Waterbury Nurse and Catholic Nun Continues 75-Year Legacy of Caring at The Village at East Farms Assisted Living Community
As the saying goes, “Once a nurse, always a nurse.” For people like 95-year-old Madeline Milligan, nursing was never just a profession—it was an identity.
Milligan spent decades caring for Hartford area residents as a nurse at Saint Francis Hospital, where she was a familiar presence in her nun’s habit. Whether working in the emergency room or helping patients and families navigate safe transitions home as a discharge planning nurse, her calling was always rooted in compassion and service.
Today, as a resident of The Village at East Farms’ Mind & Memory Care community in Waterbury, Milligan continues that lifelong commitment to caring for others—even as she receives care herself. Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago, she remains deeply engaged in supporting those around her.
“She likes to help people,” said her niece, namesake, and best friend, Madeline Rinaldi, R.N., of Bethlehem, Conn., who retired from Saint Mary’s Hospital in 2020. “It gives her a sense of purpose—and the staff at The Village truly support her in that.”
That sense of purpose is something the long-tenured team at The Village at East Farms’ newly renovated Mind & Memory Care building embraces every day. Much like Milligan, they are truly Called to Care—for residents, families and one another.
“The staff at The Village are really great. They do a very good job caring for the residents,” Rinaldi added. “They are absolutely wonderful.”
Milligan’s dedication to service began early. The daughter of a Waterbury police officer, she grew up in the city’s East End and graduated from Waterbury Catholic High School before attending Saint Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing. After graduating in 1951, she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph convent in West Hartford, joining their mission to help open and support hospitals throughout the region. She soon returned to Saint Mary’s, where she began her role as an emergency room nurse.
After serving as a nun for 27 years, Milligan began considering a new chapter in her life following changes within the convent and while caring for her mother, who had brain cancer. As required, she wrote a letter to the Pope and, at age 47, left the Sisters of St. Joseph.
She later developed a close relationship with Saint Francis Hospital board member Andrew Milligan, who was widowed. The two fell in love, married, and spent years traveling the world together. After his passing in 1997, Milligan lived independently, but over time began experiencing cognitive changes.
“She was becoming confused and struggling with her memory,” said Rinaldi. “She started asking neighbors for help and getting mixed up, and I knew it was time for her to have a more supportive living environment.”
For Milligan, there was never any question where she would go. She had visited friends at The Village at East Farms for years and felt immediately at home. She thrived in the community’s assisted living lodge for five years. When her memory further declined last year, the team helped her transition seamlessly to the Mind & Memory Care neighborhood.
For more than 21 years, families have trusted The Village at East Farms to provide 24/7 personalized care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and cognitive changes associated with Parkinson’s disease. Purpose-built memory care neighborhoods are designed to promote safety, comfort, and independence—so residents like Milligan can continue to thrive.
Today, Milligan stays active by helping fellow residents and participating in the community’s many outings. “She goes on every single trip,” Rinaldi said with a smile.
And true to her lifelong calling, she continues to care for others—just as she has for more than 75 years.
For more information about The Village at East Farms, click here or call 203.806.9435.
The Village at East Farms
