Feb 25,2019 |
Karen Christians, the Clinical Coordinator at Rose Garden, remembers a sweet couple that she cared for that brought lots of love to the staff and residents. “He was such a loving, loving husband and he was there to take care of his wife,” says Karen. No matter how hard it was, the husband insisted on…
Feb 20,2019 |
As a Calvinist Cadet counselor for 20 years, Arie Verkaik sang the Cadet theme song, “Living For Jesus,” often, and it is still his favorite song: Living for Jesus, a life that is true, Striving to please Him in all that I do; Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free, This is the pathway of blessing for…
Feb 18,2019 |
When Vice President and COO Chris Matzke’s husband was diagnosed with a devastating disease, volunteers, residents, staff, and families came together to pray for them. “They had in their lobby, for the whole fourteen hours he was in surgery, a prayer center set up. And so, each time somebody came up, they would say a…
Feb 17,2019 |
Carl Wykstra still remembers his 9th grade class verse: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths” – Proverbs 3:5-6 Although Carl could not have foreseen the paths that God would lay for him, the verse…
Jan 31,2019 |
“Pete was such a great dad and grandfather,” says Marge Salamone, his wife. “He adored his family. He was the kind of person that would drop everything to help a friend, and he always made the conversation about the other person.” Pete and Marge were married on August 28, 1965, and three children soon followed:…
Jan 30,2019 |
Dwight L. Moody said, “There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.” Jesus described the greatest commandment in very simple terms; love God with your whole being and love your neighbor as yourself. Devotion may be simple, but…
Jan 29,2019 |
A bucket list is a list of achievements or experiences that someone would want to accomplish in their lifetime. Silver Bucket Lists are similar to regular bucket list items except that they are sparked by the perspective of a life well-lived and provide memories that can uplift generations. This year, Sunset has created a Silver…
Jan 24,2019 |
Shelly DeBoer never imagined that she would become the Life Enrichment Coordinator at Waterford Place. When she first came to work for Sunset 20 years ago, Shelly taught pool classes a couple days a week while she was raising her three sons. She loved how family-oriented Sunset was, which allowed her to work ten hours…
Jan 22,2019 |
Residents from Sunset’s Brookcrest Rehab and Life Center recently participated in a Grand Valley State University honors class called Saging (pronounced say-jing; as in sage, wise through reflection and experience) and Aging. The course, taught by Professor Jane Toot, is geared towards bringing different generational viewpoints together to find solutions to the unique set of…
Jan 16,2019 |
When Kally Verkaik was a child, she would help out at the retirement community that her aunt worked at whenever she visited. Kally would pass out the mail, help in the kitchen, or spend time talking with the residents. So, it is only natural that later in life, Kally would find her way to Sunset…