From Family Member to Board Member

Saint Therese is humbled and inspired by the involvement of family members in our communities. It is this unique relationship between staff, residents and families that creates such a strong sense of community at Saint Therese.

Family members like Kaye Foley not only help strengthen the communities, but they secure financial stability for many years to come so that other family members can enjoy the same exceptional care that their loved ones once experienced.

After 38 years at North Memorial Medical Center, Kaye retired as the Chief Nursing Officer in 2009. Also a Registered Nurse, she found her career to be extremely rewarding as she worked with patients and families through all levels of care. It was during her work at North Memorial that she would initially get to know about the exceptional senior care available at Saint Therese and would later guide her decision to choose this as the home for her mother, Florence Q. Parker.

Her mom called Saint Therese of New Hope home for several years. At the New Hope community, she enjoyed the continuum of care offered, living first in the apartments and later in the care center. Florence loved the meals, activities, happy hours and all of the staff that spent time with her. As Kaye reflects on her mother’s relationships with the staff, she said that “they became her second family.”

On the morning of Florence’s last day at Saint Therese, Kaye received a call from staff at about 5:00 a.m. notifying her that her mother might be in her last hours. As her mother passed away, Kaye saw tears in the eyes of the staff. This made a tremendous impact on her. She knew then that the staff at Saint Therese really had become family.

Inspired by the outstanding care that her mother received, Kaye remained strongly connected to Saint Therese. She quickly became involved by serving on the Board of Directors, guiding decisions about the same care and services that were once provided to her mother.

Kaye believes strongly that staff should have the opportunity to grow and acquire the skills to provide exceptional care for residents and is happy to contribute to an organization that is dedicated to that same belief.

Kaye made the important decision to join the Heritage Society by designating Saint Therese in her estate plan.

“It is my way to show Saint Therese that I believe in the work they are doing,” said Kaye. “I want residents and their family members to be able to experience the exceptional care and services provided now and for years to come.”

Saint Therese is blessed to have individuals like Kaye Foley as part of the Saint Therese family.