This week, Sunrise opened its 29th and newest community in New Jersey: Sunrise of Livingston.
The more than 86,000 square foot, three-story property by Lantz-Boggio Architects will provide homes for 122 residents and offer assisted living as well as memory care options for individuals living with dementia.
Sunrise of Livingston’s suites and common areas are carefully designed by Sunrise’s in-house design team to support residents’ comfort and safety, featuring custom finishes and an emergency response system. The community combines an elegant mix of modern and interior design touches across its common areas and private spaces, and features custom furniture built for residents’ needs. Constructed in partnership with Wohlsen Construction Company, the community features design elements consistent with local American Colonial style. Residents can enjoy various shared amenities including a multi-functional bistro area, lounge, an entertainment room featuring theater accommodations, activity room, both common and private dining rooms, a secure rooftop garden and, of course, a beauty salon.
“We are thrilled to welcome our new residents to Sunrise of Livingston,” said Sunrise of Livingston Executive Director Toni Daniels. “Sunrise has served the people of New Jersey for many years and our team at Sunrise of Livingston looks forward to building on that legacy by providing the best possible experience to our residents.”
One of those new residents is Ms. Florence Crawford.
Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Florence is one of two sisters raised by parents Ben and Irma Govan. During her early childhood, Florence was diagnosed with polio, and was told she would never walk again. Because of her immense strength and cheerful nature, these words only motivated Florence, as she strived to overcome challenges and grew up to be an active child, never letting the diagnosis prevent her from achieving her goals.
After graduating high school, Florence attended the University of Kansas before moving to Washington, D.C. where she completed a business degree at Howard University. It was while attending Howard that Florence met the “love of her life,” and late husband, Chester Crawford. Months after completing their respective degrees, Florence and her husband got married and have been married for 64 years.
Family means everything to Florence. Settling into married life, Florence’s care for others and desire to be involved in her children’s lives eventually led to a career in education as an elementary school teacher.
Over the years, she and her husband lived in Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, North Carolina, before eventually settling down in Nashville, Tennessee, where they remained for 40 years. In 2018, after the passing of her husband, Florence relocated to New Jersey to be closer to her daughter, two grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She first moved into Sunrise's sister community, Brighton Gardens of Mountainside in New Jersey. Now, Ms. Florence Crawford continues her life at Sunrise as a founding resident at Sunrise of Livingston.
Sunrise of Livingston sits on 3.3 acres of wooded land complemented by manicured greenspaces that provide both natural beauty as well as accessible landscapes. The community is in Essex County, New Jersey in the township of Livingston with immediate access to local shops, restaurants, and community offerings. Right off the intersection of Route 510 and 607, the community is only 40 minutes from New York City.
Sunrise of Livingston is located at 290 South Orange Avenue, Livingston NJ 07039. The community offers in-person tours and virtual tours as well as assessments to identify the unique needs of each resident. For more information or to schedule a tour, please call 973-221-5007 or visit the Sunrise website.