Ditka’s Restaurant honors special lady
This year’s Oak Brook Reason to Hope Chair Maggie Murzanski has been involved with the fundraising luncheon since its inception. Her own mother battled Alzheimer’s before passing away in 2011. Since then, Maggie has become the guardian of another Alzheimer’s sufferer her longtime friend and former neighbor Miss Ginny Croke, 87.
This year’s Oak Brook Reason to Hope Chair Maggie Murzanski has been involved with the fundraising luncheon since its inception. Her own mother battled Alzheimer’s before passing away in 2011. Since then, Maggie has become the guardian of another Alzheimer’s sufferer – her longtime friend and former neighbor Miss Ginny Croke, 87. With the exception of an elderly sister, Miss Ginny does not have immediate family and needed someone to look after her well-being as she faced Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis.
The two women share a warm and genuine friendship. Maggie visits Miss Ginny daily and the women have a standing lunch date at Ditka’s restaurant in Oak Brook. Maggie says Miss Ginny, who she describes as “feisty” and “free-spirited,” has a dedicated table and always looks forward to seeing Chris, her favorite server.
“They’ve taken such a liking to each other. On her birthday, he had a bouquet made up and it was on the table along with a glass of champagne when we got to the restaurant,” Maggie recalled. “Just recently, Miss Ginny made him a Valentine’s Day card and he made her one as well. It was really sweet.”
Chris and his colleagues at Ditka’s go out of their way to make Miss Ginny feel special. For a time the restaurant named a dessert after her and featured Ginny’s Ultimate Banana Split on the menu. A percentage of sales benefit the Alzheimer’s Association and the campaign raised more than $6,000 for the Greater Illinois chapter. A smaller version of the dessert will be served at the association’s 27th annual Chicago Rita Hayworth Gala on May 10 at the Chicago Hilton.
“We are so grateful for Mike Ditka’s restaurant. Tony Ficorilli and his staff have been so supportive of our mission at the Alzheimer’s Association since Day One,” said Sam Provenzano, senior manager of Intermediate and Corporate Giving at the Greater Illinois chapter. “We couldn’t be more grateful.”
http://www.optimumseniorcare.com/services/alzheimerscare.php