92-year-old Nashua woman given hearing aids thanks to moving letter

NASHUA – Kathleen Dalbec was the recipient of a new set of hearing aids because of a compassionate letter her granddaughter Nicole Dalbec-Joyal wrote to Beltone New England in response to a contest held by the company. “It’s wonderful to see that one generation is helping another,” said Anita McGrory, a hearing instrument specialist/audiologist at Beltone New England. In her entry, Dalbec-Joyal wrote: “My grandmother, Memere, is turning 92 on January 20th, but you would never know it. She is as bright and beautiful as the day I was born. “As a grandmother of 8 granddaughters and great-grandmother of 8 great-granddaughters (with 2 more on the way!) and 4 great-grandsons, she is the matriarch of our family. We are blessed enough to live close by her and spend almost every day with her. “Even at her age, she actively plays with the children, whether it’s ‘working in a restaurant’ or ‘building a castle,’ and they love to spend time with her. “My children have learned that when they play with Memere, they have to talk loud, but not so loud that it hurts her ears … no screaming … and always be gentle when touching her ears. “Just last night when the girls were all together, someone said, ‘Don’t yell; you’ll hurt Memere’s ears,’ and my littlest daughter ran up to Memere to touch her ears and make sure they weren’t hurt. “Memere goes everywhere with us.