Karen Klenke photo From left ARE Lynne Crockford, LNHA, administrator with The School Sisters, who attended the two days of celebration marking 60 years of service of Maryhill Manor to the area; Sister Patricia Baier; Sister Carol Rigali; Sister Rosemary Herriges; Teresa Rossi, Maryhill spiritual director; Laura Brinkman, organist; and Bob Burton, volunteer and grand knight of Knight of Columbus for the Niagara, Wis., chapter.

NIAGARA, Wis. — Maryhill Manor, Niagara’s skilled nursing home, celebrated its 60th anniversary on Sept. 12 in the chapel.

The Mass was dedicated to the loving memory of Francine Marie Stanek, who made her home there for three decades.

Residents, staff and many guests were welcomed into the sunlit chapel as the Knights of Columbus led the procession.

The nursing home got its start in 1964 when Kimberly-Clark donated the former Kimlark Inn, which now operates as The Brick, to the Sister Servants of Christ the King to operate as a nursing home.

In 1985, faced with the declining membership in the community and the expense of renovating an aging facility, the Sister Servants made the decision to transfer the sponsorship of Maryhill Manor to the School Sisters of St. Francis. The transfer was completed in 1986.

A local board of directors was put in place and a capital campaign to build a new facility was launched.

Three-and-a-half acres of land was purchased at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Madison Street in Niagara.

In 1987, funding for the new facility was finalized with a $2,430,000 bond issue, which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development guaranteed.

The Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services granted a certificate of approval for construction of a 75-bed licensed skilled nursing facility to replace the existing 26 licensed skilled nursing beds to provide Catholic health care to the elderly living in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula.

Dedication of the new facility took place in 1988 with Bishop Adam Maida of Green Bay, Wis., officiating. On May 16, 1992, the dedication of the additional 49 licensed beds took place.

Karen Klenke photo
THE Very Rev. John W. Girotti receives the gift of wine from longtime resident Gail Declark while the Rev. Felix Abano prepares communion with server Kindi Gingrass.