Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Garvey Manor administrator Sister Joachim Anne Ferenchak has a conversation with Barb Beers of Coalport, who has worked at the facility for 49 years.

Some people come into your life for a season, and some come for a lifetime.

For Barbara “Barb” Beers, who recently celebrated 49 years of service as a certified nurses aide at Garvey Manor Nursing Home in Hollidaysburg, it is decidedly the latter.

Beers, now 69, began her time at Garvey Manor on May 16, 1973, following in the footsteps of her mother, Darlene, who had worked there as a CNA for nearly 25 years before her retirement.

“When I was young, I helped take care of my grandfather,” Beers said, “so I just got into it.”

As a CNA, Beers helps residents meet their daily mobility, nutrition and grooming needs.

Rain or shine, she makes the drive down the mountain from her home in Coalport, only stopping when inclement weather makes the trip untenable.

“I stay with the nuns when I can’t make it home; so I stay with them maybe once or twice a winter,” she said. “They treat you wonderfully when you stay there.”

Over her tenure at Garvey Manor, Beers has seen countless residents and staff come and go, and even witnessed the construction of the $3 million Our Lady of the Alleghenies residence in 2003, the largest expansion of the facility to date.

Beers said she’s seen a change in the health of the residents moving to the home.

Years ago, people moving in didn’t need a lot of care, she said. “They’re worse off now coming in than they used to, they … didn’t need much care, and now they do.”

Despite the uptick in patient needs over time, Beers has maintained her positive mindset.

“It’s a good place to work and the nuns are wonderful. They treat me like gold,” Beers said.

After working full time for nearly 47 years, Beers made the switch to part time, in order to spend more time with her family and save on the rising price of gas for her long commute.

“I’d like to make it to 50 years; that’s my goal if my health holds up,” Beers said.

Once she retires, Beers said she plans to spend even more time with her older sister, Judy Longo, daughter, Tammy Beers, and granddaughter, Cierra Beers, at her home in Coalport.

Her sister, Judy, two years her senior, lives right next door, and the pair will often pass the time chatting on her porch, or taking shopping trips. Beers always looks forward to visits from her younger sister, Linda, when the three sisters can go out to dinner.

“I try to spend as much time with them as I can, since we’re all getting up there in age,” Beers said, “they’re my life — I’d be lost without them.”

Garvey Manor is a nonprofit Catholic institution sponsored by the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown and the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, and Beers works alongside the Carmelite Sisters day in and day out.

“I had this one nun I really liked. Her name was Sister Grace. She would always say to me, ‘hmmm, you made it down the mountain, and these people who live in Altoona can’t make it’ (into work everyday). I just looked up to her,” Beers said.

Sister Joachim has worked with Beers since she began as the administrator of Garvey Manor 25 years ago.

“When I first got here, she had already been working here for around 20 years, and I thought that’s certainly very dedicated,” Sister Joachim said.

And although she is a very quiet person, Sister Joachim said Beers made an impression on her right from the start with her commitment and integrity.

“It struck me because you never hear anything out of her that isn’t kind … that isn’t positive, and so Barbara has been a marvelous person to work with for all these years,” Sister Joachim said.

According to Sister Joachim, Beers’ mentality has been an example for her coworkers.

“Kinder than kindness itself is one of the attributes we like to stress to our staff,” Sister Joachim said, “and I think Barbara can be identified with that value … in how she treats our residents.”

When prospective residents tour Garvey Manor, their impressions of the facility are formed from interactions with current residents and staff, which makes Beers’ warm demeanor all the more important, Sister Joachim said.

“She’s established very positive relationships with the families; One man in particular was so impressed with the care and service she rendered to his mother that he wanted to do something in (Beers’) honor in the building,” Sister Joachim said.

Becky Wilson, the Garvey Manor director of nursing, first met Beers when she started at Garvey Manor as a CNA in 2002.

“Barbs is a great aide, she’s always been very dedicated to her residents and goes above and beyond to meet their needs,” Wilson said. “She’s a team player and a great co-worker.”

According to Wilson, Garvey Manor has been “very blessed” to have someone like Beers on staff for so long, particularly since the turnover rate in health care is so high.

And while Wilson has not been able to see Beers as much recently due to their opposite schedules, she still holds her in high regard.

“I don’t see her a lot, but I know she’s well-liked by all, gets along well with her co-workers and her residents all love her,” Wilson said. “Anyone would be lucky to be cared for by her.”

Conner Goetz is a Mirror news intern.