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"There was just something about Westminster Village the very day we visited that gave us a fresh and positive outlook; that seemed to answer the hesitant questions that we had been asking ourselves. Whether it was the consistently cheerful responses from the residents we met, or the contagious enthusiasm of the staff, or a memorable meal with other residents, or all of the above, the fact is we were hooked. And the big surprise was that after I had carefully considered what I had thought to be all the relevant factors, I had quite underestimated the human factor. We were in no way prepared for the warmth of the welcome that we got from everyone. We were not alone in the world -- and that has made all the difference."
Ron Davies, Resident of Westminster Village Dover Many residents often indicate that one of the truly unexpected surprises is the number and quality of friendships that are a part of living in one of our communities. Some of these wonderful experiences are shared below. I Found a Sister! Grace Davies has led a fascinating life. As a child of missionaries, she was born in China and lived there until she was 12 years old. In 1927 a politically unstable environment in China forced her family to leave the country of her birth. The family moved to Wales, where she eventually met and married Elam Davies. They later moved to the United States, when Elam became the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem. Leaving Bethlehem in 1961, they spent the next 33 years living in Chicago. While Elam had many childhood memories and friends and family that remembered his place of birth and childhood, the move from China separated Grace from the same kind of experience. Coming from a small family, there was no one who understood her early life in the same way. Over the years she often remarked to Elam that she wished she had some connection to those early years of her life. When the Davies decided to return to Bethlehem to live at Kirkland Village in their retirement years, they met a whole new circle of friends in this newly developing retirement community. Rachel Bayer was also the daughter of missionaries in China, and her family was forced to leave China in 1927 due to the political unrest. When her father and mother returned to China when the situation stabilized, she stayed in Albany, New York at a boarding school. In later years, Rachel married a Lehigh graduate, spending most of their married life in the Cleveland, Ohio area. Over the years, they returned to the Lehigh Valley for every Lehigh home football game. When it came time to choose a retirement community, the Lehigh Valley was a logical place to look, and they fell in love with Kirkland at first sight. In casual conversation, Grace discovered that she and Rachel shared the same background as children of missionaries in China, though they lived nearly 2800 miles apart. Even more amazing was the realization that both of them were born in Kuling, a small summer vacation spot in the mountains that was frequented by missionaries. Since both girls were born in July, their mothers had traveled to Kuling, where they were both born. Rachel and Grace do not remember meeting, even though Grace attended school in Kuling and both families returned to Kuling for many years for summer vacation. They both remember the same swimming holes and summer activities as well as the lifestyle of missionary children in a foreign land. Since there was only one Protestant church in the town and both families stayed for the entire summer, Rachel is convinced they were probably in church at the same time when they were children. Grace says, "After all these years to find someone here at Kirkland who can connect with my experience growing up in China as the child of a missionary and sharing our early childhood memories is a great blessing. It is almost like finding a sister." From an Interview with Grace Davies and Rachel Bayer, Residents of Kirkland Village Back to Top Making New Friends May Ireland had high expectations of life at St. Andrew's Village when she moved in just one year ago. As a former trustee of Presbyterian Homes, she had first-hand knowledge of the kind of relationships that were common among residents of PHI retirement communities. As a college English professor who had traveled extensively throughout her life and taught abroad, she wanted to spend her time with interesting people who would be open to new friendships and activities. She did not have any close friends at St. Andrew's Village, and the distance between St. Andrew's Village and her home in Lock Haven where she taught at the university meant that she would be relocating and making all new friends. Her family in Pittsburgh and New Wilmington were relatively close, but they were concerned that she was moving to a place where she would have to start over. May looked at the situation a little differently. The move to St. Andrew's Village was an opportunity to meet new people and discover new things, and she has not been disappointed. She explains that she was confident because, "I am an outgoing person, and I make friends easily so I knew that I would find new friends here." In the past year she has had a chance to meet new people, hear many interesting stories and share life experiences with other residents at St. Andrew's Village. Being able to participate in small group activities with other residents has been a great help. From menu planning and activity planning meetings, exercise classes and a host of outside events, May and her new friends at St. Andrew's Village have forged strong bonds. She has also widened her horizons by participating in the life of the community of Indiana and Indiana University. The staff has also played a key part in fostering social activities and friendships. "Everyone here makes you feel at home." She proudly states, "that since St. Andrew's Village is a small facility, living here is like being a part of a large family. These are wonderful people and I can't imagine being any happier than I am as a part of this warm and caring community." From an Interview with May Ireland, Resident of St. Andrew's Village Back to Top Old Friends When Naomi Baggan and her husband Fred moved into Glen Meadows in 1993, they found a new circle of friends, but also continued the life long friendships that had been so important to them. Fred had a number friends that he invited to dinner at Glen Meadows on a regular basis. One of these close friends was George Turner. George and his wife, Louise, had been friends with the Baggans since they were married in January of 1946. Louise and Naomi had been good friends since grade school, and the Turners and Baggans continued getting together for social occasions every few weeks throughout their married life. When Louise, died, George continued to get together with the Baggans along with several of Fred's other close friends. In some respects, considering a move to Glen Meadows seemed like a logical next step for George. While Fred and Naomi were in Florida for the winter, George called to tell them he had signed up to move into Glen Meadows. An active and physically fit senior. George has enjoyed the benefits of living at Glen Meadows while continuing to work doing a variety of construction-related jobs. Though Fred passed away in January, 1999, Naomi and George still remain good friends. She can sit on her screened-in porch and see the front door of George's patio home just about 200 feet away and realize that the friendships that were important throughout life, continue at Glen Meadows. From an Interview with Naomi Baggan and George Turner, Residents of Glen Meadows Back to Top |
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