WINONA LAKE —  Grace Village Retirement Community is pleased to announce it has received a $20,000 legacy donation from the Lila Mae Sheely Estate. These funds will support the new fitness center that will provide a variety of fitness options for its residents, employees and seniors in the community.

Lila Mae Sheely

Lila Mae Sheely will be remembered for her beautiful giving heart. In life, she gave of herself as a nurse, missionary & teacher. She was also a faithful monthly donor to Grace Village’s Caring Friends Endowment which provides complete care to those residents who run out of resources. She loved the ministry of Grace Village and enjoyed attending the Sunday chapel services there.

Lila’s dear friend Marilyn shared that Lila was eagerly looking forward to the completion of the fitness center so she could exercise there. In fact, her memorial donations were directed to the fitness center’s fund. Marilyn smiled as she talked about how Lila is getting lots of exercise now in heaven!

In honor of Lila’s wishes to support the fitness center, Marilyn wrote a check for the final $20,000 needed to complete the project. Marilyn felt a certain satisfaction as she wrote the check, because she said that Lila was probably watching and saying, “It’s about time you got this done!” She understood Lila’s deep passion for the senior-friendly Fitness Center that would be able to provide a resource for her health and to improve the lives of so many additional seniors in the community.

The construction of the new Fitness center is well under way with hopes to hold a grand opening this fall. A Legacy plaque will be placed in honor of Lila’s generosity.

Grace Village, in the charming town of Winona Lake, is the only not-for-profit continuing care retirement community in Kosciusko County. For your legacy opportunity, call Beth at (574) 372-6162 or visit online at gracevillage.org.