Katie was the heartbeat of her family—the kind of mother whose love and determination left a mark on everything she touched. She wanted her children to have every chance to flourish, and it was Katie who first opened the door to Sunshine Communities for the Wernert family. After he finished high school, she enrolled Mike in Special Olympics swimming at Sunshine. What began as laps in the pool grew into something much larger: confidence, friendships, and a sense of belonging that would carry him through life. Just as he thrived in the water, Mike later discovered Sunshine’s Barn—a place where he could take pride in his work and feel truly at home.
Katie’s influence didn’t stop there. When her daughter Brigid was completing her master’s in occupational therapy, Katie encouraged her to apply at Sunshine. With Mike’s blessing—“Yeah, just don’t bug me”—Brigid stepped into what would become a 15 year career here. Their father, Joe, watched his children blossom at Sunshine. After retiring—and after the heartbreaking loss of Katie in 2015—he too found belonging here. “When I retired, I was drawn to Sunshine. The one-on-one interaction is a gift. I needed Sunshine. The community has wrapped its arms around my loved ones, and I really don’t know what we would’ve done without it. Sunshine is our home.”
Joe’s presence has a way of brightening every space he enters. He sings with individuals, goes fishing, joins outings, and is greeted with hugs and high-fives each time he drops Mike off to day services. “Sunshine is a blessing,” he says, and the truth of it is written all over their family’s story.
Brigid says, “I look up to Mike as my big brother—both figuratively and literally. Mike has overcome so many obstacles, yet he continues to see the good in everyone and wears his heart on his sleeve. He has always been there for me—cheering at my games, standing by me in my wedding, serving as godfather to my daughter, dog-sitting, and always asking how he can help. Like all siblings, we’ve had our arguments, but I truly lucked out in the big brother department with Mike.”
Brigid reflects, “As a professional, he has 100% shaped my career path. As a sister, knowing he is safe, happy, and growing means more than words can describe. Sunshine has taught me what my brother has lived all along—that we’re here to walk this journey side by side, making the road a little easier for each other.”
“Mike and Brigid’s mother is at Sunshine wherever we are—always in our hearts,” Joe shares. Katie’s love is everywhere: in the pool that gave Mike confidence, in the barn where he found pride, in Brigid’s career, and in the hugs Joe still receives. She laid the foundation for a family bound to Sunshine, where differences are celebrated and joy is shared. Sunshine is more than community: it’s Katie’s legacy of keeping her family close.