Faith-Driven Vision - Providence Life Services

PROVIDENCE
Faith-Driven
Vision
Eight months after the
groundbreaking ceremony, three
buildings are taking shape on
the Victorian Village campus in
Homer Glen, Illinois. In addition,
Providence leadership received three
days of specialized training in how
to deliver care in a “Small House”
setting, in a way that reflects an
entirely new service culture.
The Victorian Village Health &
Wellness Center is the first Small
House-model of care in Illinois, and
it requires a whole new approach
to caregiving, schedules, meals, and
staffing. Collaboration is essential
to the culture of a Small House —
staff collaborate with residents to
determine what’s for dinner each
night, what time they want to get
up in the morning, whether they
www. ProvidenceLifeServices .com
December Edition
2013
Three new buildings on our Victorian
Village campus will provide skilled
nursing and rehab services.
want to spend the afternoon alone
or with others. “Nothing about me
without me” is the Small House
motto. Decisions about a resident
are made with the resident being
directly involved in the decisionmaking process.
This model of care directly aligns
with Providence’s vision to enhance
life by offering care in a way that
preserves dignity. In fact, we are
hoping to multiply this vision by
developing Small Houses in other
locations. We have land in St. John,
Indiana, for example, and we’d also
like to see a Small House built there.
Part of what makes collaborative care
possible in a Small House setting
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is the size of the building and the
number of people. A Small House
typically serves only 10–15 people,
so it’s easier to maintain a home-like
atmosphere. And the innovative
staffing model contributes to the
homey feel as well — rather than
having specialized departments, work
teams are trained and empowered to
A Community
of Faith
On Friday afternoon, August 16,
a small crowd gathered in the tub
room at Providence of Downers
Grove. Staff, family, and friends
were there to witness something
miraculous — a baptism.
“It was one of the most moving
events that I’ve been blessed to
witness in all my years here,” said
Administrator Jackie Terpstra. “It.
Was. AMAZING.”
It happened fast, though it
represented a lifelong journey. A
man far from God, a wife faithful in
prayer, a local church, and a distinctly
Christian healthcare community
— all were players in the unfolding
spiritual drama.
“A resident told his wife that he
would like to become a Christian
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meet multiple types of needs, just like
a family member would.
If you are interested in receiving
updates about the Small House
model of care at Victorian
Village, contact Dave Tiemersma,
Administrator, at (708) 301-0800.
“In the same way, I tell you,
there is rejoicing in the
presence of the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”
LUKE 15:10
and be baptized,” read an email
from Providence staff to Jackie that
Friday morning. Because the wife’s
church home believes in baptism by
immersion, she turned to Providence
for help. The email explained, “She
is inquiring if — with the assistance
of staff to get him in and out — they
could use the large tub in the shower
room to do this. Is this possible?”
Two minutes later, the answer:
“Absolutely this is possible! We’ll do
whatever we can to accommodate
this request.”
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So Providence staff looked at the tub
room and figured out the logistics,
while the wife called her pastor.
They set a time for later the same
day, and an air of anticipation began
to hum through the Providence
hallways. As the pastor arrived, and
the ceremony began, staff tried to
maintain a respectful distance, but
they found themselves quietly drawn
to the tub room doorway, trying to
catch a glimpse.
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On seeing the cloud of witnesses, the
family opened up a bit and welcomed
people into the tub room itself to
share the moment. Tears were shed
and prayers were prayed — and the
Providence family joined heaven’s
angels in rejoicing over a son
returning home. (Luke 15:10)
“I believe this man’s spiritual journey
was one the wife had prayed for
throughout their marriage,” says
Jackie. “Thank you, Jesus, for your gift
of salvation! Thank you, Holy Spirit,
for your work in this man’s life!”
Faith & Finances
by Scott Studebaker,
Vice President of Ministry Advancement
Providence Life Services was
founded on a Reformed worldview
that tells us all of life belongs to
God — not just our church life, but
also our work, our families, our spare
time, and our finances.
The Providence Board takes this
Reformed worldview seriously. They
actively wrestle with what it means
to live out our divine calling in a
fallen world. Last year, the Ethics
Committee of the Board captured
some of this struggle in a set of
Operational Guidelines.
One of the
conflicts
highlighted in that
document
is stated as:
“The organization’s requirement to be fiscally
sound and practice sound business
judgment, balanced with the organization’s calling to serve the indigent
and those with limited resources.”
Most business experts would say that
it doesn’t make sense to serve people
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who cannot pay, or to give high-quality care away for free. But those are
the kinds of things Jesus tells us to
do. In Matthew 25, He says:
“Then the King will say to those on
his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed
by my Father; take your inheritance,
the kingdom prepared for you since
the creation of the world. For I was
hungry and you gave me something
to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me
something to drink, I was a stranger
and you invited me in, I needed
clothes and you clothed me, I was sick
and you looked after me, I was in
prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer
him, ‘Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you, or thirsty and
give you something to drink? When
did we see you a stranger and invite
you in, or needing clothes and clothe
you? When did we see you sick or in
prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell
you, whatever you did for one of the
least of these brothers and sisters of
mine, you did for me.’”
(Matthew 25: 34–40)
Our calling — every Christian’s
calling — is to offer our own
resources to feed the hungry around
us, to invite strangers in, to look after
the sick. Providence is in a position
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not only to fulfill that calling, but to
help you fulfill it too. You might not
personally know any hungry people,
but through your gifts to Providence,
you are feeding hundreds of people
three nutritious meals each day. You
might not feel qualified to care for
the sick, but by giving to Providence
you are providing medicine and
ensuring that compassionate staff
deliver it as it is needed.
Without donations, our
governmental and private funding
cannot support the level of
charity we give every day. Will you
consider Providence as one of your
opportunities to respond to Jesus’
calling?
If that philosophy of giving resonates
with you, and if you want a way to
respond to Jesus’ instruction to help
“the least of these,” partner with
Providence today by sending in a
faith-filled financial donation.
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3 Benefits of Choosing a
Faith-Based Community
Faith-based organizations are
typically not-for-profit, because
they recognize that, while financial
health is important, their ultimate
purpose goes beyond making a profit.
Because Providence keeps profits in
perspective, our customers, clients,
and families enjoy the following
benefits:
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A culture of caring
“Not-for-profit organizations
manage their financial resources in
accordance with their missions,” says
LeadingAge (the national not-forprofit association we are a member
of ) in their booklet, The Not-for-
Profit Difference. In other words,
the very reason a not-for-profit
organization comes into existence is
to meet a need, right a wrong, make
a difference — something more than
simply generating revenue. And the
staff who join the organization are
often drawn to the mission more
than the paycheck. As a result, the
Money can’t buy the kind of caring Jeff
Zylstra provides at Royal Park Place. He
loves what he does — and it shows.
caring shines through in the way
they do their jobs and interact with
residents. “I love my job,” says Diane
Giglio, of Providence Healthcare
& Rehabilitation in Palos Heights,
Illinois. “I just love being here.
It’s the best job in the world.” And
Jeff Zylstra, at Royal Park Place in
Zeeland, Michigan, gets his whole
family involved — once a month,
for example, they come back in the
evening and play Wheel of Fortune
with the residents.
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Measurable quality
caregivers, receptionists, janitors,
Jim Collins, author of Good to Great,
and administrators at a Providence
also wrote a companion piece called
community are usually there because
Good to Great and the Social
Sectors: Why Business Thinking is
they want to be. That sense of
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Not the Answer. In it he says, “For
a business, financial returns are
a perfectly legitimate measure of
performance. For a social sector
organization [that is, a not-forprofit], however, performance must
be assessed relative to mission,
not financial returns.” In fact,
LeadingAge quotes a 2009 study by
Commodore and Devereaux, saying:
“
In 40 studies, all statistically significant
comparisons favored not-for-profit
service providers.
Included studies reported results dating
from 1965 to 2003.
This comprehensive literature review
suggests that, on average, not-for-profit
service providers deliver higher quality
care than for-profit service providers.
”
We see this in our own communities.
When staff come to work every day
for the purpose of serving, they go
“above and beyond” without thinking
about it. It’s natural.
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Longevity
If the retirement community near
you is a not-for-profit organization,
it has likely existed for generations.
That kind of stability can inspire
confidence in an era when providers
are popping up like dandelions to
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meet the anticipated needs of the
Baby Boomer market.
Providence Life Services opened its
first retirement community in 1914,
out of a sense of calling to provide
Christ-like care to aging church
members. Today we offer a spectrum
of life-enhancing services in multiple
locations [see the list on the next page],
always drawing on our decades of
experience to fulfill today’s needs
and expectations. Next year will
mark the completion of 100 years of
service.
The benefits of a faith-based, notfor-profit community have been
proven with numbers, data, and
statistics. But just as important
are the
intangible
benefits,
such as the
accessibility
of staff, the
friendly energy in the hallways, the
flow of conversation, and a tradition
of prayer. Often these intangibles
are what first draw people to a
Providence community. And the
growing trust and peace of mind —
for themselves and their families —
is what keeps them there.
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INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING
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REHABILITATION & SKILLED CARE
EMERALD MEADOWS (AL, M)
PROVIDENCE
Healthcare & Rehabilitation Centers
6117 Charlevoix Woods Court SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546
(616) 954-2366
13259 S Central Avenue (SN, R)
Palos Heights, Illinois 60463
(708) 597-1000
PARK PLACE OF ELMHURST (IL)
3450 Saratoga Avenue (SN, R)
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
(630) 969-2900
1050 S Euclid Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
(630) 333-4343
PARK PLACE
Health & Wellness Center (AL, SN, R, M)
285 N State Street (SN, R, M)
Zeeland, Michigan 49464
(616) 772-4641
1150 S Euclid Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
(630) 936-4100
PARK PLACE Health & Wellness Center
(AL, SN, R, M)
ROYAL ATRIUM INN (AL)
1150 S Euclid Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
(630) 936-4100
400 Parkside Drive
Zeeland, Michigan 49464
(616) 772-1248
ROYAL PARK PLACE (IL)
VICTORIAN VILLAGE
Health & Wellness Center (Coming soon!)
(SN, R, M)
500 Parkside Drive
Zeeland, Michigan 49464
(616) 772-2224
12600 Renaissance Circle
Homer Glen, Illinois 60491
(708) 301-0800
SARATOGA GROVE (IL, AL, M)
3460 Saratoga Avenue
Downers Grove, Illinois 60515
(630) 971-1995
VICTORIAN VILLAGE (IL, AL, M)
12600 Renaissance Circle
Homer Glen, Illinois 60491
(708) 301-0800
HOME & COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES
PROVIDENCE at Home
(Private Duty, Home Health)
VILLAGE WOODS (IL, AL)
2681 Route 394
Crete, Illinois 60417
(708) 672-6111
Serving Illinois and Indiana
(800) 509-2800
PROVIDENCE Hospice
Serving Illinois
(800) 509-2800
AL | Assisted Living
SN | Skilled Nursing
R | Rehab
M | Memory Support
IL | Independent Living
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A GIVING COMMUNITY
Gifts of Faith
The following gifts were received from a variety of Providence family members (such as
churches, auxiliaries, and event sponsors) for a variety of Providence purposes (including resident
assistance and general donations) —
Gifts for
Providence
July 1 – Sept. 30, 2013
Carol Candell
Tom and Helen Corley
Wendi DeFelice
Kymberlee Carr
Cornerstone Protestant
Reformed Church - Dyer
Gail Dillard
Jack and Peggy Cashman
Tim and Deborah Abbring
Marthe Celis
Amber Mechanical
Contractors
Len Christensen
Assurance Agency, Ltd.
Kelly Baker
CITGO Petroleum
Corporation
Lucette Bamford
Hyun Clark
Laura Churchill
Robert and Jerry Lynn Cox
Crete Reformed Church
Beth Cunningham
Dr. Jack Czarlinski
Darwill Press
The Estate of Hermine S.
Dawson
Rev. and Mrs. Archie Bazuin Classis Illiana
The Estate of Edith De Boer
Russell and Sharon Clousing
Beary Landscaping
Paul and Pam De Boer
Colonial Chapel
Thomas and Cecelia
Rick and Jan De Boer
Beishuizen
Comcast Business Class
Bill and Kathy De Young
Julie Benda
Sandra J. Cooper
Rev. Heino and Karen
Blaauw
Janna Boger
Timothy and Beth Bolt
The Estate of Evelyn
Boonstra
Bill Buikema, Jr.
Business Only Broadband
Calvary Reformed Church of
Orland Park
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Henry and Karen Doorn
John Durso
John and Deanne Dykstra
Michelle Dykstra
Richard and Marion Dykstra
Ebenezer Christian
Reformed Church
Economy Disposal
Janet Edelmann
eHealth Data Solutions
Asuai Ejechi
A GIVING COMMUNITY
Rev. Henry and Elizabeth
Elgersma
Faith Christian Reformed
Church - Elmhurst
Faith Christian Reformed
Church - Tinley Park
Faith Church in Dyer
First Reformed Church of
Lansing
Roger and Mary Sue
Folkerts
Tom and Kim Folkerts
Mary Ann Fronzak
Marie Gaskill
Stacy Irwin
Diane Giglio
Mathew and Mary James
Joi Gladman
Connie Jaros
Carl and Debra Goodfriend
Edward Jongsma
Grace Community Christian Mary Kay Kacmarek
Reformed Church
Henry and Grace Kamp
Grace Reformed Church
Brian and Patrice Kamstra
Annie Gras
Ted Kendzora
Great Lakes Roofing &
Kharis Foundation
Construction Co. Inc.
Sandra Klimowski
Lambert Greendyke
Knollcrest Funeral Home
Greystone Development
Bastian and Joan Knoppers
Company, LLC
Neli Guajardo
Linda Hart
HealthMEDX, Inc.
Ray and Lisa Hemphill
Henry Bros. Co.
Jacqueline Hilt
Charles Hoffer
John Hohm
Homewood Disposal
Service, Inc.
Hope Christian Reformed
Church
Ken and Gwen Hoving
Peter and Heidi Huizenga
Fred and Janet Huizinga
Lombard Christian
Reformed Church
Sharon Lopez
Lynwood United Reformed
Church
Nancy Lyon
Martin Whalen Office
Solutions
Greg Matocha
Terri Maxeiner
MB Financial Bank - South
Holland/Elmhurst
McGladrey, L.L.P.
Arnold and Sandy
Koldenhoven
Timothy McKenna
Mary Kruse
Katherine Mendoza
Christina Krystozek
Gary and Bev Meyer
Hilda Kuiken
Michael Michalak
Lancaster Pollard
Momence Orthodox
Presbyterian Church
Jim and Joyce Lagestee
Jill Mendenhall
Lagestee Mulder
Construction
Dick and Pixie Molenhouse
Laner Muchin Dombrow
Becker Levin & Tominberg
Foundation
Jeff and Beth Mukamal
Dave and Gina LaPappa
James and Barbara Lazo
Bruce and Mary Leep
Maria Leverenz
Judith Morehouse
Todd Murphy
Francine Myers
Myers, Carden & Sax, LLC
Kurt and Beverly Nelson
Joseph Nowak
Carol Olsen
Ethel Olthof
Jack and Carolyn
Oostendorp
Orland Park Christian
Reformed Church
Glen and Barbara Ostdiek
Larry and Johnna Otte
Norman Overway
Ozinga Brothers
Palos Heights Christian
Reformed Church
Ronald Peters
George Pluister
Theresa Poetzinger
Jim Ravesloot
Gloria Reece
William and Barbara Rees
Brock Reinhard
John Rosier
Darlene Rothwell
Ruff, Weidenaar & Reidy,
Ltd.
Crisanta Ruisz
RYAN Companies
Sarah Saballa
Diane Sarosiek
Liberty Mutual
PROVIDENCE LIFE SERVICES IS A CHRISTIAN 501(C)3 NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
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A GIVING COMMUNITY
Raymond and Anita
Kozlowski
Ronald and Betty Kozlowski
Loretta Kujawa
Joe Lee
Rebecca May
Dick and Pixie Molenhouse
Trenice Postema
Mary Reusz
Thomas Roland
Evelyn Boonstra
Gary and Joan Schutt
R. Bulthuis and Family
Richard and Dorothy Schutt
Joel Clousing
Richard and Linda Schutt
Doris Dobbeck
Gerald and Joan Stoiber
Schepel Buick, GMC,
Cadillac
George and Gayle Vande
Werken
Gary and Joan Schutt
Robert and Helen
Vandenburg
Barry and Karen
VanderGenugten
Frank and Henrietta Hovinga Scott and Mary Studebaker
Richard and Linda Schutt
Timothy Slager
Tamara Sorg
The Estate of Gerald
Veltman
Phil and Barbara Kinnas
Joanne Steif-Nazimek
Morna Stewart
Tammy Virgili
Noraine Scarpelli
Elizabeth Stoik
Kevin Walsh
Chuck and Deborah Slager
Roger Story
Walt’s Food Centers
Pat Strong
Derek and Jennifer Weenum
Scott and Mary Studebaker Cheryl and George
Widdowson
David Sullivan
Robert and Betty Laning
Debra Buikema
A Friend of Providence
Rick and Ruth Baas
Donald and Sandy
Waterlander
Bob and Beth Workman
John and Thelma Workman
Robert and Joanne Yonker
George Cooper
Gary and Joan Schutt
Richard and Dorothy Schutt
Symbria Rx Services and
Alliance Rehab
Bernard Wiersum
Carol Boersma
Candy Williams
Alvin and Estelle Bosma
Steven Szot
Nellie Woodard
Richard and Connie Brott
Martha De Boer
TCF National Bank
Carolyn Wooten
Henry and Violet Triezenberg
Megan Tengerstrom
Leatitia Young
Bernard and Dorothy
Bruinius
Jacquelyn L. Terpstra
Van and Lois Zeilstra
Margaret Thomas
Tinley Park Reformed
Church
Memorials
July 1 - Sept. 30, 2013
Kenneth Triezenberg
M. Geraldine Bekman
Mark and Eileen Trnka
Richard and Kathy Holba
Amy Unger
John G. Van Der Aa
The Estate of George and
Alice Van der Molen
Sam and Judy Van Til
Van Til’s Supermarket, Inc.
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Bill and Gert Buikema
Paul and Angela Buikema
Shirley Tirado-Moran
Ungaretti & Harris
Bill Buikema, Jr.
Michael Belmonte, Sr.
Bob and Phyllis Veldman
Ruth Buikema
Ruth DeBoer
Gary and Joan Schutt
Men of a Chord
Eldon and Julie Syens
Frank and Ellen Cappadonia Paul De Vries
Phyllis De Vries
Jean E. De Vries
Bill and Kathy De Young
Alard J. Folkerts
Art and Lorraine Deckinga
Jack and Karen Folkerts
Henry and Karen Doorn
Tom and Kim Folkerts
Gina Elberson
William and Barbara Rees
Alice Blankenstein
Fred and Janet Huizinga
Anne Paterik
Robert and Mary Johnson
Andy Boersma
George and Mary Kay
Kacmarek
Art and Lorraine Deckinga
Scott and Mary Studebaker
Keith Kay
Genevieve “Jean” Franz
Bob and Phyllis Veldman
Lee Hart
Mildred Billington
A GIVING COMMUNITY
Irene “Ike” Herdeck
W. Huben
Jeffrey and Anne Hyland
Robert Huizenga
A Friend of Providence
Paula Jolas
Ernst and Mary Jo Jolas
Richard and Jessie
Jousma
Herman and Ardis Keizer
Bob and Phyllis Veldman
Scott and Mary Studebaker Chester and Patricia
Rozanski
John Oostendorp
William Skowronski
Harry and Dorothy Beezhold
Charles and Patricia Kaduk
Jack and Carolyn
Oostendorp
Irwin Skrysak
Warren Fox
Margaret “Peggy”
Oostendorp
Richard and Judy
Klompmaker
Harry and Dorothy Beezhold
Ron and Carol Graham
Sister Benita Jasurda
Dick and Ina Jasurda
Phil and June Jasurda
Mike Karnoski
Rita Jasurda
George and Mary Kay
Kacmarek
Ron and Mary Ellen Jasurda
Evelyn Koldenhoven
Caleb and Erin Hamstra
Larry and LeAnn Kooyenga
Lee and Marian Kickert
Helen Noort
John and Linda Riley
Alice Smith
Josephine Pasztor
Anita Kozlowski
Stephen Pasztor
Jack and Carolyn
Oostendorp
Mr. and Mrs. Jim
Eenigenburg
Ted Kendzora
John and Barb
Scott and Mary Studebaker Groenewold
John and Barbara
Wendell Studebaker (“The
Groenewold
Iron Duke”)
Wendi DeFelice
Scott and Mary Studebaker
Kathleen Tameling
Richard and Linda Schutt
Peter Tameling, Sr.
Hospice
Memorials
July 1 - Sept. 30, 2013
IN LOVING MEMORY
Jack and Carolyn
Oostendorp
Edgar Jeswein
Anita Kozlowski
Ioleen Marjorie Peliwo
William Ven Housen
Robert and Jerry Lynn Cox
Ioleen Marjorie Peliwo Living William and LuAnn Stefek
Trust
Gary and Joan Schutt
Laurence Viero
Richard and Dorothy Schutt Janet Rosenstern
Charlotte Viero
Richard and Linda Schutt
Marilyn Renk
Scott and Mary Studebaker Klaus Rosenstern
John and Kimberly Wolff
Anniversaries
Howard Stob
Andrew and Marilyn Schutt
Clara Togtman
Susan Larson
Arline Schoenrock
Arlo and Elva Kunnemann
Laura Churchill
Mary Ann Fronzak
The Higgerson Family: Toby,
David, and Nancy
Sandra Klimowski
Birthdays
Greg Matocha
Mr. and Mrs. George
Beukema
Darlene Rothwell
Richard and Judy
Klompmaker
Jill Mendenhall
The State Bank of Geneva
Ruth M. Lakus
Martha Melander
Carol Sack
George Miller
Carol and William Martin
To view the comprehensive list of Providence supporters online,
visit: www.providencelifeservices.com/partners/
Janet Dal Cason
Jeanette Meyer
Roger and Leona Boerema
J. Richard Mulder
Bill and Kathy De Young
Mary Kay Kacmarek
Lee and Marian Kickert
Jim and Gail Punt
Richard and Linda Schutt
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Faithful
Service by
Faithful
Servants
Leadership of the original Holland Home
Ladies Circle; their sign reads, “First
Officers of the Ladies Circle of the Holland
Home, 1915 to 1917”
Since at least 1915, the Ladies Circle
of the Holland Home has been a
steady presence in the lives of the
men and women who live there.
When Holland Home merged with
Providence Life Services in 1969,
their Ladies Circle came along
too. These ladies not only raised
In the early days, officers of the Holland
Home Ladies Circle had meetings in
each others’ homes.
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awareness and funds for the work,
but also spent countless volunteer
hours ministering directly to residents.
Throughout the decades, the Auxiliary
has organized bake sales, worked in the
gift shop, served coffee, mailed letters,
shopped for bargains, and found
other creative ways to raise more than
$1.5 million for enhancements such as
those listed below:
Main kitchen equipment
Draperies
$80,000.00
$7,000.00
Debt retirement
$205,000.00
New elevator
$178,000.00
Carpeting and wallpaper
in resident rooms
$100,000.00
Remodeled café
and gift shop
$76,012.50
Gazebo and updated
laundry rooms
$40,000.00
New maintenance truck
$25,000.00
Smoke and carbon
monoxide detectors
$60,000.00
Front lobby doors and
floor blinds
$24,000.00
New bus and sound system
$55,692.46
Café renovation and
furnishings
$50,609.98
Renovating and furnishing
guest rooms
$12,154.36
New furniture in four lobbies
$40,000.00
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Holland Home 2013 Auxiliary officers
(left to right): Jeannie Truxal, Marlene Krist,
Leona Kats, Mari Jo Davitto
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We are grateful for all the ways the
Holland Home Ladies Circle has
enhanced community life through
their faithful service as part of the
Providence family. And we wish
them God’s richest blessings on their
next chapter of ministry.
A Compassionate Presence
“I look back on it with much
pleasure,” says Marian Kickert about
her 42 years with Providence Life
Services. She joined the staff at
Rest Haven
Central in
1971 as an RN,
and became
Director of
Nursing in
1976, a position
CEO Rich Schutt calls “one of the
hardest jobs in the organization.”
Marian served in that role for 26
years. “Skilled Nursing Facilities did
not have a good reputation at that
time,” she says, “and that was one
reason I stayed. I wanted people to
know that Rest Haven [our name at
the time] was different.”
In 1991, Marian and her team of nurses
won a six-star rating from the state.
It was natural for Marian to
transition from nursing into helping
with the Auxiliaries and with
mission development. “I knew the
kinds of feelings people and their
families go through when they are
facing a health change, and I knew
how good the care was at Rest
Haven. So it was easy for me to talk
to people about that.”
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At a retirement party in her honor,
Marian accepted a beautiful desk
clock, but the gift that touched her
most was a framed photo montage
highlighting the different forms of
ministry she performed throughout
her years of service. “This is
wonderful,” she said. “This spans
the 42 years.”
“One of my least favorite things,”
she told the group, “is to be the
center of attention. But you’ve made
it very easy for me today.”
And with only a small break in
her voice, she added, “I have you
in my heart.”
Marian Kickert, thank you for being a
compassionate presence in thousands of lives.
Thank you for making
a difference.
CELEBRATING
100 YEARS OF
RETIREMENT
LIVING SERVICES
Throughout 2014, we will be celebrating our
100th year of retirement living services. We are
reminded of the quote from Reverend John Van Harn: “This place shall
be the scene of the continuous unfolding of the purposes of God in the
ministry of mercy. From this small beginning the calls for enlargement
and amplification will be many.” This certainly has been the history of our
organization. We look forward to sharing our anniversary with you as we
share stories of answered prayer throughout the coming year. May God bless
us as we enter our second century of service.
page
14
A Tribute to
Richard Mulder,
Executive Director
from 1959-1986
December 10, 1921
September 5, 2013
“Our people deserve better than this.” That was
the thought that ran through Richard Mulder’s
mind as he toured nursing homes in the late
1950s. The facilities were crowded, the rooms were small, the staff overworked.
Mr. Mulder could see why he had been asked to be part of a better solution.
The Rest Haven Christian Association had just been formed, and its Board of
Directors was looking for someone to lead the new ministry. Richard Mulder
became our first Executive Director.
From the day he rolled up his sleeves and converted a chicken coop into an
office, his passion and commitment were obvious. He was present at the 1960
cornerstone ceremony for Rest Haven (now known as Providence Healthcare &
Rehabilitation Center of Palos Heights). He helped engineer our 1969 merger with
Holland Home where roots go back to 1914. He oversaw the construction of our
skilled nursing center in South Holland in the 1970s. He discovered a Holiday Inn
for sale in Crete, Illinois, and re-imagined it into Village Woods Christian Retirement
Community in 1981. When the state of Illinois delayed issuing a Certificate of
Need in the western suburbs, he purchased an existing skilled nursing facility and
transformed it into a Christian care community worthy of the name Rest Haven
(now known as Providence of Downers Grove). Richard Mulder was always looking
for new ways to serve more people with the best possible care.
He turned over leadership of the organization to Richard Schutt in 1986, staying
on for a while to provide mentoring and encouragement. Then he and his wife Effie
moved to Florida to be near family.
In 2010 he joined us for our 50th-anniversary
Torchlight celebration, and the Board honored him
with a Servant Leadership Award. He was deeply
moved by the ceremony and the number of old
friends and co-workers in the crowd.
In 1958, when Richard Mulder accepted the job
as our first Executive Director, he had no idea what
this ministry might become. Today Providence Life
Services counts over 50,000 people who have
received Christian care from us since we opened our
doors. Richard Mulder’s work on earth is over, but his
legacy continues to bless generations.
WEB | www.ProvidenceLifeServices.com
CEO, Providence Life Services
Hal Brown
Gary Ellens
Howard Hoff
Justin Kats
Kurt Nelson
Ron Porter
Ken Schoon
Don Van Dyk
Richard C. Schutt
2013-2014
Join the conversation! Providence is accessible through
our blog, email, and multiple Facebook pages.
INTERACTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
CORPORATE PHONE | (708) 342-8100
Lucette Bamford
Dr. David Beezhold
Tim Breems
Asst. Secretary/Treasurer
Cal Tameling
Secretary/Treasurer
Sharon Clousing
Vice Chair
Norm Aardema
Chair
Arnold Koldenhoven
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Providence Life Services is blessed with strong Christian leaders who base their decisions on God’s
Word and the faithful leading of the Holy Spirit:
COMMUNITYLEADERS
Wi t h Yo u , f o r Yo u !
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Tinley Park, Illinois 60477
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