It may have taken Gloria Henze nearly a lifetime, but she finally met her favorite actress, Debbie Reynolds.

Reynolds, an actress and Hollywood legend, was named the 2008 Hance Award recipient as part of St. Barnabas Charities' annual Founder's Day Celebration and spent the day reminiscing with the nursing home residents in Gibsonia.

St. Barnabas staff chose Henze, 68, originally from Upper St. Clair, to greet Reynolds and pin a corsage on her.

"I've seen all her movies," Henze says. "She comes out smiling... She's just a joy to be around. It radiates."

Reynolds made her way around St. Barnabas Nursing Home greeting all of the residents and their families. The actress even broke out some old show tunes in duets with the residents.

Rose Diehm, 76, originally from Aspinwall, was one of those lucky residents. Diehm had a stroke and has difficulty talking, however she was able to communicate her desire to sing with the movie star.

Diehm named her daughter Tammy after Reynolds' character in the 1957 film "Tammy and the Bachelor," and wanted to sing the song "Tammy" with Reynolds. Reynolds made her way through the crowd toward Diehm and the two gave their best performance for the crowded foyer of staff, residents and friends.

Diehm's niece, Janet Lee, of Fox Chapel, smiled as she watched her aunt strain her voice to keep up with the Hollywood star.

"She was the same age (as Reynolds) so when she was a young married mother, those movies were very special for her," Lee says.

St. Barnabas Health System's president William V. Day says the board tries to chose a person who represents the values of St. Barnabas to receive the Hance Award, and Reynolds says she is honored.

Reynolds is sympathetic to the difficulties that come with age and says she is happy to see a facility like St. Barnabas to take care of older adults.

"Becoming a movie star doesn't mean you don't get older," she jokes. "It just means people say 'it's a shame' more often."

Many of the women and men at the nursing home are Reynolds' age and she took great delight in visiting with them and reminiscing about their younger years.

"They know me which is nice. And they may not be able to communicate, but they react when they see me and remember me," Reynolds says.

"It's lovely when there is no light in their eye and they don't remember who you are and then their eyes light up."