Hidden Gems: Meet Gabriela Fiscu of The Olive Grove Assisted Living and Wellness Center

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriela Fiscu.

Hi Gabriela, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Vivid memories of early childhood mark the beginning of my story, in the northern region of Romania known as Bucovina. I remember being pulled on a sled by my grandfather, learning how to slice an onion while standing beside my grandmother’s apron, and—most exciting of all—trying on my very first pair of black ice skates and challenging my cousin to a race down our street (a race I proudly won).

As the firstborn of five children (at that time)—and a girl—I learned responsibility early on. Romania was still under a communist regime, and my childhood was shaped by stories my grandparents shared of religious persecution and imprisonment. My father carried his own hardships from years managing a largely female workforce at a clothing factory, often softening the weight of those experiences with humor.

In the mid-1980s, everything changed when my father left Romania. A year later, on a rainy winter night, my family arrived to our new home city, and out of the window of our car, the skyline of Portland, Oregon emerged. My father managed to purchase a two-story house for $25,000 at that time, and within two weeks, with the help of a small community, it was fully renovated and ready. It marked the beginning of a new life.

That new beginning came with challenges: learning a new language, enduring bullying, discovering self-defense, and navigating an unfamiliar culture. But it also led to milestones—graduating from high school, then from the University of Portland with a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Aren’t we all an alchemy of the experiences we’ve lived through? These are just a few of mine. I remain deeply grateful for them, as they instilled in me perseverance, a strong work ethic, and an unshakable faith and trust in the One Sovereign Creator.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life is rarely a smooth road. Like most, mine has been shaped by both valley lows and mountain highs, and I’ve known both well. As a free spirit, I was drawn early on to world travel and photography. But before I learned to push boundaries—my own, as well as my parents’, I learned the meaning of sacrifice and how to endure the desert seasons of life.

For the first five years after we arrived in the United States, life was defined by work. We didn’t take weekends off. There were no after-school sports, trips to the park, or afternoons at the pool or river. Sundays were our only day of rest, and even then, they were devoted to church. As a family, we held multiple jobs until my mother became a self-taught entrepreneur, providing in-home geriatric care. Eventually, she owned and operated her own assisted living care home, then moved to Texas and build a memory care facility, right next to Tomball hospital. That is how we grew up—with a hands-on education in caregiving, compassion, responsibility and entrepreneurial-ship .

Because of the risks and sacrifices my parents made—and through the grace and mercy of God—we are where we are today. None of us can take full credit; we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t impossible either. Today, five of my siblings and their spouses own and operate residential assisted living communities across Texas and Washington.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I currently own and operate The Olive Grove Assisted Living and Wellness Center, with the support of a wonderful team— because it is never a one-person show. We are located on 3.5 acres of natural habitat in Magnolia, just minutes from Tomball, TX.

The Olive Grove offers a holistic model of care and supports aging in place. Looking ahead, my vision is to expand the wellness component of our care by implementing Dr. Dale Bredesen’s protocol, a pioneering, research-backed approach that has demonstrated the potential to prevent—and in some cases improve—early cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease. This is a new and humbling undertaking, but one I feel deeply called to pursue.

We are always available to connect with families exploring assisted living and wellness options for their loved ones. We are also equally committed to growing our team—continually seeking new talent and finding deep fulfillment in mentoring those who share our mission and calling. This commitment to care and leadership is rooted in my own clinical journey.

What I haven’t yet mentioned is that my nursing career began 25 years ago at the bedside of women bringing life into the world. For the past 15 years, I served at Texas Children’s Hospital’s Pavilion for Women, in the Texas Medical Center. I consider it a profound privilege to have witnessed both the arrival of life and its departure.

As I step into this next chapter of life and the unfolding vision for The Olive Grove, I move forward with faith and surrender. Here I am, Lord—send me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theolivegroveassistedliving.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theolivegroveal/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriela-fiscu-01a282220/