If you’ve ever been around in the mornings at Sunnyside, you’ve probably seen Maricela Garcia’s bright smile. Maricela is one of our dedicated morning caregivers and has been part of the Sunnyside family for one year. She is always willing to lend a helping hand and brings a positive attitude to every day.
One of the things Maricela enjoys most about her role is spending time with the residents and learning life lessons from them. She values the wisdom they share and the meaningful connections she builds with them.
Outside of work, Maricela enjoys shopping, listening to music, and going out to eat. Some of her favorite foods include chile rellenos, enchiladas, and shrimp cocktail. She is also a proud dog owner and has two dogs — a French Bulldog and a Bulldog.
If she could travel anywhere in the world, Maricela would love to visit Dubai, and one item on her bucket list is traveling around the world one day.
Something simple that always puts a smile on her face? A good cup of coffee.
When she was a child, Maricela dreamed of becoming a doctor. She says she is inspired by her mom and dad, and their advice has always stayed with her because she knows it comes from love and life experience.
The best advice that has stuck with Maricela over the years is:
“Always move forward and never look back.”
We are grateful to have Maricela as part of the Sunnyside team and appreciate the care and kindness she shows our residents every day.
Resident Spotlight – Ernestine
This month we are proud to feature Ernestine, who has been part of the Sunnyside family for nearly five years. She will celebrate her 5-year anniversary with us this coming August.
Ernestine was born in Turlock, California at the Old Colony Hospital and grew up in Winton, California. She spent many years working for Foster Farms.
One of her favorite memories growing up was attending the Portuguese Festival in Snelling, California, a tradition she remembers fondly.
When asked what advice she would give to younger generations, Ernestine shared:
“Take marriage more seriously. Don’t be so quick to leave — work it out.”
Something that may surprise people is that Ernestine has never flown on an airplane.
One thing that always makes her smile is finishing a new puzzle, something she really enjoys doing.
When asked what she enjoys most about Sunnyside, Ernestine shared that she appreciates the quality of care she receives all around here.
We are so grateful to have Ernestine as part of the Sunnyside community!
Love was in the air at Sunnyside this Valentine’s Day!
Our residents enjoyed decorating and tasting delicious heart-shaped cookies topped with pink frosting and sprinkles. It was a wonderful time filled with smiles, laughter, and a little extra sweetness to celebrate the holiday.
Moments like these remind us that it’s the simple things, sharing treats, spending time together, and celebrating holidays as a community, that make Sunnyside feel like home.
Resident Enjoyment
Our residents have been enjoying some fresh air and time in the garden as we begin preparing for the new growing season. Together, we spent time trimming our plants, pulling weeds, and harvesting some of the vegetables that were ready. This week we were excited to pull out some beautiful beets from the garden beds!
Residents also helped plant new spinach and tomato plants, which we look forward to watching grow over the coming weeks. Gardening is always a special activity because it allows our residents to work with their hands, enjoy the sunshine, and share stories about gardens they once had at home.
