Neighbor News
Peace Village named a Fortune Top 40 Senior Living Community
Employees credit management and coworkers' sense of family and shared goal
- Peace Village in Palos Park is pleased to announce it has been named A Top 40 Senior Living Community by Fortune Magazine. Said Linda Beushausen, CEO at Peace Village, “Our employees are amazing and I couldn’t be more proud of the work each and every one of them do to make a difference in the lives of our residents, families, and other employees.”
The Village won 18th place in the nationwide comparison, and Village employees are quick to give credit to their co-workers, management and to the residents themselves.
Dominic Turturillo has been the Building System Specialist since March 2016. “I wanted to a position that was more than just a job. I wanted a real mission. While my job entails anything building related - HVAC, plumbing, electrical, soldering - it’s much more. It’s like taking care of 300 homes all under one roof. My supervisors respect my knowledge and know I will get things done. The camaraderie is great and everyone is approachable. We are all working together here for one goal, to take great care of our residents.”
Turturillo enjoys the annual picnic, looking forward to being in the dunk tank this summer. Working at Peace Village has also given him a different perspective on growing older because the residents have been a powerful example of positive, active aging.
Janee Sanders began working at Peace Village as a Certified Nursing Assistant in August 2011. “My sister worked here and absolutely loved it. Peace was my first job as a CNA, and while I knew being a CNA was not the end of my journey, working here made me realize how much I wanted to become a nurse, and how important being the first line of care really is. I care very much about the residents and their families. Working here has become very personal for me, especially as the residents care about me.”
Sanders became close friends with coworkers, socializing outside of working hours. It’s now bittersweet, as she left Peace Village in early November to take a nursing position after graduating from Chicago State University. “The flexible schedule they allowed enabled me to work here, go to school and still have health care benefits. Everyone gets along, everyone is ready to help each other; staff, residents and management. This is the best place to work.”
Haley Pconka agrees. Pconka began working as a server in the dining rooms in March 2016 while in high school. She is now a companion, pursing her nursing degree. “I planned to become a neonatal nurse, but I’ve since changed to geriatrics. The residents are so appreciative and thankful for my help. I look forward to seeing them and they look forward to seeing me. We brighten each others’ days.”
Her coworkers are influential to Pconka. “We are like family, we are always growing together, we are a team. There is always positive feedback and management is willing to adjust to determine how we can work best.”
For Tayshaun Williams, Peace Village is a vital force in her life. In 2008, after the death of her young son, she says, “I lost my passion for life.”
She became a CNA at the urging of her late son’s medical caregivers, but it wasn’t until September 2016 when she began working for Peace Village that she began to regain joy.
“I was taken aback by how beautiful it is here, how clean, and how every person was friendly and just sweet as pie.There is no drama here, everyone is truly family.” Her son Nairee began working at Peace Village as a server. When Williams’ mother passed away last winter, residents, staff and especially supervisor Joan Bertucci, gave her unconditional support. “I depended on these people to get me through and they did. They got me through.”
“The love they give is awesome,” Williams says. “They changed me as woman. I’m a single mom and when someone compliments me about my son, tells me he’s going to be President some day, it’s just heartwarming. Peace Village changed my life.”
