A Lifetime at Waverly Health Center: Kay Greeley’s Story
At 87, Kay Greeley’s life is deeply connected to the story of Waverly Health Center (WHC) itself. Her connection stretches back to the 1960s, when Waverly Health Center was St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. The halls were filled with habits and the stern but compassionate guidance of the hospital’s nuns. Among them was Sister Imelda, who stood just 4’8” tall but had a presence that was larger than life. With the spirit of a drill sergeant and the heart of a caretaker, Sister Imelda left a lasting mark on Kay, teaching her to how to fold the perfect four-cornered bed sheet.
Kay spent many years working in the Birthing Center, where she witnessed the full circle of life. From the joy of welcoming new babies to the quiet sorrow of saying goodbye to those who didn’t get to stay.
Kay Greeley, 87, shares a smile as she reflects on her lifelong journey with the hospital—as a mother, employee, volunteer and patient.
A Sister leads the groundbreaking ceremony for the new St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in 1963, symbolizing faith, dedication, and a commitment to compassionate care.
For Kay, those memories are personal, too. In fact, she delivered four children at WHC. But there was also one more. A baby she lost too soon. Through the decades, WHC has been both Kay’s workplace and her place of healing. She’s seen everything change: the building, the technology, the specialties — all growing into something much bigger than the hospital she first knew. But one thing hasn’t changed — the care.
Most recently, Kay returned to WHC following a fall. On her way to get her haircut, she took a different route than usual, slipped, bumped her head and hurt her hip. Kindhearted workers were there to help her, calling for an ambulance and waiting with her until help arrived. WHC paramedic Dave Wedeking rode with her to the hospital, keeping her mind off her injury with friendly conversation and compassionate care.
Despite a busy operating schedule, the surgery team was able to perform her partial hip surgery with skilled hands and compassionate care. Her stay, Kay says with a smile, felt almost like a resort.
“Everyone has been so kind, so helpful, so wonderful,” she said. “In all my life, I’ve never been able to take a pill, but Michael, my nurse, took the time to break the pills into applesauce, held my hand and helped me through it.”
Kay’s story is not just a patient experience, it’s a living history of Waverly Health Center itself. From working for the hospital in the early days to her days of volunteering to trusting that same kindness and care in her own times of need — WHC has been more than a hospital to Kay. It’s been a second home, a place of both loss and life and a constant companion through her journey.
And through it all, Kay says, the heart of WHC — its people — remains the same. The quality and compassion that first welcomed her all those years ago continues to shine today, making WHC not just a hospital, but a place where care truly feels like family.
St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, 1960s