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The Castle Town Center is an impressive hub for active and engaging community life at Wesley Willows. The 37,000 square foot building houses hundreds of spacious and modern apartment homes and offers a variety of luxurious amenities and comfortable gathering spaces.
But what makes it a truly special place is the people who live and work there. One of those people recently received special recognition for all she does to make Wesley Willows an extraordinary place.
As one of the Guest Services Coordinators at the Castle Town Center, Brend Ratze is often the first face visitors see when entering the building. They are immediately put at ease by the warmth, kindness, and compassion she displays in her sincere desire to serve them well.
These qualities make Brenda a fitting recipient of the Golden Cross Award, which is given each year by the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church, through its Older Adult Ministries. The award recognizes outstanding community caregivers for their compassion, dedication, and exceptional service to older adults.
Representatives from the UMC Northern Illinois Conference presented Brenda with the award during a special ceremony at the Castle Town Center on October 17, 2026. Brenda was one of two recipients, along with Doretha Payton from Oak Crest Retirement Center in DeKalb, IL.
What makes Brenda such a worthy recipient of this award? We asked the Wesley Willows community, and they had many glowing remarks:
“Brenda performs so many essential functions in her role as Guest Services Coordinator at the Castle Town Center,” said Frances Salinas, President & CEO of Wesley Willows. “But what impresses me most about her is her humility and compassion for our residents. She’s always ready to lend a helping hand and a listening ear when someone has a problem or is having a bad day.”
Executive Director Jessica Story had this to add: “Brenda is also someone people count on. Residents and coworkers know they can turn to her to find out what is happening, get things organized, and help them find the answers they need. Her consistency and dependability build trust and help keep our community connected.”
Resident Philip Meyers echoed that sentiment: “As perhaps the first Wesley Willows employee a visitor meets, she reflects the care and professionalism of the campus staff. With residents, she is caring and giving of her time. Her cheerful attitude contributes much to residents and visitors having a pleasant day."
“Brenda is an outstanding employee who demonstrates dedication, kindness, and a strong work ethic in everything she does,” said Holly Brigg-Finn, Director of Hospitality. “She is truly a blessing to the team, and her positive attitude and willingness to go above and beyond reflect God’s love and grace. May God continue to bless her efforts and reward her for the difference she makes each day.”
Clearly, the Wesley Willows community agrees that this is a well-deserved recognition, but what does the award recipient think of all this? We sat down with Brenda to get her thoughts on the Golden Cross Award and what inspires her to provide extraordinary care every day. You can read the full interview below:
Wesley Willows: The Golden Cross Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates exceptional service, compassion, dedication, and care for older adults. How does it feel to be nominated for this award?
Brenda Ratze: I am very grateful and surprised but mostly humbled. There are so many people here who do so much for our residents, and to be included in that group and recognized with this nomination is humbling. I appreciate the opportunity to represent Wesley Willows by accepting this award. I’m not sure I deserve it, but I am thankful.
WW: What do you most enjoy about serving residents every day at Wesley Willows?
BR: I love people and enjoy being able to help residents with whatever they need, whether it’s a little thing or a big thing. Sometimes all they need is someone to check in and say, “How are you today?” I love the opportunity to be that listening ear and the one who can offer a word of encouragement when that’s what someone needs to hear. I’m grateful to be able to spread a little sunshine into their lives every day.
WW: Which parts of your job do you find most meaningful and why?
BR: I appreciate the opportunity to be a listening ear. We have residents that have either no family or no family near them, and so it means a lot to me to be able to be here for them. Hopefully, it means alot to them, too. I think most of them feel comfortable coming to me and sharing about their lives and their day. They know that sometimes I can’t help with their problems, but I will listen and do what I can for them. We all need someone who will truly listen to us.
WW: What fuels your compassion for the people you serve?
BR: I feel the drive to make a difference. I have always believed in being kind to people and brightening their day a little bit. It’s not about me; I’m here to serve. I want to serve people and help them in any way that I can.
WW: What in your opinion makes Wesley Willows such an extraordinary senior living community?
BR: I think we have an extraordinary community because of the staff. I am especially impressed by the staff who work frequently with the residents in departments like Dining, Maintenance, Housekeeping, Guest Services,and Transportation. I see them work with the residents, and they do a phenomenal job and express such genuine affection for the residents they serve.
We also have great residents. There are some amazing people here on campus. The life stories they share are incredible. I love to ask them about what they did for work and their families. I never get tired of hearing stories from their past.
It’s neat how we have so many different age groups represented here—from the teenagers that work in dining to residents over 100 years old. Seeing those generations interact in meaningful ways is a beautiful thing.
I am also impressed by the variety of ways for residents to stay engaged in our community. Residents can be as busy as they want to be with exercise classes, brain health programs, concerts, various interest clubs, transportation to off-campus events, and so much more!
Brenda Ratze exemplifies many of the core values that we encourage every staff member to live out each day at Wesley Willows. She serves residents with integrity, accountability, and their safety and security as a top concern. She understands that excellent care goes beyond providing services; rather, it is about fostering meaningful relationships to let each resident know they are a valued and respected member of the Wesley Willows family.
We want to congratulate Brenda on this well-deserved honor and thank her for all she does for our extraordinary community.
