New assisted living opens at Deery Suites
Stanard Family legacy now honored on south campus
The first residents have moved into Western Home Communities’ newest assisted living community on the first floor of Deery Suites.
“We anticipate this will be full of people who are thriving as they age,” explained Jerry Harris, president of Cedar Falls operations.
At a dedication ceremony on June 16, Harris called it a thrill to announce the name: Stanard Family Assisted Living at Deery Suites.
The moniker was first bestowed on Western Home Communities’ original building downtown in December 2000, which stayed in use as an assisted living community until Oct. 2021 when staffing concerns caused by the pandemic brought about a consolidation with Windhaven Assisted Living.
Dave and Judy Stanard had made a generous gift in honor of his parents, Clair and Verona, who raised two sons at 12th and State Streets near the downtown campus. Clair served as principal of Cedar Falls High School from 1938- 1970. Verona was an original resident of Willowwood when it first opened in 1989 and lived there for 10 years.
“One of the reasons we got involved back in 2000 was that, after having been around Western Home for so many years, I came to realize that this is a place where people should be giving their money,” Dave said. “We hoped that our gift would spread the word that this is a legitimate place for people to support.”
Harris credits Stanard for encouraging the organization to expand the foundation and pursue more philanthropic support.
“It’s an important legacy you are continuing to leave through your heart and passion for this place,” Chaplain Enrique “Q” Ochoa told Dave and Judy during the dedication.
The Stanards returned to Cedar Falls from their Arizona home for the first time in five years and invited long-time family friends to join them for the celebration. Present in spirit were his brother, Jim, and sister-in-law Nancy, who moved into a villa in 2010; Jim died in 2015 and Nancy in 2020.
“Life is very precious,” Dave reflected, “and family is one of the greatest comforts.”
The Stanards posed with long-time family friends who were invited to the dedication.
