The Magic Behind the Curtain
Nestled behind a well-loved desk and a corkboard decorated with notes, memories, and thank-you cards, Sue Kenny talks to us about her 17 years at ABC Home Healthcare.
“I started as an aide in the field,” she shares, “helping my ladies with dinner and their evening routines.”
But Sue’s story in healthcare began long before that—at just 16 years old. She was drawn to caregiving early on, inspired by the power of helping others. Her path first crossed with Jeannette Sheehan, ABC’s founder, at VNA Middlesex East in Stoneham, MA. After only a few short years of ABC’s launch, Jeannette asked Sue to join her growing team.
Initially, Sue was in the field, where her natural empathy and experience stood out. Before long, she was invited to become a care coordinator, a role that would define her legacy at ABC.
Sue has now spent years orchestrating what many never see: the behind-the scenes puzzle of ensuring the right caregiver is matched with the right client. It’s not just about availability, it’s about intuition, personality, and heart. As a care coordinator, Sue has faced her share of challenges. Staffing, she admits, is often the biggest.
“Sometimes I think, ‘There’s no way this is going to work’… and then, somehow, it does,” she laughs. “We make it happen.”
Sue has become a master of the delicate dance that is scheduling and staffing—She compares it to cleaning out a closet:
“You know when you take everything out, and it looks like a total mess?” she says with a grin. “It’s like that—until it all comes together.”
Sue recalls Jeannette commenting, “she pulls magic out of her pocket.”
Sue is motivated by the very essence of our company- the clients. She doesn’t just see names on a schedule, she sees lives—many of whom depend on their caregiver not only for meals or medication, but for connection and comfort.
“They rely on us,” she says with quiet seriousness. “Many times, their caregiver is the only person they see that day. That time matters. It means the world to them.”
She speaks with pride of the countless transitions ABC has helped to facilitate—from rehab centers back to the comfort of home. Moments that, at first, seemed fleeting… yet many of those clients are still thriving years later because of the care they receive through ABC.
“We thought some of these moments wouldn’t last long,” she reflects. “But here they are, still with us, still progressing years later.”
With nearly two decades of knowledge and a reputation for excellence, Sue could take her talents anywhere. But when asked why she stays, her answer is simple:
“We’re family.”
At ABC Home Healthcare, that’s more than a tagline. It’s a sentiment many at ABC echo. And for Sue it carries the weight of years of loyalty, shared purpose, and deep commitment.
“We support each other. We care. We share the same mission—keeping our clients safe and cared for in their own homes. Being able to work with people who you think of as family That’s the bonus.”
