Riverview celebrates 25 years in East Peoria

A community within the city of East Peoria is celebrating its 25th anniversary with special events planned throughout the year. What sets this community apart from many others is that it is all located inside a building that looms over Centennial Drive.

Riverview Senior Living Community embodies the word community by offering residents much more than a place to call home. An on-site physician, beauty salon and barber shop, library, general store, personal banking facilities and six-days-a-week transportation make up only a handful of the community’s amenities. 

“We are a fully functioning senior living community,” said director Jessica Schmidgall. “People come here that may not know anybody in the facility, but they immediately feel that they are part of the community.”

Daily activities offered include cookouts, cocktail hour, music programs, sporting events, performing arts, museum trips and bingo.

Riverview residents have their choice of living in a 380-square-foot studio apartment, a 530-square-foot one-bedroom apartment, a 750-square-foot two-bedroom apartment or a 910-square-foot two-bedroom suite.

Each apartment has a bathroom, kitchen with full-sized appliances, temperature control, full-sized water heater, emergency call system, carpeting and window treatments.

Schmidgall said that events are being held throughout the year to celebrate the anniversary.

An open house and St. Patrick’s Day party was in March. Schmidgall said the celebration included a full Irish meal, Irish beer, other drinks and entertainment.

To celebrate the retirement community’s anniversary and its new collaboration with the Morton Chamber of Commerce, a ribbon cutting is scheduled for May 19.

On May 23, the Central Illinois Cruisers will have a cruise-in at Riverview to show off their cars and mingle with the residents.

Another open house is being planned for September, which the public will be invited to, Schmidgall said.
Sadie Jane Huffman moved to Riverview in 1990.

Originally from Mexia, Texas, Huffman taught for 25 years at Peoria’s Harrison Primary School. After she retired, she participated in a two-year residency at Methodist to become certified as a chaplain.

She was a volunteer chaplain for 17 years.

She said some of her favorite aspects of living at Riverview include the worship service, Wheel of Fortune, and, of course, the dining room.

“It’s always better when somebody else does the cooking for you, and the cleaning up,” Huffman said.
Huffman said she also enjoys Bible studies and watching the sunset from a sixth- floor window with her friends at Riverview.

“I can see the sun rise from my apartment,” she added.

During her 20 years as a resident at Riverview, Huffman said things have changed, but the building and the residents have been very well cared for.

Nadine Wilkey has called Riverview home for five years.

“There isn’t anything I don’t like about Riverview,” Wilkey said. “The people here are the greatest. I’m glad to be here.”

Wilkey said her family and friends know not to call between 6:30 and 7 p.m. when she watches her favorite television show, Wheel of Fortune. Her daughter, Tomi, calls each night from Houston, Texas, after the show airs.

“When Tomi calls, first we figure out if we both got the puzzles, then we talk business, then we talk pleasure,” Wilkey said.

Wilkey grew up in St. Louis and moved to Peoria in 1936. She worked at Bergner’s for 30 years.

Her favorite activities can be done in the comfort of her very well-decorated studio apartment.

“I love to read. I love to sleep. I love the music, but sometimes the music is a little late for me,” she said.

Wilkey, a St. Louis Cardinal’s fan, said she enjoys watching the baseball games, as long as they do not interfere with her sleep schedule.

She said Riverview’s activities department is “exceptional” and had nothing but good things to say about the staff and fellow residents.

“Everyone here is so nice,” Wilkey said. “It’s a privilege to be here.”