Wii Bowling is a Real Hit at Villa St. Benedict
Now going into their 8th session, the Wii bowlers of Villa St. Benedicts are still going strong. Over twenty some residents and more than 7 teams participate in the league. Each team has their own name and square off against different opponents each week. “We have really gotten creative with our team names,” said Donna Tarnowski, bowler and score keeper. “Names like the “Holy Rollers” and “Spare Time” make up the teams of 4 or more.
To conclude the 7th session and kick off the 8th session the activities department through a Wii Bowling Banquet complete with the perfect bowling cake!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
A Warm Welcome Home
Villa St. Benedict staff and residents gather at Midway Airport to welcome back one of their own aboard Honor Flight Chicago
On the evening of Wednesday, July 15, 2009 a group of 9 Villa St. Benedict residents, staff and sisters were brought together for one common reason, to honor one of their own. Mr. Phil Downey a resident at Villa St. Benedict and a former World War II Veteran was part of the 80 veterans escorted to Washington, D.C. Mr. Downey’s flight was the ninth in a series of “honor flights” dedicated to honoring veterans living in the Chicagoland area.
Early Wednesday morning Mr. Downey, flew out of Midway Airport headed for Washington D.C. This one day trip included a day of remembrance and reminiscing for many veterans who have waited over sixty years to see the highly anticipated World War II Memorial. In addition to the WWII Memorial Mr. Downey and his group of veterans visited the Iwo Jima, Korean, Vietnam and Lincoln Memorials. “It was a long (18 hour) day, but a worthwhile one”, stated Mr. Phil Downey.
Upon his arrival back to Midway Airport Mr. Downey was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. “No one anticipated the enormous turn out that came to give these veterans a welcome home they never had”, said Donna Zielazinski, a staff member at Villa St. Benedict. Along with Villa St. Benedict residents, staff and sisters, there were also other families, friends and associates. Also included were the JROTC Color Guard and the JROTC band.
“The entire day was absolutely magical and spectacular”, stated Mr. Downey. “I could not have asked for anything more. I was so surprised and touched by my fellow friends at Villa St. Benedict. It meant so much to me to see them at the airport when I arrived home!”
Villa St. Benedict staff and residents gather at Midway Airport to welcome back one of their own aboard Honor Flight Chicago
On the evening of Wednesday, July 15, 2009 a group of 9 Villa St. Benedict residents, staff and sisters were brought together for one common reason, to honor one of their own. Mr. Phil Downey a resident at Villa St. Benedict and a former World War II Veteran was part of the 80 veterans escorted to Washington, D.C. Mr. Downey’s flight was the ninth in a series of “honor flights” dedicated to honoring veterans living in the Chicagoland area.
Early Wednesday morning Mr. Downey, flew out of Midway Airport headed for Washington D.C. This one day trip included a day of remembrance and reminiscing for many veterans who have waited over sixty years to see the highly anticipated World War II Memorial. In addition to the WWII Memorial Mr. Downey and his group of veterans visited the Iwo Jima, Korean, Vietnam and Lincoln Memorials. “It was a long (18 hour) day, but a worthwhile one”, stated Mr. Phil Downey.
Upon his arrival back to Midway Airport Mr. Downey was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. “No one anticipated the enormous turn out that came to give these veterans a welcome home they never had”, said Donna Zielazinski, a staff member at Villa St. Benedict. Along with Villa St. Benedict residents, staff and sisters, there were also other families, friends and associates. Also included were the JROTC Color Guard and the JROTC band.
“The entire day was absolutely magical and spectacular”, stated Mr. Downey. “I could not have asked for anything more. I was so surprised and touched by my fellow friends at Villa St. Benedict. It meant so much to me to see them at the airport when I arrived home!”
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Bridging the Generation Gap
Villa St. Benedict Residents and Second Graders at Spring Brook Elementary School Participate in a Year Long Pen Pal Program
Mrs. Lewis’ second grade students were on their best behavior while awaiting the arrival of 27 senior residents from Villa St. Benedict on Tuesday, May 19. The children waited anxiously to meet the pen pals they had spent the last year getting to know via “good-old-fashioned” letter writing. Lewis, reminded the children while they were waiting, “Be sure to show the hospitality we learned and always be on your best behavior with proper adult manners.”
The new and exciting partnership began at the beginning of the school year in early October 2008. Kelli Cox, Director of Resident Services at Villa St. Benedict (VSB) contacted her daughter’s second grade teacher, Mrs. Melissa Lewis with an idea to create a Pen Pal program. “I just thought it would be a wonderful intergenerational activity. It turned out to be a big hit with the residents and children alike!” The year long program allowed the students to fulfill a curriculum requirement while making new friends from an entirely different generation.
Tuesday, was the meet and greet that everyone had been looking forward to. The children had prepared two songs for their guests. They also had food and drink and the afternoon wrapped up with a tour of Mrs. Lewis’ second grade classroom. Everyone in the room had a smile on their face.
“I am so excited about this program. I did not know what to expect when Kelli contacted me but it has been the best experience I have had since I began teaching”, said second grade teacher Mrs. Melissa Lewis. “The life lessons that the students have learned while writing to the resident of VSB could not have come from a textbook. The kids have learned so much more than just letter writing, it has been a wonderful opportunity and one that I hope we can continue.”
The Pen Pal program is just one of the ways VSB is working to bridge the generation gap these. In addition to the pen pal’s Villa St. Benedict is also working with North Central College students on a Learning Legacy Program that records history from participating residents. This is an on-going program that is really getting a lot of interest. Many additional programs are offered each month that include elementary to college age children performing a multitude of talents.
In asking what is next for this program, Mrs. Cox, stated, “I would love to continue to grow the program. It would be great to have the children take a field trip to visit Villa St. Benedict they could then see where their pen pals live.”
Villa St. Benedict is an Active Retirement Community located at 1920 Maple Avenue, Lisle, IL 60532. For more information about Villa St. Benedict or the
Benedale Center for assisted living, please contact a member of our
Marketing staff, at 630-852-0345.
Mrs. Lewis’ second grade students were on their best behavior while awaiting the arrival of 27 senior residents from Villa St. Benedict on Tuesday, May 19. The children waited anxiously to meet the pen pals they had spent the last year getting to know via “good-old-fashioned” letter writing. Lewis, reminded the children while they were waiting, “Be sure to show the hospitality we learned and always be on your best behavior with proper adult manners.”
The new and exciting partnership began at the beginning of the school year in early October 2008. Kelli Cox, Director of Resident Services at Villa St. Benedict (VSB) contacted her daughter’s second grade teacher, Mrs. Melissa Lewis with an idea to create a Pen Pal program. “I just thought it would be a wonderful intergenerational activity. It turned out to be a big hit with the residents and children alike!” The year long program allowed the students to fulfill a curriculum requirement while making new friends from an entirely different generation.
Tuesday, was the meet and greet that everyone had been looking forward to. The children had prepared two songs for their guests. They also had food and drink and the afternoon wrapped up with a tour of Mrs. Lewis’ second grade classroom. Everyone in the room had a smile on their face.
“I am so excited about this program. I did not know what to expect when Kelli contacted me but it has been the best experience I have had since I began teaching”, said second grade teacher Mrs. Melissa Lewis. “The life lessons that the students have learned while writing to the resident of VSB could not have come from a textbook. The kids have learned so much more than just letter writing, it has been a wonderful opportunity and one that I hope we can continue.”
The Pen Pal program is just one of the ways VSB is working to bridge the generation gap these. In addition to the pen pal’s Villa St. Benedict is also working with North Central College students on a Learning Legacy Program that records history from participating residents. This is an on-going program that is really getting a lot of interest. Many additional programs are offered each month that include elementary to college age children performing a multitude of talents.
In asking what is next for this program, Mrs. Cox, stated, “I would love to continue to grow the program. It would be great to have the children take a field trip to visit Villa St. Benedict they could then see where their pen pals live.”
Villa St. Benedict is an Active Retirement Community located at 1920 Maple Avenue, Lisle, IL 60532. For more information about Villa St. Benedict or the
Benedale Center for assisted living, please contact a member of our
Marketing staff, at 630-852-0345.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Resident Charles McGowan Travels Back to Battle of the Bulge
Mr. McGowan had long awaited a trip back to the site where his 99th Infantry division helped defeat the Nazis in World War II. At 90 years old McGowan travelled back this past June 2009 for the first time. He was met with many emotions but was happy to revisit once again.
Read the full story on the Daily Herald at: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=303561
Mr. McGowan had long awaited a trip back to the site where his 99th Infantry division helped defeat the Nazis in World War II. At 90 years old McGowan travelled back this past June 2009 for the first time. He was met with many emotions but was happy to revisit once again.
Read the full story on the Daily Herald at: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=303561
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Villa St. Benedict and North Central College Partner to Record History
Villa St. Benedict and North Central College recently have teamed up to offer a program entitled, “Learning Legacy”. This new program based loosely on National Public Radio’s (NPR) Story Corps is becoming a big hit for the students and the residents alike.
Students from North Central College in Naperville, IL are volunteering their time to come to Villa St. Benedict and record the stories/history of the residents on campus. The stories are recorded and are turned into Compact Disc’s for the residents to share with their friends and families. North Central College as well as Villa St. Benedict will also keep a copy of the story for archive purposes.
This new program is a wonderful opportunity for the students as well as the residents to share information and really interact with each other while recording a little piece of history.
If you would like to know more about his wonderful program and partnership, or if you would like to visit while “history is being recorded” please contact me via email
Recording history, one story at a time.
Villa St. Benedict and North Central College recently have teamed up to offer a program entitled, “Learning Legacy”. This new program based loosely on National Public Radio’s (NPR) Story Corps is becoming a big hit for the students and the residents alike.
Students from North Central College in Naperville, IL are volunteering their time to come to Villa St. Benedict and record the stories/history of the residents on campus. The stories are recorded and are turned into Compact Disc’s for the residents to share with their friends and families. North Central College as well as Villa St. Benedict will also keep a copy of the story for archive purposes.
This new program is a wonderful opportunity for the students as well as the residents to share information and really interact with each other while recording a little piece of history.
If you would like to know more about his wonderful program and partnership, or if you would like to visit while “history is being recorded” please contact me via email
Recording history, one story at a time.
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