Come find us at the Farmers Markets across the city and suburbs! Gabe had his first day working at Daley Plaza Farmers Market. Congrats Gabe! Beautiful day to be outside!
SOAR (Streeterville) - Tuesdays 7 am-2 pm until 11/4
Andersonville - Wednesdays 3 pm-7 pm until 10/21
Daley - Thursdays 7 am-2 pm until 10/22
Evanston - Saturdays 7:30 am-1 pm until 10/24
Tinley - Saturdays 8 am-12:30 pm until 10/24
Beverly - Sundays (every other week); 8/23 is the next one, until it ends 10/25
The Misericordia Family Association communicates with Misericordia families predominantly via email. Maintaining good email etiquette and security is an important part of this process. Phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending emails or other messages purporting to be from friends, family, or reputable companies or organizations to induce individuals to reveal personal information.
The 2026 Benefit Book was mailed to donors of $300 or more approximately 10 days before the Benefit. Due to unexplained delays by the US Postal Service, some donors have not yet received their book.
As we continue to investigate, you may pick up a copy at Thome Reception and/or click here for a digital copy.
If you have any questions, please email Patty Ramirez at
We've added a new feature to the mfa-sibs.org website, the FAQ / Guides menu item (in the menu bar at the top of the Home page after logging in). It provides useful information that answers many frequently asked questions and how-to guides. Topics include - How do I get my contact information updated? Websites. How do I find the donations made to my family’s MFA number? How do I receive Mis Biz and other informative emails from the MFA? Google Meet issues. Click on the drop down arrow next to FAQ / Guides to find the topics covered.
You must be logged in first to view this part of the website. If you don't already have an account, go to mfa-sibs.org and click on New Member Registration to register. A reminder that login accounts are allowed for MFA guardians only.
You are invited to the MFA Benefit Virtual Afterparty! Thank you to those who worked so hard, and those who generously gave their support to make this year's Benefit exciting, fun & vitally supportive of Misericordia!
Click here -> Virtual After-Party to join the party!
Social Services would like to follow up with a reminder that we are still collecting information on outside dentists who can work with the special needs population. The Misericordia Dental Clinic can currently accommodate only one annual cleaning for current residents, and there is a waiting list for all new admissions this year. If you work with a dentist you trust, who serves your family member well, we would greatly appreciate it if you could share that information with Social Services. We can then provide referrals to Misericordia families who need additional dental visits for their loved ones.
Please include the following details:
Please send information to Bobby Vanecko, Social Service Coordinator for the Marian Center, at
Campus Connections is a monthly publication for Misericordia Staff. BUT, it’s chock-full of features of interest to our families: meet the staff, see our new residents, and learn about the great things happening behind the scenes at Mis! Click here to read the June 2026 edition. Past editions can be found under the Campus Connections dropdown of the Misericordia Menu Item.
by Barb Quaintance
On the South Side of Chicago, Leonard and Helen Wolniak ran a funeral home that had been in the family since 1922. They also raised five daughters, Nancy, Laura, Janet, Christina, and Karen. Born in the 1950s and ‘60s, three of the girls—Laura, Christina, and Karen—had a rare genetic condition, PKU, that wasn’t properly diagnosed or adequately treated until many years later. Today, babies are routinely tested for PKU, and with a specialized diet, they develop normally. Nancy and Janet were always very involved in their lives and became legal guardians after the death of their parents.
Laura, Christina (lovingly called Tinka), and Karen have cognitive disabilities as well as varying degrees of physical impairment. When their parents could no longer care for their three daughters at home, the parents moved their daughters into a CILA group home through St. Colette’s of Illinois in Mokena; they lived there for 25 years. They attended a sheltered workshop in Tinley Park. The family was well aware of Misericordia, as Janet Wolniak Bender worked at Misericordia South for twenty-five years, starting as a music therapist and eventually becoming Director of Misericordia South. Nancy Wolniak Cook, who had a degree in special education, helped with the family business and became a licensed director/embalmer. Nancy was also familiar with Misericordia, as Wolniak Funeral Home provided some funeral services for Misericordia residents.
Misericordia is home to a beautiful 37-acre campus—one that is meant to be enjoyed, appreciated, and celebrated. Click the link below for the latest edition of our Misericordia Gardens Tour Guide, which highlights the many gardens and green spaces across campus that are cared for by residents, staff, families, and volunteers.
These gardens are more than just beautiful spaces. They serve as meaningful learning and vocational opportunities for many of our residents. Through horticulture activities such as planting seeds, watering plants, maintaining gardens, harvesting vegetables, arranging flowers, and caring for greenhouse plants, residents develop vocational, social, and life skills while contributing to the beauty of our community.
by Barb Quaintance
During the Aging With Grace webinars, staff from a variety of disciplines—Speech, OT, PT, Behavior, Nutrition, etc., shared what they look for as residents age. It raised the question: Is anyone taking a holistic look at the residents’ functional changes? It’s Misericordia, so, of course, the answer was Yes.
Chris Hegg Krackenberger, VP of Residential Services, explained that residents are routinely assessed at “functional change” meetings. These are interdisciplinary meetings when staff take a look at behavioral, physical, or functional changes that they observe in a resident. Some residential areas, such as McAuley and Marian Center, hold these meetings monthly. Other residential areas do them on a quarterly or as-needed basis. For example, if a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (Q) notices that a resident is not functioning as they have in the past or is exhibiting new behaviors, the Q will request a meeting to gather input from behavioral and physical therapies, DT/CDS, etc. The group shares what they see to determine a plan of action. This may include medical follow-up as well as strategies to help the resident cope and adapt to the changes they’re experiencing.
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