Living Center staff: Our greatest asset

The Living Center is blessed with dedicated, compassionate staff members. Read about a few of our longtime employees.

Missy Bickett came in 1993 out of high school to work in the dietary department under the supervision of Eileen Kersgieter SL. In her early career, Missy also worked in the hospital in Lebanon, Ky., which led her to get her nursing degree and finally a registered nurse license. Missy does the complicated paperwork required for Medicare and Medicaid payments. She said, “I have always liked working here. The Sisters have been supportive and caring through my years here. We work in a family atmosphere. We care about our residents and each other. We have always had a full house with a long waiting list. When employees leave, they often come back because it’s just a good place to work.”

Donna Fogle came up the Motherhouse hill when she was 12 years old proudly wearing her candy-striper pinafore. She gained much experience interacting with the residents by running errands, pushing wheelchairs, etc. She was hired at 14 by Marie Lourde Steckler SL as a nurse aide. Kay Carlew SL saw potential in Donna and offered to tutor her in geometry, which helped her become a licensed practical nurse. Donna left the facility at one point and returned after 10 years to finally advance to her present position as quality care coordinator. In this position, Donna assists the director of nursing with ensuring high standards of resident care by coordinating and optimizing healthcare services and implementing quality improvement initiatives to enhance positive outcomes. She has been with us through many easy and challenging times for 31 years.

PJ Mattingly came to the Center 45 years ago, the same year as her brother, Motherhouse Maintenance Director Steve Gootee. She was hired by then-administrator Rose Alma Schuler SL. PJ started in the kitchen and eventually became assistant manager and for many years, manager. She gradually ended up on the clinical side of the facility and edged toward her present position on the dietary staff. In this role, she is responsible for assessing the nutritional needs of residents and providing a plan of care to meet those needs while respecting resident preferences. Coming to work here, PJ says, has been an important and enjoyable part of her life. She likes the short distance to work and her schedule of three days one week and four days the next.

It’s impossible to mention something about all the days these three women spend with us, but no matter what else is going on in their lives, when they arrive here, we are blessed by their faithful, cheerful, caring presence.

The staff here are very kind and always willing to help out with whatever I need.

Maureen Fiedler SL

I love it here! I am very happy with the staff. They are very caring.

Joy Jensen SL, Loretto Living Center resident

Read an interesting in-depth history of the Infirmary/Living Center by Anndavid Naeger SL here.

To read all of the articles in the fall 2025 issue click here.