butterfield remains a resident at Rehabilitation and Senior Care, now residing in the skilled nursing wing. Ms. Printup no longer works at Clarkson and lives downstate, but her connection to the North Country remains through family in the Massena area and her relationship with Mrs. Butterfield.

United Helpers Activities Leader Lauren Martinchek has also been involved since the beginning, serving as Mrs. Butterfield's "secretary" and helping her write the letters which would form the backbone of this unique friendship.

"When they were chatting today, I don't think I have ever seen Myrtle so happy," Ms. Martinchek said. "And Mrytle is usually a pretty happy lady."

Brianne Printup began writing letters to Myrtle Butterfield four years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic when resident at the nursing home were having little to no contact with the outside world. Earlier this week, after exchanging letters for four years, they met for the first time. From left, Ms. Printup. Mrs. Butterfield, and Activities Leader Lauren Martinchek. Mrs. Butterfield credits Ms. Martinchek with helping her write the letters, jokingly calling her, "my secretary."