This April, we celebrate the retirement of Chris Isenga after 25+ years of caring service at Grandville Friendship Home, now known as Ivanrest House.
For over 25 years, Chris has faithfully served as the home manager, bringing steady care and com-passion to those who call it home. Her journey began as a weekend relief staff in 1998, and two years later she became the live-in home manager. Since merging with David’s House Ministries in 2022, Chris and residents have gained a larger community of care and support.
Chris shares that the relationships she has built with each resident have been one of the most memorable parts of her job. To her, the home is a family. She is a caregiver at heart and finds joy in meeting the needs of her residents each day. A parent whose son has lived at Ivanrest shared how important Chris has been in their son’s life for many years. She has always appreciated the love, care, and attention Chris has given not only to their son but also to everyone who has lived at the home over the years.
Living alongside the residents has taught Chris patience and perseverance. She has come to value the acceptance of differences and appreciates that each person does things in their own way and at their own pace.
As Chris begins this new chapter of retirement, we celebrate her faithful service and the countless lives she’s touched. Her kindness and dedication will be deeply missed, and we wish her every blessing in the years ahead.