Nazareth Living Center Honors Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

Nazareth Living Center in South County shared this news release and photo in conjunction with its dual anniversary celebration. Patch wishes to thank the center for its contribution.

On Sept. 16, Nazareth Living Center (NLC) marked its yearlong celebration of the 140 years the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJs) have made Nazareth Lane their home, plus the 20^th Anniversary of the NLC’s Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing programs have been open to the public.

In 1872, some CSJ Sisters came to live in a seven room frame house on a 57-acre former farm on Forder Road.   The property was purchased in 1869.  This farm house was used as a novitiate until 1880 when a brick building was constructed to accommodate 60 resident sisters. For the next 85 years, the red brick Nazareth was devoted to the care of retired and infirm Sisters.

The “new’ Nazareth Home was built in 1965 and accommodated 160 Sisters.  Initially, Sisters needing 24-hour care lived on the third floor of Gleason Hall, named in honor of the provincial leader, Sister Joan Marie Gleason.

By 1990, leaders saw the need to add a skilled nursing community that would not only care for aging Sisters, but be the home of area residents in need. The Sisters sold some surrounding acres as one means to finance the re-named Nazareth Living Center.   In 1992 McGovern Commons was opened and named in honor of Sister Jeanne McGovern, an award winning leader, pioneer in the field of aging and an early administrator of Nazareth Home.  McGovern Commons still offers skilled nursing care and Gleason Hall provides Assisted Living and Memory Care programs.

In 2005 CSJ Province Leadership requested the Nazareth Board of Trustees to explore partnering opportunities to better position NLC for the increasing challenges facing the health care industry, particularly stand-alone facilities.  After careful consideration, a management agreement was reached with Benedictine Health System (BHS), Duluth, Minn.  The Sisters and the NLC Board chose BHS because of its nationally recognized expertise in long term care management.  Today, Nazareth is once again expanding to meet the needs of the community. Construction is underway for the Village at Nazareth independent living apartment homes.

In addition celebrating Mass presided by the Most Reverend Richard J. Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis, a special reception was held on Sept. 16.  Nazareth Living Center has published its Taste of History cookbook honoring the double anniversary year. 

“The Taste of History cookbook is truly an historical keepsake with lots of history of the past 140 years, pictures of past residents and employees, and testimonials,” said Lu Westhoff, CEO. “It also contains over 400 excellent recipes collected from staff and other friends of Nazareth Living Center.”

The cookbooks are $20 each and can be purchased at the receptionist desk in Gleason Hall.

Nazareth Living Center is a Catholic, nonprofit assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation community.  The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and the Benedictine Health System serve as ministry partners in providing holistic care for women and men of all faiths, races and socio-economic backgrounds.  For more information, go to www.nazarethlivingcenter.com.