Villa St. Benedict

Who Lives In A Retirement Community?

2011-10-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

Everyone starts the process of looking for a retirement community in the same way, they know someone who has looked or lives at a place, they have their kids check into it, and maybe, just maybe they might go for a tour. But who really lives in a retirement community? As someone who has been in sales in the senior housing industry, I have found that there are four types of people that typically move into a senior living community: worriers, planners, health conscious and social butterflies.

The Worriers: These people move because they are concerned about the next time something goes wrong in their house, a leaky roof, the furnace going out, the next BIG snow storm. These people move to a senior community because most communities offer 24 hour maintenance, lawn and snow removal that will alleviate the stress of the person moving in. Most of the time the “worriers” end up with more time to do the things they enjoy doing because they no longer have to be concerned with what they have to do.

I once had a gentleman and his wife come in to look at the community where I was working. Both looked very healthy, but the wife had some dementia. The husband liked to go fishing and would occasionally leave for a fishing trip for a couple of days. He was always worried when he left that she would go out for a walk and get lost or that she would cook something on the stove and forget to turn it off. Moving to a retirement community helped take those worries away. When he went off on a fishing trip, he simply let the community know and they made sure to keep an eye on his wife. He could go and enjoy his trip and know that his wife was safe.

“Worriers” usually will come in to my office after they have settled in and tell me that they wish they had made the move sooner.

The Planners: This generation has saved and saved their whole lives and they want to be able to leave a legacy for their children and grandchildren. The “planners” move to senior living communities because most offer some sort of refundable entrance fee. This allows the resident to preserve some of their nest egg for their family. Also, the monthly fee eliminates having to write several checks every month because many communities include things like maintenance, lawn and snow removal, flexible dining options, transportation, utilities, housekeeping, and fitness memberships. This allows this group to budget more effectively because they no longer have to deal with the fluctuating costs of homeownership, plus, in most cases there are no property taxes to pay!

“Planners” often have dealt with a family member or someone close to them who had a crisis and had to scurry around to try and find a place to go. This group doesn’t want to be a burden to their family and friends when the time comes to make a move. They like to have everything in order and want to be in control of their decision about where to go and when. They tend to choose a community that offers a continuum of care in case they may need further assistance in the future.

The Health Conscious: This group overlaps the two groups above in that there is some worry about their future health and they are looking ahead and planning in case a need should ever arise that may require them to have more care. Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) offer residents the opportunity to move to a higher level of care if a need should arise. Also, most senior living communities offer a variety of health and wellness programs from professionally staffed fitness centers to on-site medical offices that are available to help residents stay healthy and active.

The comfort of knowing that there is nursing staff available 24-hours a day is sometimes all this group needs. They want to know that should something happen there is someone on-site that can respond quickly. This is also great peace-of-mind for family members; at most communities, there is some sort of system that checks on resident’s well-being every day, allowing family to relax and go back to being a son or daughter rather than a caregiver.

Social Butterflies: This last group of people are those that are looking to be connected to their community. A resident can be as active as he or she likes with a wide variety of trips and activities offered every day of the week. Senior housing provides residents with the opportunity to keep active and meet new and interesting people.

A prospect I was working with said that she was excited to be moving to my community because she had been having dinner with the same man for 15 years. I said, “You never told me that you had a husband that was coming with you.” She laughed and said, “I don’t. I have been eating dinner in front of the TV watching Tom Brokaw. I am so excited to finally be able to have a conversation again during dinner!”

Senior living communities are great for people that want to meet new people. I often hear from families that they can’t get in touch of their mom or dad because they are never home. Or, that he or she is busier now than they were when they were working. The opportunity to socialize keeps residents from falling into a sedentary lifestyle and gets them to interact with others with similar interests and backgrounds.

All four of the above groups of people are seeking to find ways to be more independent and enjoy their retirement. It allows them to do the things that they want to do rather than the things that they have to do in their houses.

The Decision that Rocked our Friends and Family!

2011-09-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is written by a resident at Villa St. Benedict:

"Polly and Ken have done WHAT?" "What's Wrong?" "Has Ken had some bad news about his health?" "Is Polly giving up her business?"

All of these questions and more we heard after we started telling our friends about our decision to sell our home of 39 years and move to a CCRC. Our two boys, now grown with families and careers of their own, were actually relieved, after the initial shock.

There were plenty of reasons for us to make this move. Polly has done Estate/Moving sales for 38 years and almost every family she worked for that moved to a retirement community said, "We should have done this 10 years ago." Part of our decision was based on that very thought. We are at that "10 year stage." Health history on both sides, both min and Polly's played another part in our decision. But even more significant were the immediate things we were facing: The house needed to be totally updated in decorating, carpeting, upholstering, and maintenance. Earlier in my live, I did all of the wall papering and painting. But time moves ever onward, and I could no longer do the decorating. It had been 15 years since we had done a complete job, even to the extent of major remodeling to the kitchen and living-room. We had a contractor do that remodeling. (It took 9 months for the work to be completed.)

The logical thought was that even if we went to the expense to update, how long would we be in this house? And, more significantly, anyone who would by the house, freshly updated, would most likely change it anyway.

We had also decided that we did not want to make a move to a condo and "down-size' twice, as many as our friends had done. Why go through that aggravation? We knew what our goal was and were determined to reach it. Thus I undertook the BIG STEP, and started to look at alternatives. We both knew that we were not ready for an "apartment atmosphere" as our condo decision had proved, and we wanted to continue to be able to travel and move about freely. We liked the privacy that a villa or cottage provided.

After much research, I came to the conclusion that a CCRC was in our future. I began in April 2008 visiting facilities that offered the accommodations we felt were important to us. Some facilities offered only apartment living. A few others had both apartments and villas or cottages. I moved toward this arrangement. At first I was very interested in a facility where friends had moved. It was close to our family and had cottages that were very nice. Unfortunately, there was a two year waiting list and perhaps a move to an apartment before a cottage would be available. We did not want to be involved in two moves and having to store belongings for a cottage. Finally, I found a community that was only 10 miles from our home. It actually put us closer to both our sons who live in the area. Polly and I toured the various offerings and liked the arrangement. It was early summer and we were now into our summer home and the usual guests that arrive. During this time Polly and I had decided that we should make a commitment and get on with the move. We made a trip from Holland, MI to tour the community. We were impressed and found that it offered us the plan that we had been looking for. In fact, it solidified our plans and we moved with great speed to empty our house and select only those items we really needed. In less than a month, we moved out, Polly ran an Estate/Moving Sale and we MOVED!

After a year, we looked back at all that took place and marvel at how right this decision was and still is.

Our acceptance in the new "community" by the other residents and staff could not have been smoother. We have maintained our friendships from our former hometown and church, and have entertained both family and friends using the amenities available to us here. And, Polly is still running her her Estate Sale business full time.

For us, being in our early 70's puts us among some of the younger residents here. It makes no difference as the new friends we have made here have welcomed us and we find them to be very delightful and fun to be with. We share past experiences of family and work. We find these folks to be extremely interesting and stimulating.

All in all, I must say, that this move, albeit most ambitious, was the wisest decision we could have made!

Ice Cream Social for the Pen Pals

2010-05-18T13:00:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, Villa St. Benedict hosted an ice cream social for the participants of the Pen Pal program. This is the second year that 28 of our residents have corresponded with second graders from Spring Brook Elementary School (District 204) in Naperville. Both the students and their families came to the Villa Center for the event.
Earlier this month, the VSB residents met their pen pals for the first time when they were invited to a party at the school. What a wonderful and fun way to keep the art of letter writing alive and well through this inter-generational way of communication.

Relaxing at the Salt Caves

2010-05-18T09:05:00.000-07:00

Today, the residents are off to visit the Galos Salt Caves in Chicago. This man-made cave is constructed from Crimean salt from the Black Sea. Sixteen thousand tons of salt were formed into bricks to create the walls and several inches of loose rock salt cover the floor of the spa. For centuries, Eastern Europeans have sat in natural salt caves to help relieve respiratory, circulatory, skin ailments and stress.
VSB residents will have 45 minutes of relaxation, while sitting in beach chairs listening to gentle seaside music. When the session is over, everyone will be headed to a separate cave which is actually a restaurant that serves a wonderful Polish buffet. Sounds like a great day at the shore!

A Fragrant Day at the Park

2010-05-13T07:50:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Villa St. Benedict residents took a trip to Lilacia Park, better known as the jewel of Lombard. Located on 8.5 acres, Lilacia features a horticultural park, greenhouse and a historical building. This beautiful park was the former estate of Col. William Plum and his wife, Helen Plum. It became known as Lilacia, the Latin term for lilac. The Plums developed their love of lilacs after visiting the famous gardens of Victor Lemoire in Nancy, France. They purchased cuttings of two varieties--double white and double light purple--from which the present collection got its start. When Col. Plum passed away in 1927, he gave his land to the people of Lombard as a public park. Because of the Plum's generosity, Lombard has the most unique park in DuPage county.
Following the tour, VSB residents lunched at a Greek restaurant.

In Honor of Mom

2010-05-06T14:57:00.000-07:00

The Villa Center dining room at Villa St. Benedict was the site of a special Mother's Day Tea for all residents of the community, both in independent and assisted living. This was the 4th year that the Resident Services Dept. sponsored this beautiful event, which also included family members. A blue and white motif was chosen for the place settings. The prayer before lunch was said by Sr. Regina Ann. The menu featured fresh fruit, the "Villa" salad of apples, strawberries, candied walnuts over mixed greens with raspberry vinaigrette and a delicious croissant filled with chicken salad. The dessert tray offered cream puffs, eclairs and chocolates. Of course, a myriad of teas were available. The residents were waited on by managers and staff members from various areas. Entertainment was provided by harpist, Laura Utley. Everyone left with a unique gift and a wonderful memory.

A Battle of Skills in VSB's Kitchen Stadium

2010-04-29T14:08:00.000-07:00

Ask any resident what they enjoy most about living at Villa St. Benedict and chances are they will say the fine dining experience. Morrison Senior Living provides the culinary services at the community, headed up by Director Lisa Reid and Regional Executive Chef Chris Moore. Last week, Chef Chris decided to challenge the VSB cooks to an Iron Chef competition. He was looking to provide a training tool for recommending areas of improvement, a way to see individual capabilities and, of course, to have a fun time in the process.
Judges for the challenge were Chef Chris, Culinary Services Director Lisa Reid and VSB Assistant Administrator Kathy DiCristina. Each cook was judged on technique, presentation, taste and skill. Everyone was given a specific list of ingredients to create a salad, an appetizer and an entrée within a two hour timeframe. There were 100 possible points for each course. The top three contenders were awarded knives, with the winner receiving a 5 piece set. Congratulations to our big winner, Frankie Abundes, for his culinary supremacy! Second place was taken by Marcus Galli and third place was claimed by Dan Vogel. A big thank you to all of our participants for getting those creative juices flowing. You make us all proud

Drury Lane Musical

2010-04-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

Residents were off to lunch and the theatre to see Ragtime, The Musical. This production featured the largest cast ever to perform on Drury Lane's stage in the original costume design by Santo Loquastro from the 1998 Broadway production. "Ragtime" is a sprawling saga involving three families whose fortunes collide in dramatic fashion in early 20th century New York. Featuring over 30 songs, it is considered a modern operetta. The sweeping score and beautifully woven plot portray the struggles and triumphs of the human condition, just as relevant today as more than a century ago.
Bravos all around and definitely a must see!

Spring Band Concert

2010-04-09T09:16:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, April 11, the VSB residents will enjoy an outing to the spring concert of the Naperville Municipal Band that is being held at Naperville North High School. This band has a long and rich history dating back to 1859. Plan on having a great musical afternoon!

The Metropolitan Opera: Hamlet

2010-03-26T11:24:00.000-07:00

This week-end the residents will be able to see Ambroise Thomas's opera Hamlet. This is The Met: Live in HD presented by the Cinemark Theatre at Seven Bridges. It is a 5 act French opera featuring British baritone, Simon Keenlyside, in the title role. The part of Ophelia will be sung by the German soprano, Marlis Petersen. The music will be conducted by Louis Langree. This is the last opera for the season and should be some great Saturday afternoon entertainment for those opera buffs!

Wii Bowling Update

2010-03-26T11:19:00.000-07:00

Villa St. Benedict does it again! The trophy is back home after the re-match with Independence Village. Everyone really bowled their hearts out and the highest score was 239! There was a great turnout and the "sliders and fries" were the best! VSB will host the next re-match to be held in May, so keep your throwing arm in shape and have the pompoms ready.

Wii Bowling Re-Match

2010-03-25T11:54:00.000-07:00

Wii bowling is a popular activity in senior living communities and Villa St. Benedict is no exception. This sport has wide appeal because it enables anyone, especially those with limited mobility, to still be able to bowl. Now, one can mimic the moves of a bowler, but just have to wave their hand and a strike could be theirs.
Tonight, a bus load of residents will be attending a re-match between VSB and Independence Village in Naperville. The top 4 bowlers from each community will be playing and the VSB cheering section will be there dressed in red and white. Villa St. Benedict won the last time and is hoping to take the trophy home again. Good luck and great bowling!

St. Joseph's Day

2010-03-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

Today is the feast of St. Joseph and honors all fathers. VSB is celebrating with a traditional St. Joseph's Day table. It features an altar with a statue and picture of St. Joseph, along with a place setting for him. A lace tablecloth and votive candles in a red and white theme are used as decorations.
Since it is Lent, a meatless meal will be featured with staff members contributing some of their special favorites. Residents brought their appetites and looked great dressed in something red for the occasion.
St. Joseph is the patron of all workers and those in need of work. A prayer for the unemployed will be included in this traditional commemoration.

A Day in the Garden

2010-03-11T16:54:00.000-08:00

The residents will be downtown today at Navy Pier for the Chicago Flower and Garden Show. There will be 26 gardens on display this year with names such as-- "On the Street Where You Live","Bye Bye Birdie", "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "Alice's Wonderland". Also, Tablescapes will feature a combination of flowers, crystal, silver and china. One of the many highlights is the show's Marketplace with an eclectic variety of bulbs, herbs, gardening books, etc.
Hope you wore your comfortable shoes! Definitely, one will leave inspired with phenomenal garden and landscaping ideas.

Spring is in the Air

2010-03-10T09:07:00.000-08:00

Residents will be off to spend an enjoyable evening at the dress rehearsal of Benet Academy Drama Troupe's spring musical "Into the Woods". This production combines the well-known fairy tales of Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack & the Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood with the story of the baker and his wife who desperately want a child. A witch has cursed the couple and the only way to remove it is for the couple to perform various missions that involve the characters in the other fairy tales. There are many lessons to be learned throughout the musical. What a great way to experience the many talents of the BA students!

Let's Do Lunch and a Play!

2010-03-04T09:02:00.000-08:00

The residents are headed out today to St. Charles to the theater at Pheasant Run for lunch and a show. They will be seeing the production of "Over the Tavern". This is a comedy set in 1959 in Buffalo, NY about the Pazinski family. They are Polish Catholics (of course) who live above their tavern with their 4 teenagers. Talk about hilarious! Just wait until 12 year old Rudy, who is about to make his confirmation, questions the Roman Catholic church to ruler-cracking Sister Clarissa.
Get ready to hold onto your sides from all the belly laughs.

Men's Club Outing

2010-02-26T10:15:00.000-08:00

Today, our Men's Club will take a trip to Joliet to tour the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus. It was named after a Spanish nobleman who lived from 1204-40. The cathedral is the spiritual center for the Diocese of Joliet, IL. This magnificent structure was built in the 1950's and paid for by original diocesan members at a cost of $2.4 million. Replication today would have a price tag of a mere $20 million.

What tales will they tell of seeing this building of Pennsylvania granite, Indiana limestone and interiors with 25 varieties of imported marbles? The "wow" factor is sure to be the windows of translucent mosaics that illustrate 12 articles of the Apostles Creed. For the architectural aficionados, they will behold an edifice without steps from sidewalks to entrances; ample exits; accurate and acoustical sound amplification; devotional space where all may see and follow the liturgy; and a religious, devotional interior. Pictures will certainly be taken of the 190 foot high bell tower which contains 5 cast bronze bells, the largest weighing in at 2 tons. They are automatically set to sound the Angelus daily.

This will surely be an educational and enjoyable trip for all!

Murder Mystery Adventure Takes Over VSB

2009-11-30T11:30:00.000-08:00

On an otherwise ordinary fall afternoon, twenty-four Villa St. Benedict residents and staff members gathered in the Villa St. Benedict lounge to participate in a murder mystery. Each participant played a role in the mystery. The characters included Harry Highstakes, owner of the Deadwood Saloon, his wife Henrietta, the Sheriff, Gambling Jack and his wife Anna Belle, Mitch Maverick, a business man from the east who won the poker game, Holly Kickok, gambler, Banker Bob and his wife Banker Bonnie, Montgomery Money, who was in Deadwood on a business trip but is secretly trying to buy the saloon, and Black Barbara. Mitch Maverick was murdered and participants had to identify the killer. Clues were given to the players as the party went on, but only one person correctly identified the killer!
Everyone had a great time and expressed interest in doing another play or murder mystery. We are already planning a second event for the Spring. No one realized what talented actors and actresses we had on campus!

Villa St. Benedict Director, Cycles 9,000 miles around United States

2009-10-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

Exercise Physiologist Craig Broeder, Ph.D., FASCM, and Director of Villa St. Benedict’s Performance Enhancement Center, recently completed a 9,000 mile cycling trip around the perimeter of the United States. Dr. Broeder, age 55, began his trip on May 15th in Austin, Texas at Lance Armstrong's bike shop Mellow Johnny's, and ended his trip back in Austin on August 25th. The 9,000 miles took him through California and Washington State, east towards Ohio and Maine, and down south to Georgia and Florida. He completed his journey in exactly 100 days.

Dr. Broeder rode to raise awareness for ovarian cancer in honor of his wife Kay Broeder, an ovarian cancer survivor. With only nine days of rest during his journey, Broeder was biking an average of 100 miles a day. It was not easy but Dr. Broeder found his inspiration from his wife and this led him to complete his mission and raise $15,000 along the way.

Way to go Dr. Broeder we are so proud of you!

New Comer of the Year Award

2009-10-02T12:48:00.000-07:00

Villa St. Benedict, Staff Member Recognized for Outstanding Efforts in the Senior Citizen Community

Law ElderLaw, LLP recently presented Courtney Shomo, Public Relations Specialist for Villa St. Benedict, with the “New Comer of the Year Award” for her dedication and efforts on behalf of the senior citizen community.

Villa St. Benedict is an active adult retirement community offering continuing care to seniors in Lisle, IL. As Public Relations Specialist, Courtney has taken an active role as the representative and spokesperson for Villa St. Benedict. In addition to her efforts of outreach Courtney has worked hard in the arena of Alzheimer’s care and research. Six months ago Courtney worked with the nursing department of Villa St. Benedict to implement a support group on campus that would be open to the entire community. Currently Courtney helps to facilitate the spousal Alzheimer’s and memory care support group which meets once a month at Villa St. Benedict.

“Courtney is a huge asset to Villa St. Benedict, we are proud to have her on staff and feel she is most deserving of this award. Her hard work and dedication to the senior community is one that is admired by many in the senior profession.”, stated Glenn Trembley, Chief Executive Officer at Villa St. Benedict.

To find out more about Villa St. Benedict and the Alzheimer’s support group you can find us on the web at www.villastben.org. You can also find more information the “New Comers” award and Law ElderLaw, LLP at http://www.lawelderlaw.com/.

Wii Bowling at Villa St. Benedict Gets a Boost

2009-09-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

Villa St. Benedict Wii Bowling Team Goes Nation Wide

Wii bowling has been popular with the Villa St. Benedict (VSB) residents for almost two years. More than twenty residents and over 7 teams participate in the VSB leagues. 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.

Recently Villa St. Benedict has joined the National Senior League (NSL) that has created a first of its kind, nationwide, eight-week Wii™ bowling league, beginning on October 19. National Senior League™ (NSL) offers the chance to take this Wii Bowling phenomenon to the next level, uniting senior Wii players in senior living communities across the country in a national, competitive league.

Villa St. Benedict residents are looking forward to the increased challenge and competition from player’s nation wide. Residents hope to be among of some of the best players in the United States! Donna Zielazinski, Director of Activities at Villa St. Benedict said, “We are excited to bring together residents, friends and families who can all join in on the fun. We are also curious to see how many connections we may have with other communities. I am sure at least one resident will know someone from another community close by or even in another state.”

New Chairman of the Board is Named for 2009-2010

2009-09-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

Dr. John Paul Vidmar named Villa St. Benedict’s Chairman of the Board for 2009-2010

Villa St. Benedict’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. John P. Vidmar as the entering Chairman of the Board for the upcoming fiscal year. Villa St. Benedict is an active adult retirement community offering continuing care to seniors in Lisle, IL. As Chairman of the Board, Vidmar will be the lead over the ten person board and will act as the representative and spokesperson to the overall community.

Dr. Vidmar has made a name for himself on the Villa St. Benedict board in a short amount of time. After only serving on the board for 2 years he has stepped up to the Chairman role with enthusiasm. John holds a degree in Political Science and Sociology from Cleveland State University, a Masters in Divinity from Catholic State University, a Master in Political Science from University of Chicago and a Doctorate from the University of Illinois. He combines more than 11 years of Diaconate Assignments around the Chicago-land area and is currently the Global Director of the public sector for Synovate, a large scale survey and research company for the federal government and the healthcare industry.

In addition to his numerous accomplishments within work and education, Vidmar is also a devoted family man. Married to his wife Dawn for over 30 years they have raised three lovely children in and around the Chicago-land area.

Villa St. Benedict is happy to welcome John Vidmar into the Chairman position and anticipate an exciting year ahead for the young retirement community.

Judy Biggert visits Villa St. Benedict

2009-08-31T08:02:00.000-07:00

Judy Biggert, Washington D.C. representative of Congregational District 13 recently visited Villa St. Benedict (VSB) to speak with the residents about Health Care Reform.
We had a wonderful turn out, over 90 residents gathered in the Piazza area to listen to Mrs. Biggert speak about H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009. So many residents were interested in hearing how the proposed legislation would affect their medical care. Mrs. Biggert expressed her belief that America's health system must be reformed so that all Americans have access to quality and affordable health care, regardless of preexisting conditions or income. However, with all that said she does not believe that H.R. 3200 will accomplish the goals that have been set.
After multiple questions from the VSB residents, Judy shared the possible negative effects of the proposed legislation. When questioned she shared she would work with other members of Congress to develop and acceptable proposal. Ideally the solution would be worked out by a bipartisan committee bringing both political parties together.
This was a fascinating opportunity to learn more about the upcoming Health Care Reform from the inside. The residents truly enjoyed the evening and many are looking forward to the next Encore Speakers Series.

Alzheimer's Support Groups Offered at Villa St. Benedict

2009-08-25T11:08:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Villa St. Benedict hosts an Alzheimer's Support Group the 4th Wednesday of each month? Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend. These groups are a wonderful way of sharing your story or just listen to others tell their story. Many times these groups just help others know, You are not alone! Below are the details of our monthly meetings. i hope you will make a point to join us.

We have two groups that meet at the same time in different locations on campus.

Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group for Spouses
or
Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group for Adult Children

Each of these groups are made up of family members and spouses who have relatives with memory problems such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia or Parkinson’s Disease. Come and learn more about the conditions that cause memory loss, current treatments, care-giving tips, and programs and services that can help you.

The meetings are free of charge and open to all. Light refreshments
will be provided.

When and where do we meet?
The groups meet every fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm at:

Villa St Benedict
1920 Maple Ave.
Lisle, IL 60532

Spouses support group meets in the Villa Center Private Dining Room
Adult Child support group meets in the Benedale Center Private Dining Room

For more information, call Courtney Shomo, Outreach Coordinator,
Villa St. Benedict: 630-725-7037

Take a virtual tour through a villa home at Villa St. Benedict

2009-08-17T11:43:00.001-07:00

Have you ever driven by Villa St. Benedict and thought, "I wonder what they look like on the inside?" Or maybe you have no idea who or what we are and would like to learn more and see for yourself what sets us apart from other active senior living communities. Well now is your chance! Take a look inside one of our beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 bath villa homes and see how easy it would be to call us home!

http://www.villastben.org/
Click on the green "take a tour" button on the right side of our webpage.

Villa St. Benedict Chef Receives Top Honors

2009-08-05T09:15:00.000-07:00

Villa St. Benedict Chef, Chris Moore selected to Attend Culinary Institute of America in New York City

Chris Moore, the main chef at Villa St. Benedict has been a little busy lately. After a surprising nomination by the Regional Director of Operations for Morrison Dining, Chris was selected out of 850 chefs to attend the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in New York City for 1 week. The intensive week long training focused on new concepts, new ideas and great ways to help conserve and lessen our carbon footprint.

Being from England, Chris was excited about traveling to New York City as he has never had the opportunity to visit. Unfortunately the training was so intense he did not have the opportunity he had hoped to explore the city. “I did get to see the Statue of Liberty as we were driving in”, said Chris.

The training started immediately after the arrival of all 25 carefully selected participants. Chris said the most interesting part of the process was how secretive everything was. “They did not tell us a thing. Each of the chefs had no clue what to expect. One person had heard that it would be a lot of training and non-stop cooking, that person was very right”.

During the six day training each of the chefs spent time in the kitchen while also spending equal time in intense classroom style training. Each participant was encouraged to take back new recipes and ideas to their place of business. Master Chefs encouraged them to think beyond the ordinary and explore new and eventful meal choices. Celebrity chef, Cary Neff who most recently joined the Morrison team as VP of Culinary, conducted several demonstrations and shared with the small group new concepts for Morrison Dining. Most recently, Neff partnered with Morrison to create Flavors 450, a culinary concept that brings simple, nutritious and flavorful food to the dining experience. Working with Morrison executive chefs, he developed a menu featuring an array of more than 60 rotating recipes, each under 450 calories.
Post training Chris has been asked to put together a plan of action to implement some of the new concepts. “I am anxious about incorporating some of the wonderful things I learned. I can not wait to get started. I am most excited about a possible Mediterranean Cuisine night which will feature a different country or style of food each week”, said Chris.

2009-07-27T13:26:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-07-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

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!”

Bridging the Generation Gap

2009-07-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-07-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

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.