Residents

Like so many mothers do, Dorothy Owens worked hard for her family for years making carbide cutting tools at Fullerton Tools. “When you reach the age of 93, you don’t expect to be concerned about the health and well-being of your children” she recently commented as she solemnly gazed out the window of her Community Village room. Surrounded by photos of her late husband, her two sons and their wives, her emotions well up as she reflects on the challenges her oldest son faced with his military service in Vietnam, the loss of her husband 10 years ago, and the recent loss of her younger son. For more than a year, she prayed daily for this son as he was restricted to a hospital bed in Detroit. Her greatest consolation was the love her daughter-in-law poured out for him – on Dorothy’s behalf, too.

Brushing a tear from the corner of her eye, she remembers “we had wonderful times camping together at Big Bear Lake. We started in tents and gradually moved up to a motorhome.” She recalls how her husband helped build Sheridan Road Nazarene Church and again, years later, was part of the construction team when the church relocated and became Saginaw Valley Nazarene. And one of the biggest smiles came to Dorothy as she talked about singing duets at that church. Today she’s a regular attender at our Sunday services.

Happy Mother’s Day to you, Dorothy! And Happy Mother’s Day to all our other mothers! We’re grateful for you!

Pentra Trevino. She loves it when you can pronounce her name with all the beauty intended in the Spanish dialect. This mother of eight always enjoys visitors to her Community Village home. Like most of our families these days, her children are scattered from Saginaw to San Antonio. When Pentra lost her husband, she came to the conclusion she needed a home she could afford on her Social Security budget and one that met her various physical needs. Her answer came in two parts: Great Lakes PACE meets her health/medical needs and Community Village meets her needs for a safe home, nutritious meals, 24/7 assistance, and a friendly community.

Pentra fondly recalls days she used to play football with her children and go fishing on occasion. Many of those early days, though, were spent working together in sugar beet fields.

Today, life is a lot more enjoyable with activities like big ball kickball and BINGO. Pentra tells how she really appreciates the care she receives at Community Village and at Great Lakes PACE. She highly recommends combining the two programs to affordably address all the needs of someone advancing in years.

Monte and Mark were born and raised in Saginaw County. However, after their parents died, life took them on separate paths and they rarely saw each other during the intervening 25 years.

Monte moved to Community Village in 2019 and this year Mark’s guardian, noting the way Monte thrived, made arrangements for Mark to share a room with his brother.

The two men are inseparable and have surprisingly similar affinities for activities, friends, and even favorite meals. They quickly agree that Irma, Chantell, Kim and Sabrina are their favorite caregivers. Monte enjoys a daily game of “Sorry” with another resident, but both Mark and Monte like playing BINGO and enjoying a weekly movie with popcorn. They agree that their favorite meals are chicken quesadillas, spaghetti, and tacos.

When she moved into Community Village in 2016, Pat was not enthused about needing assisted living as a relatively young person. Yet she now readily appreciates Community Village and how the staff desires her independence and freedom just as much as she does. “Sure, there was a time when I had full mobility. I used to manage the housekeeping staff for a nursing home, but today I’m happy with the independence I have here. The Great Lakes PACE program addresses all of my health needs as I see a physician whenever I need and they coordinate my medications and daily care needs with Community Village staff. I’m free to participate in activities, take advantage of the paved walking path, enjoy some reading time, talk on the phone with my sister, and basically enjoy life.”

We love enjoying life with you, Pat!

The Sisters of St. Clare of Saginaw, a community of catholic women also known as Poor Clare Nuns, follow the example of St. Clare of Assisi by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and fervently praying with and for the many hurting people in our community.

Faith In Action

Just recently we got to celebrate Sister Laurene’s 91st birthday. Ever faithful, she continues to serve in her calling and to exude the love of God in her compassion toward the lonely and brokenhearted. We all benefit from her counsel, her humor is contagious, and her wisdom is well needed. Patient, kind, understanding – she lives such a good example to us all. While she crochets prayer shawls for those who are sick, she prays for them – never running out of people for whom she can pray.

In support of our ministry to aging seniors and because she values each of our employees and volunteers, Sister Laurene often attends our fundraisers. The large circle of friends she’s developed over the years will come visiting on a regular basis and usually join her for our Family Fun Night held once a month – always a great time for residents and their families to enjoy quality time together with a fun activity.

Perhaps what’s most admirable about Sister Laurene is that she listens quietly to the problem at hand, contemplates all that she hears, and when she finally speaks, she gives “sought after God” advise, always giving God the glory and never taking so much as a compliment. A divine talent, Sister Laurene convinces people that everything has to do with love… for God is love. Thank you, Sister, for teaching us!

Read the Tribute Poem for Sister Laurene’s 91st birthday

“When I was born, the doctor put me in his hand and told my mother “here’s your baby”. They put me in a shoebox to send me home. I weighed 1 pound and a half. They didn’t think I was going to live to be three years old and now I’m 78! I was one month premature. My mother put me on an old cook stove to warm me. That’s where I would stay until I was old enough to stay in a bed. Just like an incubator, they didn’t have those when I was in the hospital in 1940.”

Oh how we love to hear these stories!!!
Happy Senior Citizen’s Day!