Resident Bernice Buch enjoying our new garden

When Barbara Egli and her husband Werner moved to Cassia’s Minneapolis campus, “we fell in love with the community,” she recalls. When Werner passed away, Barbara found support from the chaplain and the community, which helped her deal with the pain of losing someone she loved.

Her experience motivated Barbara to join an effort with other generous donors to create an accessible garden in honor of residents, staff and volunteers. The garden contains two new benches, one of which is in honor of Werner. This renewed gathering place offers a community gardening experience for residents.

Providing spiritual care to those who need it is an essential part of life at Cassia. When Milaca Elim Care and Rehab Center resident Marilyn Anderson’s husband Bob passed away, the couple’s adult children worried about their mother traveling to his funeral. They asked Chaplain Dale Clifton if there could be an on-site service— and he and the staff quickly agreed.

The service celebrated Bob’s life with music by means of a string band. “It was the most wonderful thing you did for Bob and my family,” said Marilyn, who passed away in fall 2018 and whose service was also in Milaca Elim’s chapel.

Click here to download the complete 2018 gratitude report