Robin Lehner

Robin Lehner

Board Member

“Hello, all you Graceland People!” My name is Robin Lehner and I am retired from working 20 years as a Program Specialist for Sommer Park. Every day was a new adventure.

I want to tell you about my new adventure. Walking into Graceland and seeing their sign “Aging with Vitality” really struck in my mind. I met Christa and later Peggy; two devoted people for seniors for them to serve and provide seniors weekly interesting programs. What Graceland was offering seniors is what drew me to more events.

Well, guess what? I am now teaching low-impact classes. I want to hear people laughing and having fun!

I am so proud to be on the Graceland board. I hope to bring ideas and help in serving our seniors. By being with the seniors in classes and serving on the board, I think I have more to offer.

Come and join us at Graceland for fun, education, and most of all, meeting other Seniors. Bring a friend. There is always room for more seniors!”

Emma Bailey

Emma Bailey

Board Member

Emma is a Clinical Digital Care Nurse Supervisor at OSF OnCall in downtown Peoria, Illinois. Emma also recruits and enrolls patients with chronic conditions in a remote patient monitoring program using the latest home monitoring technology through a Medicaid Innovative Collaboration.

Emma was a social worker with fifteen years of experience as a foster care case manager, women's counseling/ case manager, open adoption worker, and recruitment/ enrollment/family development preschool program coordinator. Emma has volunteered as an abstinence educator, teen counselor, and Court-appointed Special Advocate.

Emma's first degree was from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. Emma then obtained a degree from Illinois Central College and OSF College of Nursing. Emma is an ICU-trained nurse who worked in the Neuro ICU at OSF and then worked as a lead neurosurgeon's nurse. Emma then returned to the hospital setting as a charge nurse of a medical-surgical inpatient floor and an outpatient with the observational floor. Emma's next step was becoming a case manager in the emergency department before finally landing at OSF OnCall. Emma is a Peoria resident who is a married mother of two daughters, one who is also a married nurse and one who is a seventeen-year-old senior in high school.  Emma is also the proud grandmother of two grandchildren. Emma is passionate about her work in the community and supports the growth and development of all members of society with a special emphasis on the vulnerable and disenfranchised. 

Tom Eertmoed

Tom Eertmoed

Board Member

Tom is actively engaged in the Peoria community as facilities manager at the East Bluff Community Center. Volunteering with several programs, especially the EBCC weekly food pantry, St. Bernard’s Parish and Boy Scouts, keeps him busy. Tom earned his Master of Science in Information Technology and worked at Illinois Central College in Library Services until retirement in 2019. Since retirement, Tom has seen the need for older adults to remain connected to services and other people for their wellbeing and is looking forward to creating a center where this connecting can occur. Tom resides in Peoria with his wife Sue and they are the parents of a son and grandparents to two grandsons.

Peggy Jacques, MS, RN

Peggy Jacques, MS, RN

Founder and Executive Director

Peggy is a Registered Nurse currently working full time at OSF Diabetes and Endocrinology Clinic as a Diabetes Resource Educator. Peggy has her Masters Degree in Community Health Nursing and a certificate in Gerontology Health Care. Peggy has worked in multiple health care settings from intensive care, public health, outpatient clinics, education, and administration. In this current phase of her career, Peggy is determined to establish the Graceland Center as a legacy of health and wellbeing for older adults in the Peoria area. She lives in Peoria with her husband Renaldo and they are the parents of three adult children.

Cindy Johnson

Cindy Johnson

Chairperson

Cindy was born and raised in Peoria, and she is the oldest of three. She graduated from Peoria High School and has worked at one of the local nursing homes. She graduated from ICC with a certificate in Medical Office Assisting, working at Unity Point for 25 plus years. She recently retired from OSF HealthCare where she was a Project Assistant in Nursing Administration. She and her husband have been married for 45 years with two adult children and one grandson. Cindy decided to become a member of Graceland after being a caregiver for your mom in her later years. Aging is part of life and is a process. Having someone to reach out to is comforting and gives you some peace. Cindy enjoys sharing with others what she knows and has learned to help them in their caregiver role. Cindy looks forward to working with the Graceland board and others so we can have purposeful aging.

Felisa Durr

Felisa Durr

Vice Board Chair

Felisa was born and raised in Madison, Alabama, a suburb of Huntsville, AL. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, with a minor in Computer Science at Alabama A & M University (AAMU) and a Master’s in Business Administration from University of Phoenix Online. She is the mother of two successful sons David and Cameron, who are also AAMU graduates. In June 2023, Felisa became the new President/CEO of the Tri-County (Peoria) Urban League.

Felisa has experience with Caterpillar as a Robotics Engineer and Global Purchasing Buyer Manager, served as the Executive Director of the Central Illinois Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CICBVI) and brought national attention to the center as the owner of the original white cane invented in Peoria, IL. She developed multiple programs for the Minority Business Development Center. She enjoys multiple hobbies. Felisa is known for the good work she has been doing in the community for 33 years.

Nancy Bailey

Nancy Bailey

Treasurer

Nancy is a registered nurse who has been an educator at Saint Francis College of Nursing since 1992. Prior to her employment at the College, she worked in public health nursing at Tazewell County Health Department. Her specialty is community health nursing and she has been teaching in this area since her employment at the College. Nancy received a master’s degree from University of Illinois at Chicago in community health nursing and a doctorate of nursing practice from Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing. She has provided preventive nursing care to older adults in the home and educated nursing students on the care of older adults for many years. Nancy has worked to advocate for the prevention of opioid overdoses in the local community by providing education to social service agencies on the administration of Naloxone. She has also been a member of the Peoria Drug Prevention Coalition. Nancy lives in north Peoria.

Christa Staley

Christa Staley

Board Member

People are important to me, especially those who have a need that is not being fulfilled.  As a servant leader in our community I want to join efforts focused on the underserved and make changes that help provide a better tomorrow, more consistency in community, relationships, and activities that are so important for people to grow and thrive and I know that is what Graceland is doing today and will continue to expand in the future, for our seniors in the Peoria area.

I am the Executive Director leading Peoria Midwest Food bank. My leadership skills and experience span over two decades in corporate and non-profit roles and I have over fifteen years of human resource/HRM experience.  My key areas of knowledge are effective and servant leadership, full cycle human resources, and non-profit development (donor relations/fundraising). I hold a bachelor’s degree in business with management focus and a master’s degree in organizational leadership.  I have served in various philanthropic roles since 2001, currently fulfilling volunteer and advisor roles with Multicultural Leadership Institute, Mclean County, IL (served as a board member 2012-2015, & on their recruitment committee- events/interviewing/selection 2013-2023)  previous roles include, volunteering with the following non-profits: Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Central Illinois mentorship of youth 2001-2024 (served as vice chair of their board 2009-2012), Home Sweet Home Ministries (2018-2020), and West Bloomington Revitalization Project (2018-2024).  Additionally, I have served in several volunteer roles at local events supporting Relay for Life and Compassion International.

Originally from Bloomington, IL, my husband, and I moved to a rural area south of Peoria over a decade ago, and find peace and solace from the busyness of life, on our six acres amidst the corn and bean fields of central Illinois, where the skies are a beautiful sight morning, noon, and night.  We have two rescue dogs and a rescue cat who keep life entertaining.  We enjoy any opportunity to travel, and albeit limited in this season of life, we typically find time for an annual trip to a national park in our RV and as a certified yoga instructor I am able to travel teach at international resorts which serve as a little bit of work in turn for a discounted week long vacation, for the two of us, at least once each year.

Laura Rose

Laura Rose

Secretary

Laura Rose is a dedicated healthcare leader with a strong commitment to clinical excellence, operational efficiency, and compassionate patient care. As Director of Nursing at Carle Health she oversees Inpatient Services at Carle Health Pekin Hospital, and Critical Care at Carle Methodist Hospital along with oversight of Nursing Operations. Laura brings a strategic and collaborative approach to managing complex healthcare environments. Laura obtained her Bachelor's degree from Bradley University and continued her education obtaining a Master's degree in Business Administration from Benedictine University. 

With a proven track record of driving quality improvement initiatives, fostering interdisciplinary teamwork, and supporting nursing leadership, Laura plays a pivotal role in aligning clinical operations with organizational goals. She is known for her ability to navigate change, mentor emerging leaders, and champion patient-centered care across diverse teams.

Laura resides in Washington with her husband Michael and are the proud parents of two wonderful children.