by Linda Buchalo
Our second stop on a tour of residential areas on the Misericordia campus takes us to the Marian Center, which is the oldest residence. The campus was once home to the Angel Guardian Orphanage, which closed in 1974, and both the main building and Marian Center now stand in that exact spot. Constructed in 1976, Marian Center is situated within the main building and has two floors, ten apartments, and 88 residents. The apartments are evenly divided—five male and five female living spaces.
Apartments in the Marian Center are designed with an open concept for living room, dining room, and kitchen. To ensure the safety of the residents, kitchens do not have a stove. Each apartment has four or five bedrooms, a den, a control station and laundry room for dirty clothes and storage. Over the years, the space was renovated, with updated flooring, new furniture, updated decor, and an HVAC/air filtration system controlled at the touch of a button. Recently, the project to update the bathrooms, which was halted by the pandemic, has begun again.
by Linda Buchalo
(Author’s Note: This article was written during the pandemic and reflects the restrictions in place at that time.)
This is the first in a series of articles about the various residential living areas on the Misericordia campus. Today, we visit Quinlan Terrace, which opened in 2016. The four brick homes, located in the center of the campus, were specifically designed to address the evolving nursing, therapy, and healthcare needs of residents with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other age-related conditions. Quinlan Terrace is the long-awaited answer to Misericordia’s need to provide for an aging population.
by Brian Kearney
Life centers around food everywhere, including at Misericordia. Anthony “Tony” Kearney Jr., our oldest brother at Misericordia, smiles and says, “Many people eat. It is Mr. Bob Noga who cooks the meals for our home.”
Over 1100 employees, 600 residents and many volunteers eat every day, every month, every year on the 64-acre Misericordia campus. In addition to preparing food for all these people, Misericordia also operates a restaurant, The Greenhouse Inn, the Hearts and Flour Bakery, the Hearts and Flour Bakery & Cafe, and The Misericordia Sweetheart Shoppe in Glenview. And there are also shipping orders, sales at various pop-up tents, and holiday stores.
On Saturday, October 15, the Misericordia Women’s Board will break out the bubbly and welcome guests back to the International Ballroom at the Hilton Chicago for its first live Heart of Mercy Ball since our last in-person gala in 2019. Our theme, Hearts + Home United, will bring us together to celebrate both people and place, as we recognize our 2022 honorees and highlight Misericordia’s beautiful homes that provide a loving environment, quality of life, and a continuum of care for residents.
In 2021, the Women’s Board observed Misericordia’s Centennial Anniversary with a Virtual Ball that recognized Sister Rosemary Connelly’s visionary leadership of more than five decades and honored the McGuire family, paying tribute to Frances McGuire, who founded the Women’s Board in 1921. As Misericordia begins its second century in 2022, the Women’s Board is privileged to present three awards of distinction to longtime friends of Misericordia:
July 25, 2022
Dear Families: (This only applies to residents in campus housing and does not apply to residents in CILAs or Shannon Apartments.)
I am writing to inform you that you will be receiving a letter from an Independent Service Coordinator (ISC) regarding your family member living at Misericordia. The ISC is a contractor for the State of Illinois; he or she is not an employee or representative of Misericordia. The ISC will follow up his or her letter with a phone call, email or text to you.
The purpose of this contact is to inform you of the availability of home and community-based services (HCBS) as an alternative to Misericordia’s campus homes. Illinois is reaching out to the guardians of all men and women who live in Intermediate Care Facilities (ICFs) in the state to make sure they are aware of community-based services and other living options. The homes on Misericordia’s campus are ICFs (except for Shannon Apartments).
You will be given the opportunity to meet with the ISC to discuss HCBS services. It will be up to you to decide if you wish to meet with the ISC to discuss these alternatives for your family member. If you choose to pursue such a placement for your family member, the ISC will put your family member on the state’s waiting list for HCBS services. This outreach will be done annually.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Mary Pat O'Brien
Assistant Executive Director
by Ann Wilson
Many of us enjoy Misericordia’s beautiful, leafy campus, with its modern brick buildings, impeccable landscaping and a happy, positive vibe. The campus we know today was the vision of Sister Rosemary Connelly. With the help of her brother-in-law, Bob Connolly, then several decades later, her nephew, Hugh, she spearheaded a slow, steady improvement plan that began in the 1970s and continues today.
In March 1976, 39 children moved to Misericordia North from their south side location, and the campus was in general disrepair. Bob Connolly was the first person to work at the site. Prior to his arrival, it had been the vacant location of the former Angel Guardian Orphanage. Bob spent the first two years readying the stage for the campus we know today. He successfully oversaw the rezoning of the entire property to a Planned Unit Development which allowed Misericordia to legally build and operate a multitude of dwellings. Bob created a master plan; he tore down approximately 80% of the old buildings that could not easily be made to meet the new life safety codes and renovated those that could be repurposed. He installed all of the site utilities and infrastructure that Misericordia currently uses to support both the renovated buildings, as well as the newly-built buildings. Additionally, Bob had overseen the physical planning and physical development of Misericordia‘s campus for 30+ years. He was also responsible for the development of each of the off-campus CILAs, often searching for, and finding them, himself.
We are always looking for interesting articles for the MFA-Sibs website. Join us in telling the Mis story! There are two kinds of writing opportunities:
Please note: We are looking for articles that are upbeat and reflect the wonderful place that we know Misericordia to be.
If you would like more information about writing for the website--or would like to submit an article--please contact Barb Quaintance,
July 2022
Dear Friends,
After a two-year pause, we are pleased to announce that Misericordia will hold its 40th Family Fest on September 11, 2022. As in the past, we honor the memory of our dear friend Pauline Greco, who was called home to God on December 3, 2016. Pauline was the driving force for the success of our annual Car and Cash Raffles. We remember her with fond memories and grateful hearts. The Greco Family and Friends Committee will continue this tradition in raising the private dollar that is desperately needed to provide quality care for more than 600 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Greetings Misericordia SIBs,
I am writing to let you know that we are currently in need of volunteer assistance with our Sunday brunches in the on-campus restaurant, the Greenhouse Inn. Volunteers work with our staff members and residents, and help us in a variety of roles including seating guests, waiting on tables, assisting at the carving station, and washing dishes. The Sunday brunches have historically been staffed primarily by the SIBs, so we are really hoping that you, your friends and family will be able to step up and help us by signing up for at least one Sunday. This is a great opportunity for high school students 16 and older to complete service hours too!
At this time all volunteers are required to be up-to-date with vaccinations against COVID, and a digital copy of your vaccination card must be sent to our volunteer office before your shift. You can read more information about volunteering at the brunches as well as sign up for shifts at this link -
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4eadac29a57-sunday1
Thank you
Paul Schwartz
Misericordia Home Volunteer Coordinator
773-273-4161
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You can still donate to the Giving Tree and the Misericordia Ministry at www.mfabenefit.org until July 7th. The Ad Book is available to view on the website also.
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