The 24th annual Family Camp, held Sept. 14-15 at Lake Williamson Christian Conference Center in Carlinville was especially bittersweet for Elaine Vonderheide, who is retiring as associate director for Special Needs in the Office for Social Concerns and Respect for Life. Putting together Family Camp was the first project she undertook nearly 25 years ago and it was her last official act as she retires.

"I remember that when I started working for the diocese, Sister Pat (Patricia) Francis (OP) was my supervisor and she was adamant that we needed a Family Camp and that would be my first duty," Vonderheide says. "I thought, 'How am I ever going to do this?' but we worked it out and we've kept pretty much the same format for 24 years. However, we started out with a campfire in the early years and then we switched over to having a square dance instead. And they love to dance!"

This year Vonderheide worked with Karla Crews, who is already on board as the new associate director, so that Crews could get acquainted with the camp. "I told Sister Jane (Boos, SSND, director of Social Concerns and Respect for Life) that I would stay on for the camp," says Vonderheide. "It would just be too much for a brand new person to handle. There is so much that goes into camp — it is wonderful, but it is a lot of work." She believes her work at the camp has always been guided by the Holy Spirit, helping her along the way.

"Elaine has been a blessing to the families of persons with special needs," says Sister Jane. "She (not only) began Family Camp, but Retreats for Persons with Disabilities, Welcome to My World Disability Awareness program and served as a resource to teachers and parents of persons with special needs. We will miss her and thank God for the many gifts she shared with us. She, generously, gave of her time, treasure and talent to help bring about the Kingdom here in our Diocese of Springfield in Illinois."

This year's camp lasted from about 11 a.m. Saturday through noon on Sunday and included not only the square dance, but art activities, singing, swimming, a hayrack ride, miniature golf, time in the gym, group meals and of course, parables and prayer. Following a long tradition, 87-year-old Father Sylvano Pera, OFM, celebrated the closing Mass for the camp.

Crews says she was very grateful for Vonderheide's decision to postpone her retirement. "I just began working here and really don't know what I would have done without her running the camp the last time," she says. Crews helped with crafts and in other areas, all the while paying attention to how Vonderheide was able to keep camp running smoothly.

Vonderheide says she has countless fond memories of Family Camp and is grateful to her long-time volunteers and to the families who have always attended. "You know I never intended to do this for such a long time. I told my husband (the late Gerry Vonderheide) 'I'll try it for two years and if I like it I'll stay for five' — and I did it for 24 years, even though I didn't quite make it for 25."

A former kindergarten teacher, Vonderheide says she has never lost sight of why she originally chose to help with services for people with disabilities. "A long time ago I had a son who was stillborn ... I just felt like if he had lived he would have had disabilities. I always thought, 'If my son were alive I would want people to help him.' So that's why I got into this kind of work. And I have always loved it."