Home - Ursuline Support Services - Navigating Life's Transitions

Ursuline Support Services, formally Ursuline Senior Services, has three main programs—Guardianship, Protective & Supportive Services, Independence Support Services.

We provide an array of offerings to meet the pressing needs of adults, seniors and families suffering from abuse, neglect, or financial and emotional distress.

Explore our website to learn more about us and our services.

Ursuline Board Member Emerita

Ursuline Support Services Board Member Emerita, dear friend and supporter Jean Carlisle Ackerman Robinson passed away Tuesday, January 19, 2021.

Everyone who knew Jean, even briefly, understood she was a gift from God right from the start! Jean first came to touch Ursuline Support Services in 2011, offering her unmatched kindness and loving heart. Jean was a founding board member of the Good Grief Center, which became a part of the Ursuline umbrella, bringing Jean to Ursuline.

Noted by Ursuline Board Member Scott Pipitone, “Jean was a stalwart, thoughtful, and especially giving part of Ursuline. She made the transition over to Ursuline from Good Grief because her heart was so large and believed in the mission.” As a result, it did not take long for Jean to transition from an advocate of the Good Grief Center to one of the strongest “cheerleaders” and board members Ursuline ever had!

Jean married F. Brooks Robinson in 1956 and soon settled in Brooks’ hometown of Pittsburgh, and there began another 65-year love affair; one in which Jean fell in love with her adopted city and, in turn, brought her loving heart and many gifts to the Pittsburgh community. Over the last five decades, Jean Robinson served many of the organizations, just as she did our own Ursuline Support Services, which make Pittsburgh the unique cultural, open-hearted, and welcoming community that it is. Jean’s many fellow board members would describe her as the conscience of the board. Jean never “sat” on a single board; she ran during her board tenures at a full sprint. Her level of interpersonal involvement required remarkable reserves of resilience, persistence, and grace that few people possess. “It is so hard to accept that her constant, quiet persona will not always be with us at our many future events, cheering on each new accomplishment, but I know her spirit will always remain part of Ursuline and all we do going forward,” reflected Ursuline Executive Director Anthony Turo.

While difficult to get Jean to pause for any thanks or honors, she was quietly grateful for having been named a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania and a recipient of the Jefferson Award for Community Service. As meaningful as her formal, not-for-profit community service, and more so to those on the receiving end, was Jean’s boundless love, open heart, beaming smile and willingness to help anyone who crossed her path; traits which are legendary in Pittsburgh. Diminutive in stature, she was anything but when it came to offering a kind word, a hug, or a hand up…anything to brighten another person’s day and the world around her. As a mother and grandmother, “Gigi” provided a constant nurturing and loving family fabric, and the great gift of her example, one which will keep on giving and echoing for generations.

Jean received a sudden and difficult diagnosis just two months ago. She certainly did not want to leave us, but it would be wrong to say she fought a courageous fight. Courageous most definitely; but not really a fight. It would be more accurate to say that Jean took on her adversary just the way she lived every day; with self-awareness, fundamental honesty, unerring faith and her very particular sweet love and kindness toward those around her. As one who had cared for the dying as a Forbes Hospice volunteer for 40 years and had comforted dozens who were about to commence the journey on which she had now embarked, Jean looked her prognosis squarely in the eye and, without regret or concern for herself, in the end became her own family’s hospice counselor and gracefully guided those she loved most as her great soul departed. Jean left us all on that morning, looking out over a brilliant, sunlit view of Schenley Park, surrounded by her loving family.

One of Jean’s favorite prayers, and a code to live by: “Grant, O Lord, that in all the joys of life, we may never forget to be kind. Help us to be unselfish in friendship, thoughtful of those less happy than ourselves, and eager to bear the burdens of others, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.” Those of us who were blessed to know her understand just how well those words came alive in the life of our dearly departed Jean Robinson.

Ursuline Support Services Sponsors

Bookminders
Timely, accurate and cost-effective bookkeeping for small businesses and nonprofits.

101 S. 10th Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
Phone: 412-323-2665
Website: www.bookminders.com

D’Alessandro Funeral Home & Crematory
Funerals as unique as your life.

4522 Butler Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15201
Phone: 412-682-6500
Website: www.dalessandroltd.com

Wildman Chalmers Design
A highly collaborative architectural & interior design firm specializing in historic renovations, new construction, additions, and interior design.

1600 Lowrie Street
Pittsburgh PA 15212
Phone: 412-436-9303
Website: www.wildmanchalmers.com

Pipitone Group
A holistic thought process to integrate marketing communications strategies more effectively.

3933 Perrysville Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15214
Phone: 412-321-0879
Website: www.pipitonegroup.com

Guardianship Services

Protective & Supportive Services

Independence Support Services