“Why don’t we make the doors more inviting?”
It was a simple question, but one rooted in a lifetime of faith, service and love.
For Ivan and and his late wife, Mary Agnes Radostits, devoted parishioners of St. Thomas More Parish in Edmonton, caring for others was a way of living out their faith. And it was Mary Agnes’ vision – carried forward by Ivan after her passing – that would quietly transform life for seniors at Covenant’s St. Joseph’s Auxiliary Hospital in Edmonton.
Mary Agnes, a longtime volunteer and patient at St. Joseph’s, noticed that the hallways of the memory care unit felt cold and colourless. She imagined something different: spaces that felt warmer, more welcoming, more like home. It was her idea, born of compassion, to bring colour and life into those corridors.
From One Idea to Lasting Impact
After Mary Agnes passed away, Ivan chose to honour her vision in a powerful way. Through a gift to Covenant Foundation, he funded the project she had dreamed of, transforming the once-grey doors of the unit into a garden of colour. Today, each door is adorned with cheerful hues, floral designs and gentle patterns that greet residents with beauty and light. What began as Mary Agnes’ simple question became a lasting expression of compassion in action.
Aside from visual appeal, these door wraps offer medical benefits. The bold, high-contrast colours help aging eyes better recognize doorways, reduce confusion and create a stronger sense of familiarity for residents living with dementia. The nature-inspired designs bring a sense of the outdoors inside — a quiet comfort during Alberta’s long winters when fresh air and green spaces are harder to come by.
For residents, the impact has been deeply personal. Doors have become points of connection, conversation and even joy. One resident proudly shared, “I’m in the room with the yellow door!”. It was a simple statement that speaks volumes about dignity and recognition.
A Sacred Legacy in Action
For Ivan, this project is a living tribute to Mary Agnes’ heart for service and a way to carry forward her legacy of faith in action. And for us at Covenant Foundation, it stands as a beautiful example of how generosity, rooted in Catholic values, can transform everyday spaces into places of grace.
What began as one woman’s idea and her husband’s act of love have become a daily source of comfort, beauty and belonging for seniors and care teams at St. Joseph’s.
This is how faith becomes visible.
This is how love takes shape.
This is Our Sacred Legacy carried forward, one idea and one generous act at a time.
Join us in carrying forward Our Sacred Legacy.
Support Catholic health care across Alberta through Covenant Foundation.
