THE WESLEYAN WINDOW

spaces to offer: an expanded fitness center, swimming pool,a café, crafts center and a large activity room that will holdall the residents for entertainment, lectures and specialevents. Recently, we had a theatrical performance directedby two women who moved here from Sun City where theywere actresses in the local community theater. They are talented actresses and write and direct plays, too. Their recentperformance was such a success that they took it ‘on theroad’ and performed for the residents at Assisted Living,too.”“Any of us who are having struggles might get a card fromhalf the people who live here. We all sign cards to help support people who are sick or grieving or struggling. In ourworship time on Wednesday nights, we pray for whoever issick or in the hospital. It’s a very caring place.”Anita Nelson stated, “The most important thing about living here is that we care about and love each other. People sayto me, ‘How do you like it there?’ And I say, ‘How wouldyou like to be surrounded by 140 people who care aboutyou?’ I don’t think there’s a person here who is not cared for.There is no better way to understand the sense of commu- The other day someone stuck their head in the door of mynity than to share a meal with a group of Wesleyan Homes room and said, ‘We prayed for you tonight.’ I’d been a littleresidents. One group of lively Independent Living ladies sits under the weather that day and somebody cared enough totell the person who wastogether at meals and conleading the service aboutsider one another great“The most important thing aboutme. It’s that kind of caringfriends. Their ages – whichlivinghereisthatwecareaboutandthat’s just so amazing and itthey volunteered with pridecontinues day after day.”loveeachother.”–AnitaNelson– run from 72 to 93, butwith their spirit, conversaMartha Steele spoke quietly, “I’m legally blind and so it wastion and sense of humor, they seem decades younger! Whenn’t easy for me when I first moved in. When Beverly Bendallasked what brought them together, they all had something moved next door, my life changed.”to say: “We just gravitated together.” “This is a very caringbunch.” “We’re a happy table.” “We laugh and enjoy each Esther added, “Beverly befriended Martha and got her toother.” “Sometimes we laugh so loud that other tables look come down every day and get involved. Now she’s outgoingat us like we’re a little crazy. We like that!”and visits with everybody.”Esther Gooderl said, “I don’t have to go out of my way towelcome other people. It just comes naturally. When I seesomeone new, I speak to them. And soon, we’re going tohave a chance to meet so many new people when our newaddition opens. We’ll be one building with twice as manyresidents. We’re so happy to have so many people who wantto move in here. And there’s still a long waiting list to get in.Beverly said, “If Martha needed anything, I was there. AndI still am. Next week is her birthday so we’re all going out toDos Salsas to celebrate. It’s the most popular Mexicanrestaurant in town so we’re going at four o’clock to makesure we can get a table!”Dena Hill observed, “The staff treats us wonderfully. If wewant anything, we can ask for it and they’ll do it. I’ve never“When you look at someone in the eye and – even if you had them refuse to do something that I asked for. For examdon’t say anything – you can tell that they are genuinely ple, I can signal to Shannon by holding my cup up and I’llconcerned about you. You can tell that by their body lan- get a new cup of coffee. It’s like magic.”guage and eye contact. Most everybody, when you see themin the hall or the lobby, says, ‘How are you today?’ I don’t Shannon Samson came up to the table with a big smile.know of anyone who lives here who doesn’t greet other peo- Clearly, he’s a favorite of the group. He was asked how hewould describe the group and quickly replied, “They are aple.”handful!” The ladies laughed loudly and agreed with him!Mary Lee Florschuetz shared, “I got into this group after my Shannon started working with Wesleyan Homes at the oldhusband died and they’d been caring for me for eight and a Retirement Home on University Avenue when he was 17half months while I was going back and forth to The Wes- years old. Thirty-two years later he has not lost his love forleyan at Scenic. They reached out to me because they knew the mission of Wesleyan Homes.I was having a rough time. It meant everything to me. It feltlike I was surrounded by family. That’s when I knew I was Dena recalled, “We almost lost him a few years ago. He hadkidney failure and was in a coma for six days, so we decidedpart of a community.to have a prayer vigil for him. The idea didn’t come from the3Mrs. Mary WattersMr. & Mrs. Richard WheelisMr. & Mrs. John WhiteknactMrs. Serena WhitleyMr. Weldon WhittenMs. Nena WilliamsMs. Nesi WilliamsMr. Charles WingetMrs. Anne WiseMr. & Mrs. Roger M. WrightDr. & Mrs. Marvin Kendall YoungMr. & Mrs. Ray YoungBENEVOLENT FUNDMs. Marjorie AllenMr. Andy AndersonMs. Bonita AndersonMr. & Mrs. David AndersonMs. Judy ApelRev. John & Lucy AymondMr. Phillips BakerMr. & Mrs. Kenneth BaldufMr. & Mrs. Godfrey BaldwinMrs. June N. BarnesMr. & Mrs. Steve BarrettMr. & Mrs. Kevin BartlesMs. Mattie BartlettDr. & Mrs. Stephen BenoldMr. & Mrs. Gene BinghamMr. & Mrs. James W. BlackwellMr. Alfred BlaschkeMr. Franklin A. BlomquistMs. Sue BolandMs. Jennifer BollmanMrs. Evelyn BonifacicDr. & Mrs. Dan BonnerMr. & Mrs. Bill BoothMr. & Mrs. Joseph BrandmillerMr. Ralph Brenneman, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Raymond BristowMr. & Mrs. Charles BrockMs. Sue BrockMs. Jeanette BrooksDr. & Mrs. Walter BruningMr. & Mrs. Julian BucherMr. & Mrs. Leon BuckMr. & Mrs. Scott BukhairMr. & Mrs. Charles BullardMrs. Mary Beth BurnsMs. Susan K. CageMs. Delores CalafatiDr. & Mrs. Claud G. CameronMr. & Mrs. William E. CanetMr. & Mrs. Carl V. CawoodMr. & Mrs. James C. ChandlerRev. & Mrs. Jim ChandlerChevron Humankind (Matching Gift)Mr. & Mrs. John ChilelloCol. & Mrs. Rex E. CloudMrs. Helen Lewis CoffmanMr. & Mrs. Bill ConnorMrs. Robbie Nelle CookMrs. Willie Fay CoverstonMr. & Mrs. Tommy CoxDr. & Mrs. Philip H. CraytonMrs. Gloria DanielMs. Sue DavidsonMr. & Mrs. John DeesMr. & Mrs. William DischMr. & Mrs. Carl DoeringMrs. Betty DoughertyMr. & Mrs. Peter DykeMr. & Mrs. Dan EcklenMr. & Mrs. Harold D. Eidson, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Al ElliottMr. & Mrs. Al EndsleyMr. & Mrs. Charles FordMr. Mike FordMs. Judi K. GallowayMrs. Nancy GarnerMs. Joan GaspardMr. & Mrs. William T. GloverMr. & Mrs. Arnold GrayMr. & Mrs. Al GreenbergRev. & Mrs. Norman E. GriffithMr. & Mrs. Roy J. GroganMs. Mary GurleyMr. & Mrs. Bennie GuyMrs. Jackie HammarMr. & Mrs. John R. HawkinsMr. & Mrs. Robert D. HawthornMrs. Sherron HeinemannMrs. Ouida HendersonMr. Jim HensleyMr. & Mrs. Monroe HesterRev. Catherine HixMr. & Mrs. Richard Hoenerhoff(Matching Gift)Mr. & Mrs. Rex HootenMrs. Sylvia HuckabeeMrs. Lou HunterMrs. Linda HutchingsMs. Gloria IsbellMr. & Mrs. John IsbellMrs. Lula JohnsonMr. & Mrs. John JoinerMrs. Eleanor Lynn JuhlMr. & Mrs. Bill KeathlyMr. & Mrs. Robert S. KellyMs. Patricia KennedyMr. & Mrs. John KensingerMr. Wayland KiddMr. & Mrs. Allen C. KingMr. & Mrs. Lee Roy KnauthMr. & Mrs. Charles H. KnottMrs. Charlene KovarikMr. & Mrs. Raymond KunzeMrs. Margaret KyserMr. & Mrs. Richard La Cagnina, Jr.Mrs. Floy LackeyMs. Jennifer LaneDr. & Mrs. Steve LangfordMr. & Mrs. John LangstonMs. Emma LawhonMr. & Mrs. Gene LawhonRev. Cynthia LeeMr. & Mrs. Dick LeeMrs. Patty LeeMs. Carol LehmkuhlMr. & Mrs. Norman LeonardMr. & Mrs. Christopher S. LewisMr. & Mrs. Richard LeyendeckerMr. & Mrs. John LindMs. Joyce Lindler-HaleMr. & Mrs. Jerry LoftRev. Dr. Katie LongMr. & Mrs. Alvin LuedeckeMs. Karen MachalekMrs. Dottye MainesMr. & Mrs. William F. MarshMs. Molly S. MartinMrs. Jane McDonaldMr. & Mrs. Robby McKinneyMrs. Donna MerriamMrs. Polly MetzRev. Jeffrey MillerMr. John Miller, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Joe MontgomeryMr. & Mrs. Jeff MorganDr. & Mrs. Alex MunsonMs. Lou Ann NaiserMr. & Mrs. Jack NobleMr. & Mrs. William O’ConnellDr. & Mrs. G. Benjamin OliverMrs. Anita O’Mara16

IN HONOR OF WESLEYANEMPLOYEESMrs. LaTrelle AdamsMrs. Doris AlexanderMr. Stacy AllenMrs. Bernice ArnoldMr. & Mrs. Don BartoshMr. & Mrs. Perry BeenMr. Robert BentleyMs. Louise W. BirdMs. Kaye BishopMrs. Evelyn BonifacicMr. William BoyceMr. Frank BrinserMrs. Gladys BrokhausenMrs. Gladys BrookingMs. Sally BrownfieldMr. & Mrs. Thomas ByrdMs. Peggy M. CalcoteMrs. Jeannene CarmichaelMrs. Anita CarterRev. Ray CarterDr. Virginia CarwellMrs. Carol CaseMrs. Linda Major ClarkMr. Travis Lynn CookMs. Katherine CouncilMrs. Willie Fay CoverstonMr. & Mrs. Tommy CoxMs. Mollie CraneMr. & Mrs. Ralph CroteauMrs. Peggy CumminsMr. & Mrs. Dennis DanielMrs. Gloria DanielMs. Christine DawsonMs. Ima DeanMr. Leon DixonMr. Jimmie DollinsMr. & Mrs. Bill EberbachMr. Chris EdwardsMs. Paula EdwardsMrs. Jane FinchMrs. Frances C. FlyMrs. Lena FraserMr. & Mrs. Richard FriedrichMr. & Mrs. James FryMr. Charles GaleaMrs. Genevieve GellesMr. & Mrs. Robert GleasonMs. Anna GomezMrs. Esther Gooderl15Ms. Jackie GreenMr. & Mrs. Al Greenberg, Jr.Mr. George GriffinRev. & Mrs. Norman E. GriffithMrs. Billie HarlowMr. & Mrs. James HarringtonMrs. Mildred HarrisMrs. Norma D. HarrisMr. & Mrs. John R. HawkinsMr. John HendersonMr. & Mrs. Walt HendersonMrs. Dena HillMr. & Mrs. Richard HoenerhoffMr. Jerry HoldenMs. Jeanne HollenbeckMr. & Mrs. Robert HollidayMs. Nita HornbeckMrs. Lula Dimple JohnsonMr. Bill JohnstonMr. & Mrs. Randy P. JonesMr. & Mrs. Rodney JonesMrs. Eleanor Lynn JuhlMr. & Mrs. Louis KahnMr. & Mrs. Philip KatzMs. Olga KeaneMr. & Mrs. Ted KellerDr. Dennis KennedyMrs. Lois Eleanor KilpatrickMr. Alfred Kircher, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Dan S. KirklinMrs. Lou KnudsenMr. & Mrs. Paul LarsenMs. Katherine LarsonMr. & Mrs. Royce LindseyMrs. Louise LoydMr. & Mrs. Craig A. LynamMr. John Maidlow, Jr.Ms. Gloria MaireMr. Daniel MargolisMs. Ruth MasseyMr. & Mrs. Kenneth MatwiczakMrs. Louise G. MaxfieldMr. & Mrs. Edwin McCraryMrs. Judith H. McDowellMrs. Pam MeynersMr. John L. Miller, Jr.Mr. Arthur MitschkeMr. Ned MorrisMr. William Allen MunsonMrs. C. Maye NealMr. & Mrs. Robert NealMrs. Anita NelsonMrs. Katherine NetheryMs. Pamela NortmanMrs. Marjorie OwensMr. John ParkMrs. Deanne PeekMrs. Veta G. PercyMrs. Shirley PerrinMrs. Rena Aldrich PerryMrs. Alyce PhillipsMrs. Minnie C. PihlgrenMr. David PinaMrs. Tracie PocheDr. & Mrs. Jesse PurdyMrs. Mari QuinlivanMrs. Dorothy RadebaughMs. Gale R. RadebaughDr. & Mrs. Howard RamseyMrs. June D. ReutherMrs. Erma R. ReynoldsMrs. Jean RipperdaMs. Marilyn RitenourMrs. June RymesMr. Ray SansomMr. & Mrs. William SaulMr. & Mrs. Jesse Scheumack, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Don SchoenDr. & Mrs. Everett SchrumMr. & Mrs. Barry ScottMs. Joanne ShawMr. & Mrs. Fremont SheavlyMrs. Wanda ShieldsMrs. Grace SingletonMrs. Vicky SinwellMrs. Bonnie SnyderMr. & Mrs. John SteeleMrs. Martha SteeleMr. & Mrs. Steve StevensMr. & Mrs. Bill SumpterMrs. Barbara SwensonMr. & Mrs. Henry SyersMrs. Joyce TallyMrs. Barbara Nelle TaylorMs. Virginia M. ThomasMs. Jimmie TidwellMr. & Mrs. Roy TofteMr. William H. TomeyMs. Elaine J. TorosianMr. Earl TruesdaleMrs. Novella WalkerMr. & Mrs. Ed WallaceMs. Cynthia WarrenMrs. Mary Warringtonadministrators, but from us. We told people we were goingto gather in the activities room in the afternoon and theword spread. That afternoon, the room was packed with residents and staff gathered to pray for Shannon. To me, that’sthe definition of community.“His mother told us that she believed our prayers made adifference. Eventually he came out of the coma, recoveredand came back to work. The first day that Shannon cameback, he was standing by the front door and everybodystood up and clapped for him. He is loved by everybody.”changed my mind because he took the time to talk to me.He’s a very sweet boy and I’m fond of him.”The group agreed that one of the most important reasons forthe strong sense of community at Independent Living is thatit is a faith community. They also appreciate the length ofservice of so many staff members. Some of them have beenwith the Wesleyan Homes for 30 years or more. They realizethat you can’t buy that kind of loyalty.Anita had the last word and the last laugh: “Occasionally, Ihear somebody grumble about the food and I always say,Mary Lee says, “l give a lot of credit to the administrators ‘Oh, did you have 365 days of perfect meals at your house?who choose the people who work here. They just don’t hire That is amazing!’ When people start complaining, we don’tanybody. They find people with a caring heart. We care for have time for that. We have more important things to do.”them and they care for us. That’s true at every level from theadministrators to the kitchen staff and maintenance work- For this community, the “important things to do” are caringfor and loving one another through both times of laughterers.”and times of tears. A recent visitor remarked, “You can tellDena surprised the group with a story. “One of the things I that this is a very special place as soon as you walk throughlike best is the chance to get to know the staff members. We the door. It’s not just a place to live, it is a genuine commuhave a driver who has tattoos and must cover them up while nity.”he’s at work. One day he drove me to the clinic at Templeand started explaining to me why he had tattoos and mademe understand why they were meaningful to him. Up untilthen I didn’t have a good feeling about tattoos, but he4

Transitions in Aging: Moving to Assisted LivingMs. Viola Davis (Home Health)Ms. Joyce McGinnisMs. Helen Haynes (Benevolent)Mrs. Tamara Jan WoolheaterMs. Mary Ellen Cromer (Benevolent)Mr. Richard B. MurphyMs. Cecilia Heiskell (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Bernard PorterMs. Vivian Dessum (Benevolent)Mrs. Jackie BrawnerMr. Albert Hoelck (Benevolent)Ms. Joyce HoelckMr. & Mrs. Warren Duke (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Marshall DukeMs. Jeanne Hollenbeck (Benevolent)Ms. Elaine J. TorosianMs. Lynda CreceliusMs. Virginia Evers (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. R. Doug DavisMr. & Mrs. William “Bill” Flagg(Benevolent)Rev. Mary PowellMr. Steve BarrettMrs. Gloria Flagg (Benevolent)Dr. & Mrs. Howard RamseyMrs. Carol CaseMr. & Mrs. Roger WrightDr. & Mrs. Dan BonnerMrs. Esther GooderlMs. Georgianne HewettMs. Argentine Mary FisherMr. & Mrs. Roy TofteMr. & Mrs. John FisherMrs. Nettie Ruth BrattonResident Anne Wise enjoys a walk outdoors with Assisted Living Life Enrichment Director Laura Pittman.Moving is always stressful, but moving because youneed more assistance with daily activities is a decisionmany of us dread. Making the transition from living independently to living with assistance requires an acceptance ofour limitations, support from family and staff members, andthe courage to make a major change. On The Wesleyan atEstrella campus, our Independent Living and Assisted Living communities are only 500 yards apart. But, for theresident needing a higher level of care, the psychological andemotional distance can be vast.had to take a number of pills every morning and one day Itook two of the same pills and got really sick. Within a week,we were talking about me moving to Assisted Living.”Anne’s daughter, Dotty Culig, who lives locally, treated themove to Assisted Living much as she and her siblings had anearlier move to Independent Living. Dotty recalls the initialdecision to move to The Wesleyan at Estrella, “Mother wasliving in Conroe. We took advantage of a visit my sister, wholives in Florida, made to Texas to take a tour of the Independent Living community. Even though Mother had beenAnne Wise, a resident of The Wesleyan at Estrella Assisted on the waiting list, when we brought up the tour, she hesiLiving, made that transition two years ago. She explained, “I tated and said, ‘ I’m not ready for this.’lived in Independent Living for four years and loved it. I wason the Resident Council, used the putting green and was ac- “My siblings and I told her that it was just a tour, and shetive in a knitting group. I had a lot of good friends and didn͛t did not have to make a commitment.” The tour is importantbecause often seniors have a misconception of what today͛sfeel that I was old because I was having such a good time.“Then I began to have some falls and that worried me. I also senior living communities are like. After Anne visited Inde5Mr. Bob Florence (Benevolent)Mrs. Nancy K. FlorenceMr. Duane Florschuetz (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Roy TofteMrs. Nettie Ruth BrattonMr. & Mrs. Alonzo Gleason(Wendland Chapel Windows)Mr. & Mrs. Robert GleasonMrs. Hazel Harbert (Hospice)Mr. Joe HarbertMs. Geneva Harris (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Harlan HartMr. Sam Harris (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Terry LesterMr. & Mrs. Danny MickanMs. Anna Marie Huset (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. HazelwoodMs. Helen Jansen (Benevolent)Mr. George JansenMrs. Sue C. Jones (Benevolent)Mrs. Helen JohnsonMr. Kent JohnsonBishop & Mrs. Joe WilsonMs. Georgianne HewettMs. Joyce Darlene Murff(Wesleyan at Scenic)Ms. Kathleen To & Mr. HaroldBruecknerMr. Claude Nelson (Benevolent)Mrs. Linda GusnowskiMr. & Mrs. George Nelson(Benevolent)Mr. George JansenMr. & Mrs. Bill PeaceMs. Elizabeth Oatman (Benevolent)Dr. & Mrs. Jake B. SchrumMr. Harold Riggs (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Robert H. YarbroughMs. Peggy Rudasill (Hospice)Mr. & Mrs. Martin WeathersbeeDr. Stan Rupert (Benevolent)Ms. Kathleen To & Mr. HaroldBruecknerMs. Elizabeth Kerr (Benevolent)Mrs. Nancy K. FlorenceMs. Renee Schugal (Benevolent)Mrs. Jeanne SorbelMr. Paul Kerr (Benevolent)Mrs. Nancy K. FlorenceMs. Ann Smith (Benevolent)Mrs. Nancy K. FlorenceMrs. Midge Krieg (Benevolent)Mrs. Lauren PeckMr. Clinton Sorbel (Benevolent)Mrs. Jeanne SorbelMr. Robert Kunetka (Benevolent)Ms. Evelyn KunetkaMr. & Mrs. Montel Lowe (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Marshall DukeMs. Emma Meadows (Benevolent)Ms. Kathleen To & Mr. HaroldBruecknerMr. Don L. Mitcham (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Derl WarrenMr. Roy McEndree (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Ken GusnowskiMr. Jimmie Mitchell (Benevolent)Mr. Keith MitchellMr. C. H. Stubblefield (Hospice)Mr. & Mrs. C. H. Stubblefield, Jr.Ms. Amanda Teague (Benevolent)Ms. Jeana JonesMr. Frank Todd (Benevolent)Mrs. Tess ToddMs. Eileen Voss (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Robert VossMr. Phil Walden (Benevolent)Mrs. Theresa WaldenMr. Murray Wier (Benevolent)Mrs. Marjorie WierMs. Dorothy Zulauf (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Edwin R. Jones14

Gifts to Wesleyan HomesFrom October 20, 2016 to March 20, 2017Wesleyan Homes gives thanks for the individuals and organizations who, through their gifts, contribute to the fulfillment ofour mission.IN HONORMr. James B. Adams (Benevolent)Mrs. Margie Anne AveryMrs. Beverly Bendall (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Randy BendallDr. Douglas Benold (Benevolent)Mrs. Jeannine FairburnDr. Dan Bonner (Benevolent)Ms. Georgianne HewettMrs. Nettie Ruth Bratton (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Norman RoeMs. Peggy Calcote (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Hugh KoogRev. Ray Carter (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Royce LindseyMrs. Willie Fay Coverston (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Keith CarterEstrella Staff (Benevolent)Mr. & Mrs. Claude FoltaGeorgetown First United MethodistChurch (Benevolent)Mrs. Ruth VerhoefGeorgetown First United MethodistChurch, Pastors and Staff (Phase III)Mr. & Mrs. Herschel KoberleinMrs. O. V. Johnson (Benevolent)Mr. Barry JohnsonMr. William Krieg (Benevolent)Mrs. Lauren PeckMrs. R

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Reimers Ms. Ann Rems b urg Ms. Mary Reynolds Dr. & Mrs. William G. Rhoades Mrs. Jean Ripperda Mrs. Betty May Ro b ertson Major & Mrs. Ro b ert R. Ro b inson III Mr. & Mrs. Donald Roller Mr. & Mrs. Mike Rossman Mr. & Mrs. E. Hartley Sappington Mr. Donald L. Schmidt Dr. & Mrs. Dale Sc