Ronica Pangilinan | The Cliffs at Eagle Rock

Ronica Pangilinan

February 10, 2021

Christine Drappi

I think so often of all of you good people who cared for my mother, Inez Walsh.

I am grateful for the memories of her making the staff and especially her personal caretakers laugh. It has been a heartbreaking year and it will take a long time to grieve our loss as I know it will for so many others. I hope each and every caring soul at The Cliffs knows how important their work is to residents and families, alike. I regret that Mom was not able to have the chance to be fully acclimated to her lifestyle there – she would have been an asset to The Cliff’s community.

Thank you, All, for your dedicated, caring and loving gifts of service to our most precious elderly! With hope for your good health, well-being, and for a year ahead of joy and peace and love.

With sincere gratitude,

C. Drappi

Ronica Pangilinan

November 10, 2017

Life at The Cliffs

The Cliffs residents have certainly kept busy during the past year. Besides the daily activities put in place, several groups and clubs were established by our residents. First is The Cliffs Choral Group led by Faith Longstreet and Charlotte Crosswell. The Choral Group has performed several times for our residents and guests. Some of their performances were during last year’s Veteran’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day.

The group also led a special performance for the Board of Directors during their Annual Meeting in June 2016. Another club that was established last year is the Opera Club—the members meet every Thursday afternoon to enjoy an opera on an HD television with surround sound system in the Private Dining Room. Recently formed is The Cliffs’ very first Science Club. The members meet every Saturday in the Private Dining Room to watch documentaries and have discussions about the most controversial advancement in the field of Science.

Lastly, a group called “After Lunch Bunch” was formed by one of our most beloved volunteer, Nancy Hanna. This intimate group is exclusive to wheelchair-bound residents who meet every other Wednesday in the Country Kitchen where they have discussions about their lives, feelings, families, and events happening in the country.

Ronica Pangilinan

2017 Christmas Concert

Ronica Pangilinan

Thanksgiving Luncheon

Ronica Pangilinan

The Cliffs Volunteers

Esther Cancio

Esther serves as one of the Cliffs’ Board members. Esther started volunteering in 2011, a few months after retiring from being a Registered Nurse. She dedicates time to serve the residents on Tuesdays where she comes to help Dawn and Monica by assisting in activities, or taking residents out for walks during the nicer weather.

Joanne McGhee and Daniel Celmer

Joanne and Dan have been volunteers at the Cliffs for about four years now. This duo spends three days at the Cliffs to help with activities. Joanne often assists Dawn and Monica with activities while Dan’s favorite task is to go to the Haven and mingle with his favorite residents and assist with feeding during lunch time. Dan also loves to talk about current affairs with the residents. On busy days, or during emergencies when the activities department is short-staffed, Joanne helps and conducts activities on the daily schedule.

Nancy Hanna

Nancy’s husband, Jim, resided at The Cliffs for about two years. After her husband passed, Nancy returned to the facility to offer her time and effort to serve the residents whom she had gotten to know and love. She volunteers on Wednesdays and Fridays to assist Charlotte with Marketing and Community Relations tasks. She also started a resident group that meets every Wednesday. Nancy had also taken over Sybil Aronson’s responsibility after her passing.

Sybil Aronson

Volunteer Extraordinaire, 2006-2016

The sadness has only softened slightly as the months have gone by since our volunteer extraordinaire peacefully passed away surrounded by those she loved, right here at the Cliffs. It has been an adjustment to not see Sybil shepharding residents onto the Cliffs bus to visit flower gardens, cathedral concerts, historical house tours and more or spending endless hours researching fun activities to introduce to residents and busily preparing seasonal decorations to enliven their “home”. For over a decade, Sybil’s presence was a welcomed and cherished one to both residents and staff alike. Sybil was introduced to the Cliffs early in 2006 when she brought her sister to live at our newly opened community. Although her sister got to enjoy the Cliffs for only one year before she died, Sybil felt a genuine commitment to contribute to the welfare of all the residents, and she became as close as family to the staff she assisted. Her presence here will always be felt.

Ronica Pangilinan

June 30, 2016

Cliffs Residents Provide Orphanage School In Ethiopia with Their First Individual School Kits!

“You have to understand these children ages 3 to10 years have not even seen a coloring book. Imagine how the will feel when they see the generous school kits from the Cliffs residents!”

Emmebeth, a graduate of the orphanage herself, was in tears as she saw the gift packs ready to be shipped to her home town in Ethiopia. Emmebeth will be bringing them with her on her yearly 5 week journey to give back to the school and orphanage that was her home for so many years.

Residents at the Cliffs took on a goal of raising $300 for the project but raised $426, instead. Enough to cover not only supplies but airline shipping fees as well. Beside coloring books, each kit contained crayons, pencils, pens, notebooks, flip flop sandals, lollipops, sharpeners and erasers.

Ethiopia is on the east coast of Africa and in desperate need of charitable support.

The Cliffs at Eagle Rock is a non-profit Assisted Living & Alzheimer Community in the heart of West Orange. Residents are now walking laps around the Cliffs for the month of July to raise funds to send a child to camp.

Ronica Pangilinan

May 12, 2016

The Cliffs at Eagle Rock Residents Form A ’Capella Chorale

17 of the 20 Cliffs Residents comprising their newly formed A Capella Chorale, debuted at the
Cliffs Good Friday Service, held on site at their historic Chapel. The group sang two numbers: “Amazing Grace”
and “Where You There”. Unfortunately 3 members were not feeling well enough to participate.
A large audience of residents, staff and families expressed delight at the quality of their performance. “I heard them practicing,” said Richard McDonald, HR Director, but they didn’t have a lot of rehearsals. Nevertheless, they were really good and I was very impressed.”

New resident Carrie Howson said with a smile: “Being part of The Cliffs Chorus is a joyful, sharing experience. Singing lets you send your happiest feelings out on the breezes and up to the sun!”
The chorus is scheduled to sing a medley of patriotic songs during the Memorial Day weekend, and then they are scheduled to perform for The Cliffs at Eagle Rock Annual Board Meeting in June.

Ronica Pangilinan

January 21, 2022

Socorro Bumanglag, Director of Nursing

Socorro is equipped with over 26 years of experience in the healthcare industry as a registered nurse and wellness care coordinator, she is a resource of knowledge to our staff and community. Besides being a certified Infection Control Preventionist, she is also Board-Certified in Gerontology, a Geriatric Resource Nurse, and a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant.

Socorro joined The Cliffs team in 2020 as an Infection Control Preventionist and soon assumed the position of Director of Nursing in 2022. Getting to know the residents needs first-hand is what makes her a great Director of Nursing. She likes to be hands-on with the residents and always strives to give them the best quality of care.

Ronica Pangilinan

Marvin Del Rosario, Director of Business Administration & Environmental Services

With close to 15 years of service at The Cliffs, Marvin has been a tremendous asset to The Cliffs. In 2008, Marvin joined The Cliffs team as a bookkeeper. With his diligence and passion for learning, he was soon promoted to Business Office Manager, overseeing the daily operations in the business side of the organization.

As a busy body, Marvin likes to tackle many tasks to break his routine desk work. Throughout the years, he has assisted and worked closely with the former Director of Environmental Services, Mark Rivera. When Mark retired in 2020, he assumed the Directorial position for the Environmental Services department. Marvin’s academic background in Engineering and experience in I.T. fuels his problem-solving attitude. That mindset along with his passion for learning ways to improve the facility sets a standard that makes The Cliffs a safe and comfortable home for the residents. “The Cliffs isn’t just a workplace; it is my second home.”

Ronica Pangilinan

Monica Brooks, Activities Director

The Cliffs resident social life is busy and colorful. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Monica, who draws out the monthly activities’ calendars of the Assisted Living and Haven side of The Cliffs. Each activity is carefully and thoughtfully planned out to cater to residents’ needs and wants. Monica enjoys providing fun, stimulating, and educational activities to residents to promote physical and brain health.

Monica’s journey began in 2003, when her grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It was then that she took a step to gain a better perspective on dementia. Her initiative to learn led to taking courses about dementia, which ignited her passion. Throughout her 25 years of experience in LTC, 17 of those at The Cliffs, Monica became a member of the Alzheimer’s Association Advocacy and holds a certification in the following areas: Certified Dementia Care Practitioner, Certified Dementia Advanced Care Practitioner, and Certified MEPAP for Activity Professionals. Monica also completed training in Behaviors in LTC and Master Training Teamsteps. Monica continues to educate herself with modern ways on how to cater to our residents needs through Activities Professionals Continuing Education. For Monica, her work at The Cliffs is fueled by her love for the residents and is shown through her ways of creating a therapeutic environment for them. As she put it, “The Cliffs is my home, and the residents are my family.”