ROCKFORD—The independent senior living facility Siena on Brendenwood will seamlessly change ownership in January. The pending sale was announced at the facility  Dec. 12.

The retirement community located at 4444 Brendenwood Road in Rockford near the intersection of Alpine and Highcrest Roads has been owned by the Catholic Diocese of Rockford since 1993.

The diocese is selling the facility to Rockford-based First Midwest Group, a real estate and property management company.

Owner Sunil Puri first worked at a local senior living facility in the early 1980s when he arrived from India and attended Rockford College.

“I believe in caring for seniors with dignity and respect,” Puri said.  “It’s a wonderful facility with employees who have a passion for caring for each senior resident as if he or she was a family member of their own.”  

Puri has had family members live at Siena and has employees whose family members currently live there.  

“We have thoroughly enjoyed growing Siena on Brendenwood to a thriving senior community for more than 20 years,” said Penny Wiegert,  diocesan director of Communications.

“Our mission as a diocese, however, is one of ministry and to be good stewards of the lives and dollars of those we serve. At this point in time, our strategic level of expertise in managing senior living facilities has reached its cap, and we need to transition to management that will be able to continue to best serve Siena’s residents today and into the future,” she explained.

Wiegert said it made sense for First Midwest Group to buy Siena on Brendenwood as Puri has long been a supporter of the Rockford Diocese and served for several years on Siena’s volunteer board of directors.

Siena will continue to be a Catholic-friendly residence.

“It was a natural fit,” Wiegert said. “Mr. Puri has long had the best intentions of Siena and its residents at heart.  He and his employees have had family at Siena.  

“His children were raised Catholic and confirmed at nearby Holy Family Church,” she continued. “He has a true passion to help people age in place and has a vision for Siena’s residents to live healthy lives independently at Siena as long as possible. The diocese appreciates that vision and believes it will truly benefit Siena’s residents.”

“The diocese felt the timing was right to sell Siena,” Puri said, “and we both were happy to keep the ownership local rather than have it sold to a national chain where the quality and care is managed from afar.

“I live a half a mile away,” he added, “and intend to remain involved to ensure residents are well cared for and happy.  That’s what the residents deserve.”