Our Stories

– As a lifelong local, Susan Hill always knew of the Villa, but she could never have guessed how significant it would become to her. On any given day, you will find Susan on our Campus of Care, whether it be with her mother in long-term care or helping out at Margaret’s Place Hospice. When…

With the addition of hospice to our Campus of Care, we are strengthened by the many individuals who join our community to serve our mission of care. St. Joseph’s Villa Foundation is proud to introduce Sarina Isenberg, the newest member of the Foundation Board of Directors and our Community of Care. Sarina is the Chair…

From St. Joseph’s Health System website: Founded in the healing mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton, St. Joseph’s Health System (SJHS) was established in 1991 to meet the challenges of the changing environment for the delivery of health and social services, and takes pride in a system-wide commitment to caring for the…

‘Music speaks words and feelings we can’t express, and everyone can enjoy it in their own way.’ For over 30 years, Aidan Purnell has radiated joy throughout St. Joseph’s Villa with his gift of music. He has seen the Villa campus evolve tremendously over the years but has remained a vital element in the life…

– Claudette Hunt moved into the Villa in 2017 in search of the care she needed throughout her senior years. She chose the Villa for the life it offered: 24/7 care, a dynamic social life and the opportunity for independence – an aspect she greatly valued. “The move to the Villa didn’t mean I was…

  Since the opening of Margaret’s Place Hospice in September 2021, St. Joseph’s Villa Foundation has shifted its focus to fundraising for operational costs of the hospice totalling over $500,000 annually. Because of service clubs like Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club (DVSRC), we can meet the needs of both Margaret’s Place and St. Joseph’s Villa…

– From all of us at St. Joseph’s Villa Foundation, we wish you the safest and happiest of holidays. The holiday season is a perfect time for reflecting on the year behind us and rejuvenating for the year ahead. I will forever remember 2021 for both the highs and lows, as we all faced the…

– “Your legacy doesn’t lay in one singular thing; it lays in every single life you touch.” Catherine Gibbon was an integral part of our community, and she has left her legacy through her love of family and passion for art. Cathy was touched by the vision of Margaret’s Place Hospice and offered to contribute…

– My name is Laura Hounsell… …and I live in the incredible community of Ancaster Heights with my two sons William and Jack. My husband David and I fell in love with the area 15 years ago and were excited to raise our family here. However, in January of 2015, the life we knew and…

  St. Joseph’s Villa & Foundation is so fortunate to be surrounded and supported by community service groups that care wholeheartedly about initiatives in our community. With ribbon-cutting only days away, we reflect on the community partners who have made Margaret’s Place Hospice possible on our campus. – The Dundas Lions Club The Dundas Lions…

– Bishop Douglas Crosby and the Diocese of Hamilton team touring the construction site of Margaret’s Place Hospice – ‘To have such a grand vision of this in our hometown, there was no question we would get behind it.’ Margaret’s Place Hospice is only weeks away from completion. As we prepare for the ribbon-cutting ceremony,…

– Ira McDonald Construction team at Margaret’s Place Hospice – ‘Building Margaret’s Place with skilled hands and passionate hearts.’  Thanks to the tremendous work of Ira McDonald Construction and its team’s commitment and passion for this project, Margaret’s Place Hospice is only weeks away from completion. Averaging around 35 workers a day on-site and seeing…

– Renderings by mcCallumSather  – ‘It’s about advancing end-of-life care for the hospices of tomorrow…’ The vision of Margaret’s Place Hospice relies not only on the community support to raise funds, but also the mastery of those who were to design and build it. For these initiatives, St. Joseph’s Villa relied on the expertise of…

#CommunityOfCare: A legacy of compassionate philanthropy – – ‘A place for all Margarets and anyone else who needs hospice care.’ Margaret’s Place Hospice was made possible through the power of community and the support of a grand vision. Margaret and Charles Juravinski are of the many who supported the idea of hospice throughout its entire…

– ‘It wasn’t if we were going to make it work, but how.’  In 2016, Maureen Ellis, President & CEO of St. Joseph’s Villa Foundation, was approached with an inspiring request for support that would greatly expand the Villa’s scope of care to our community. St. Joseph’s Health System was in the planning stages of…

House of Providence, 1879-1970 – Because of you… Margaret’s Place Hospice is rising on the grounds of St. Joseph’s Villa. The mission of St. Joseph’s Villa was established in 1879 when our founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph Hamilton, opened the House of Providence to care for the elderly and disadvantaged. The house was gifted…

June 14, 2021 Comfort & Care in Community Newsletter Margaret’s Place Hospice Construction Update –   Margaret’s Place Hospice Construction Update Ira McDonald Construction has been on the move with the build of Margaret’s Place Hospice. As construction of the hospice considered an essential service, construction remained on schedule throughout the pandemic. Now in the…

#VillaHeroes: Shelly Muraca, a warm welcome to the Villa – If you’ve entered the doors of St. Joseph’s Villa at all in the past year, odds are you have come across this friendly face. Shelly Muraca is a receptionist and an integral part of life here at the Villa – for staff, residents and essential…

– #VillaHeroes: Glenn Lloyd, the man behind the poetry – “We all have a hero and usually just one, But the Villa has heroes, a few hundred and some” – Glenn Lloyd, known as The Villa Poet, has been sharing his poetry with the Villa community since his arrival in 2019. His poetry has helped…

May 14, 2021 Comfort & Care in Community Newsletter Honour our Nurses with a Gift of Care – Honour our Nurses with a Gift of Care! . . This week we celebrated National Nursing Week at St. Joseph’s Villa. We are so grateful for all of the incredible nurses at St. Joseph’s Villa. Their dedication and courage…

– #VillaHeroes: Maggie and Ron Simpson, a spiritual journey of service Ron and Maggie Simpson have been dedicated volunteers at St. Joseph’s Villa since 2002. Since then, they have been an integral part of our residents’ social and spiritual lives. In late 2002, Maggie and Ron achieved a milestone goal they set together: to retire…

#VillaHeroes: Daniela Fazari, fulfilling a mission of care Daniela Fazari is a bright light around St. Joseph’s Villa. She’s the kind of soul that one is naturally drawn to and confides in. A friend to many and one you’d be lucky to have. She inspires everyone to be better, to love life and enjoy all…

#VillaHeroes: Judy Volpato, a daughter’s love is forever “To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honours.” – Tia Walker Through the uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Joseph’s Villa has kept resident-family connection of the highest importance. Essential caregivers play an integral role in maintaining this connection…

#VillaHeroes: Daisy Provido, taking a chance to follow her dream Meet Daisy Provido, a Personal Support Worker (PSW) at St. Joseph’s Villa. She was hired at the Villa in 2015, seven years after obtaining her PSW certification, and has been with the Villa ever since. It has become her second home and one of the…

April 19, 2021 Comfort & Care in Community Newsletter A year of silver linings at the Villa – #VillaHeroes: over two decades of service at the Villa . . As we approach HEROES gala on June 2nd, we continue to share the incredible stories of the staff, caregivers and residents at St. Joseph’s Villa. Our latest two…

  #VillaHeroes: No mission too big or small for Adrian Grigorescu, Maintenance Lead Hand Meet Adrian Grigorescu. He is the Maintenance Lead Hand at St. Joseph’s Villa, and an integral part of our community. The Maintenance Team is a vital organ of St. Joseph’s Villa. Their day-to-day duties vary based on the facility, staff and…

#VillaHeroes: A legacy of compassionate care – It has been said the greatest essence of life is to be of service to others. This principle is one that Elaine Ford lives her life by. At 71 years old, Elaine is still driven by her passion for caring for others and teaching younger generations who enter…

April 2, 2021 Comfort & Care in Community Newsletter Wishing you a blessed Easter! – Happy Easter long weekend! . . Easter is a time to celebrate the renewal and restoration of life. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought us a year full of hardships, but we can lean on this Easter season to bring us positivity and hope…

– #VillaHeroes: Bonded by a family tradition Some consider family to be the compass that guides them through life. It’s the beacon of hope and ray of light through the toughest of times. This is especially true in the case of sisters Maureen and Maria, and their niece Nicole, who have collectively served at St.…

Warmhearted. Determined. Empowering. These three words perfectly describe Kate Gallant, a Therapeutic Recreationist (TR) at St. Joseph’s Villa. It all started when she was in high school, completing a co-op placement in the TR department at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Her love for the profession was apparent and she later pursued an education in Mohawk College’s…

Sharing Their Stories St. Joseph’s Villa Foundation has been deeply inspired by the bravery and dedication of our essential staff who stand on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have truly exemplified what it means to be a health care hero, keeping our most vulnerable populations safe and finding the silver lining through the…

March 5, 2021 Comfort & Care in Community Newsletter Introducing HEROES, our 20th Annual Gala event   HEROES, our 20th Annual Gala event The past year has been challenging for us all, particularly for residents and essential workers in long-term care homes who are sadly most impacted by COVID-19. When we look back upon this year,…

February 19, 2021 Comfort & Care in Community Newsletter Enhancing lives through community support   Dundas Legion gifts $15,000 for new bathtubs The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 36 of Dundas has been a long-time supporter of the Villa Foundation. Thanks to its generous contribution through this year’s Dundas Poppy Fund, we can continue to meet our residents’ physical, emotional…

  It’s said that the end of one’s life deserves as much care and compassion as the beginning. This notion is something of a mantra for Beverley Yates, the newly appointed Manager of Margaret’s Place Hospice at St. Joseph’s Villa Dundas. Beverley has blessed the Villa with her presence for over 30 years. In her…

February 5, 2021 Comfort & Care in Community Newsletter Celebrating Our Villa Heroes   Gala comes home to the Villa! After having cancelled the 2020 Gala due to COVID-19, we are happy to announce that the Gala is back in 2021! The Gala will look different from past years as we celebrate St. Joseph’s Villa HEROES who have faced…

Sims Advertising has been a proud supporter and partner of St. Joseph’s Villa and St. Joseph’s Villa Foundation for over 15 years. Since its beginning in 1991, Sims has given back to the community in many ways. Not only do they provide marketing guidance and support, they are very involved in events, fundraising and leadership.…