Sacred Heart Home Fund

Donor Fund Story:

Provena Sacred Heart Home, in the small rural community of Avilla, Indiana, has been where the heart is for more than a century. The story that led up to establishing the Sacred Heart Home began when Father Dominic Duehmig, pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Parish and Bishop of the Fort Wayne Diocese, placed an ad in a German newspaper that Sisters of the Sacred Heart could relocate to Avilla.

There was most certainly a connection, not a coincidence. Father Duemig was originally from Baden in Germany’s Black Forest. The sisters were from Baden as well. They were under the throes of religious persecution. The Grand Duke of Karlsruhe felt the Sisters were merely a nuisance. Half of the congregation responded to the invitation and set sail for America, arriving in New York in May 1876 and made their way to Indiana. The Sisters purchased the Thomas Storey farm in Avilla for $12,000 and took possession of their new home on the Feast of Corpus Christi.

It wasn’t long before Father Duehmig offered the Holy Sacrifice in a new little chapel. A section of the old farmhouse was used to care for the elderly and was the beginning of Sacred Heart Home. The first “Old People’s Home” opened in January 1896 and the Sisters were embarking upon a new field of endeavor, “the care of the aged.” Ironically, the very first residents were Mr. and Mrs. Storey. The Sacred Heart Home as we know it, opened on 75 beautiful, peaceful acres on North Main Street in 1978, more than 100 years after the Sisters arrived in America.

Fast forward with us to this new century!

Provena Sacred Heart Home today is a Continuum of Care Community, providing our residents a smooth transition through the different levels of care needed as we age. Specialized care, skilled nursing care, independent living in patio homes, assisted living, and long-term care for the aged are all offered right here on the Avilla campus. An Alzheimer’s wing was established in 1990 and skilled nursing care was incorporated in
1995.

Most recently, April 2011, private Medicare Suites were built on for short term rehab stays. Sacred Heart Home is an integral part of Presence Health, a family of Catholic, non-for profit, health care services providing advanced medical care and exceptional service with compassion and hope. With locations in Chicago and its collar counties, as well as in East Central Illinois, encompassing 12 hospitals, 27 long term care and senior residential facilities, numerous outpatient services, hospice, private duty and comprehensive Behavioral Health services. Sacred Heart Home is well respected for its responsiveness to community needs, quality, value and innovation. Presence Health is sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, the Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary, the Sisters of the Holy Family, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and the Sisters of the Resurrection. Visit www.provenaresurrection.org to learn more. Despite this ever-changing world ~ some things never change. The caring, compassionate feeling that has always permeated Sacred Heart Home is still present today. Everywhere you turn; Independent living, Assisted living, Medicare suites, Memory care units.

Provena Sacred Heart Home has two funds at the foundation, which were established in October of 1996. The purpose for these funds is to assist with the purchase of special resident care needs.