On Friday, August 9, 2019, Windsor Manor Assisted Living Community, 403 Scenic Street, Morrison, IL, hosted a festive 5th anniversary party, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. The planners reserved a delightful summer evening for residents, family and friends, and the public to gather in celebration. The courtyard was filled with chairs, tables, and shade umbrellas for pleasant seating and conversation. Those who awaited the start time were in for a surprise.
Executive Director Stephanie Neas reported the facility has 28 residents in Assisted Living and 16 in Memory Care. The resident count has been at full capacity for 1.5 years. As a then-Director of Nursing, her first day was June 16, 2014; the first resident arrived August 13. Two years later Neas became Executive Director on July 5, 2016.
A remarkable Guest of Honor took the stage promptly at 4:00: George Burns. He sang a song he had introduced in 1882, “Helen Brown,” and did a soft-shoe dance. In characteristic droll manner, he replicated early vaudeville songs, routines, and jokes. The most remarkable was a copy of the first stage routine he and Gracie Allen performed at the Palace Theatre. His role was to simply repeat her statements as a question. Gracie would get the laugh with her illogical reasoning. “I said those [few] words [back to her], and I became famous!” Burns admitted.
A paid performer since age 17, Duffy Hudson has performed in college, professional theatre, and New York City on Broadway. A Cincinnati, OH, native, he lives in Los Angeles, CA, as a full-time performer. He also tours the Midwest and has been to Morrison, Iowa, and Ohio. He won an international competition to be the voice of Edgar Allan Poe in the Poe Museum in The Bronx, NY. Hudson thinks his success was due to giving the writer a slight Southern accent. The Boston, MA-born Poe was raised by relatives in Richmond, VA, starting at age three.
Hudson is immersive in his characterizations, but he also acts; writes films; makes films (a Western last year); writes plays (“The Mama Monologues” this year has eight female roles.)
He masterfully interprets eight notable figures in one-man shows, which include Burns, Dr. Seuss, Albert Einstein, Harry Houdini, and Poe. He stated he acts all the parts in a 75-minute production of “A Christmas Carol” and offers a 9-1-1 program. When asked who he would like to portray next, he thought Rodney Dangerfield would suit the Las Vegas casino show market. Charlie Chaplin is on his list, too.
Duffy Hudson recently was voted “The Best One-Man Show in Los Angeles” for the fifth straight year! After witnessing his performance as George Burns, that acclaim is well earned.
Another notable speaker took the microphone at 4:45: Mayor Everett Pannier. He stated, “It is my honor to be here on this beautiful evening to take part in this anniversary celebration. It hardly seems that it was over five years ago, [when] a contractor walked into City Hall, looking for a building permit for a totally new memory care and assisted living center. That was the first time in several years that the City had an opportunity to assist a company in starting a new venture and building a new modern facility.
“There were the usual details to work out, but the City was happy to be involved, and wow, look at what you ended up with! You are in a beautiful, almost rural, setting that houses top quality, unique, memory care and assisted living units.
“Facilities of this type are much needed for our aging population. We cannot always continue to live in our own homes. So, what better than a place like Windsor Manor to call home, and to have it right here in Morrison is even more special.
“And speaking of ‘special’ that’s exactly how you can describe Stephanie [Neas] and her staff. They are very professional and dedicated people, who love what they do in caring for all their special residents.
“Windsor Manor is also more than just a ‘care facility.’ They open their doors to the community for meals and meeting space for people to gather, including service clubs such as Rotary, of which I am a member. Windsor Manor staff is very welcoming. I can attest to the fact that their food preparation is excellent and tasty.
“So, on behalf of the City of Morrison, we are very happy and fortunate to have Windsor Manor in our community. I’m very pleased to wish you, your staff, and all the residents a very Happy 5th Anniversary!”
A buffet supper was from 5:00 to 6:00, with vocals and guitar accompaniment by Dan Peart, Clinton, IA. He continued between other testimonials.
- Hilary McDearmon spoke about her mother, who resides in the Memory Care unit. That facility became available in September 2017 after an expansion.
- Resident Paul Chandeyssons spoke of the friendliness and welcome conversation of Morrison community members. He had one complaint about living at Windsor Manor and his subsequent weight gain after decades of keeping trim. “The food is too good!”
S’mores were the summer dessert for all ages, who toasted large, square, marshmallows over cans of Sterno. McDearmon and her children are pictured: Joshua is 10, and Eliana is 7.
Chamber of Commerce Coordinator Meridith Layne sat with Pharmacist Dan Engelkens and daughters: Leela, 5, and Lydia, 2. Jennifer Engelkens is out of view beyond Lydia.
To end the event, Executive Director Neas recognized her five-year staff and presented gift bags to
- Kim Straight, Business Office Manager
- Angie Strobbe, Activities Director
- Malinda Schmitt, Nurse
- Tracy Neas, Cook
- Shelby Engdaldo, Nurse.