St. Patrick’s Home Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, located on Van Cortlandt Park South in Norwood, has fifteen veteran residents and all were honored this year by way of a number of celebratory events held at the 264-bed, skilled nursing facility to mark Veterans Day.

 

One veteran who stood out is the facility’s only female veteran resident, 71-year-old Beverly Bowne. Bowne served in the U.S. Army from 1975 to 1978 and was a telecommunication specialist assigned to Heidelberg, Germany. According to St. Patrick’s Home representatives, Bowne had a very important duty, working as a communication specialist with the U.S. Army Special Forces between the United States and Europe. (We inquired about Bowne’s rank and she said she had no specific rank.)

 

Born and raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, Bowne is one of four children to her parents, Joan and George Bowne. She attended Arlington High School in the Duchess County town of La Grangeville, New York. The army veteran said she loves her nieces and nephews. She did not marry, and does not have children.

 

“Everyone just loves Beverly,” said Janet Kibassa, long-time recreation director at St. Patrick’s Home. “She is someone we all have to admire, and how Beverly thinks about, and encourages bravery in today’s youth, is priceless,” Kibassa said.

 

After her years of service, Bowne worked at the Public Affairs Committee for two years, and later at Century Direct as a billing coordinator for 28 years, a job she truly enjoyed. Although the 2009 recession was a tough time for Bowne, when she lost her job, she followed her heart and volunteered at the VA hospital for four years as a eucharistic minister. Bowne did not return to the public workforce and, instead, acted as caregiver to her elderly mother before her sad passing in 2016.

 

Today, the army vet hopes her legacy will be to inspire other young girls who aspire to serve in the armed forces.

 

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed to Norwood News, further to our recent inquiries, that Centers Health Care, located at 4770 White Plains Road in the Wakefield section of The Bronx, has taken over the management of St. Patrick’s Home.

 

Asked about the impact of the takeover on St. Patrick’s, Jeffrey Jacomowitz, director of corporate communications at Centers Health Care, said no official press release was shared regarding the announcement of the takeover, which became effective Nov. 1, 2022, and that it was “Business as usual at St. Patrick’s Home.” Jacomowitz added, “Many staff personnel feel good to be part of a large, post-acute care network.”