[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 20, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 TRIBUTE TO BEATRICE CASTIGLIA-CATULLO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 1997

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Beatrice 
Castiglia-Catullo, an outstanding individual who has dedicated her life 
to the care of those in need.
  Mrs. Castiglia-Catullo is our Mother Teresa of the South Bronx. Her 
life is an example of kindness, selflessness, faithfulness, generosity, 
and fruitfulness.
  While working as a charge nurse, Mrs. Castiglia-Catullo faced the 
enormous challenge of her demanding work, raising three children, 
taking care of her mother-in-law who was terminally ill, and managing 
the household.
  Her faith in God provided her with the strength to meet her daily 
responsibilities. In response to her answered prayers, she decided to 
devote more time to helping others in the community.
  Mrs. Castiglia-Catullo raised funds for the Sister Servants of Mary 
who had helped her in her difficult times. She also organized and 
became the first president of the Parkchester Chapter of Cancer Care, 
Inc., and founded the Medical Mission Aid Center at St. Raymond's 
Parish.
  Being a nurse, Mrs. Castiglia-Catullo was well aware of the need to 
provide continuing services to patients who were discharged from the 
hospital without proper home care. In 1964, she founded a home 
attendant service to take care of elderly patients.
  Mrs. Castiglia-Catullo decided to name the organization R.A.I.N., for 
Regional Aid for Interim Needs, after she looked up to the sky for 
God's inspiration and saw that it was raining. She devoted her time and 
her own financial resources to the care of her patients. In gratitude 
and admiration for her generosity, one of her patients made a $500 
donation to the organization.
  While still working at the hospital, Mrs. Castiglia-Catullo rented a 
space on Westchester Avenue to establish R.A.I.N. Through hard work and 
devotion she turned an office that held a desk, a chair, and a 
telephone, into an operation with a $33 million budget.
  R.A.I.N. home attendant services now assists over 1,100 disabled, 
homebound, disadvantaged elderly and youth. The organization serves 
over 2,000 meals daily through 5 senior citizen centers, Meals-On-
Wheels, and the 3-H Program.
  In her personal life, Mrs. Castiglia-Catullo has been blessed with 
three successful children and nine grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, the family of Beatrice 
Castiglia-Catullo, her friends, the people she has served, and the 
South Bronx community, in expressing our gratitude for her loving and 
longstanding service to the community.

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