Vienna Profeta

Andrew J. Lanza

May 13, 2013

Vienna Profeta

Award: HONORING WOMEN IN NEW YORK

Year: 2013

Vienna Profeta, Founder and President of Staten Island Friends for Hospice Care and Senior Vice President for The Eger Foundation/Eger Lutheran Homes & Services, has spent her career serving those in need. 

In 1987, Ms. Profeta vowed to build the first hospice residence on Staten Island to serve the community’s hospice patients and their families. She believed in the way of hospice, having had direct experience with that type of care during her father’s illness. Her dream became a reality and Staten Island now has the first state-of-the-art hospice residence in the metropolitan area. 

For Ms. Profeta, caring and giving to hospice patients of all ages is a work in progress. She responds to people as a humanitarian on both a personal and spiritual level. In 2000, Ms. Profeta introduced the “Happy to See You” program which provides personal care and beauty services to terminally ill patients and their caregivers. 

For her extraordinary work and sincere dedication, Ms. Profeta has been honored by many organizations. In 2002, the Staten Island Advance named her a “Woman of Achievement” for selflessly giving her time and talents to improve the lives of her fellow borough residents. Another accomplishment was her effort to make the wishes of a young leukemia patient come true before she passed away, by orchestrating a fun-filled trip to Yankee Stadium. 

Ms. Profeta is called upon by many charitable organizations for assistance, including helping launch the opening of the first Child Advocacy Center on Staten Island and volunteering for the World Trade Center relief effort at the Homeport on Staten Island after 9/11. 

It is not only her dedication and love of service that make Ms. Profeta an inspiration. Through those precious years when she was helping others in need, Ms. Profeta struggled with her own battles, as she fought breast cancer twice and underwent four surgeries. She didn’t let her personal life get in the way, however, and today the Addeo Hospice Residence stands tall, located on the beautiful and serene 22 acre grounds at Eger. Opening May 2013, the eight bed luxury suites are equipped with private baths, flat screen televisions, an ultra kitchen to prepare home cooked meals, living and dining areas with a home-like decor, a meditation room, fireplace and beautiful balconies surrounding the pristine landscaping. 

For all she has done for her community, Ms. Profeta truly embodies the spirit of a woman of distinction.