A Place To Call Home

Comfortable, engaging, independent living appeals to residents at The Estates of Hawthorne Village of Ocala.

Owning a home may be the American dream, but it comes with never-ending upkeep and expenses. For Laura Siedel, walking away from that was a huge relief.

When she moved to The Estates at Hawthorne Village of Ocala this past March, no longer having homeowner responsibilities was like a weight lifted o her shoulders.

“Been there, done that!” laughs Laura. “I love getting the mail and knowing there won’t be bills for home insurance, taxes, pest control or any of those things. This is perfect for me. I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do.”

Originally from Illinois, Laura and her husband moved to Plantation, Florida, in 1979. Widowed for 19 years now, Laura moved to Ocala to be close to her son who lives here. Her other two children and their families live in Pompano, Florida, and Minnesota. Ten of her 16 grandchildren live in Ocala, and she sees them regularly.

“My son found The Estates at Hawthorne Village. I came for a tour and talked to a couple of the tenants, who told me they love living at The Estates. I fell in love with it, too,” relates Laura, who selected a third-floor studio-style apartment home. “When I had that great big house, I was only living in a small part of it, so adjusting to living in a studio wasn’t hard at all. I only moved the pieces of furniture I wanted and needed.”

Being free from cooking and household chores was also a breath of fresh air.

“I don’t miss cooking! I think the food is marvelous and the sta is wonderful,” says Laura. “They go out of their way to keep you happy and content.”

For many people turning 85, it might be hard to make new friends, but Laura was delighted to find that hasn’t been the case at her new home at The Estates at Hawthorne Village.

“The people who live here are really friendly,” she says, “and there’s a lot of fun entertainment and social activities. It’s a wonderful place; I’m very glad I decided to make the move here.”

When she’s not involved in group activities, Laura enjoys word search books and keeping up with friends and families on Facebook with her computer and iPhone, pleased that she has free Wi-Fi included in her monthly rent. She still has her car and drives most places, even though a shuttle is available.

Pet-Friendly Environment

Originally from Wisconsin (“Go, Pack, Go!”), Kathleen Back and her late husband wintered in Florida for several years before moving permanently in 1997.

A widow since December 2009, Kathleen later lived with a domestic partner, but after he passed in 2015, she began looking for the right place for herself and her cat, Okie.

That’s when she found The Estates at Hawthorne Village.

“I really liked the fact that everything here is contained in one building. You don’t have to go to other buildings for dining or to exercise. I didn’t want to have to buy a golf cart just to get around,” says Kathleen, 83, adding that it was also important to find a place where she could have a pet, as she didn’t want to give up Okie.

Over the course of a year, Kathleen visited The Estates at Hawthorne Village multiple times and attended various events, so when she actually moved in May 2018, she had already developed friendships with several of the tenants.

work on those as well. During football season, she’ll be cheering on the Packers on the big screen TV in her lovely apartment home.

Kathleen still drives and enjoys the opportunity to visit her daughter’s family nearby. Her other two children and their families live in Valrico, Florida, and Wisconsin. She has eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

“I’m happy here,” says Kathleen. “There’s something to do all the time, but the greatest thing is the people. The tenants, as well as the entire sta , are so pleasant.”

All-Inclusive, Worry-Free Living

Hawthorne Village of Ocala is a not-for-profit, full-service retirement community, conveniently located near Paddock Mall, major health care providers and a variety of cultural and historical venues. The Estates of Hawthorne Village o ers exquisite apartment homes for the independent retiree who seeks an active lifestyle with an all-inclusive monthly rent. Worry-free and maintenance-free living awaits you at The Estates, as weekly housekeeping and linen service, two restaurant-style meals per day, transportation to medical appointments and scheduled lifeenrichment activities are just a sampling of what is available to the tenants. The Inn at Hawthorne Village of Ocala is a lovely, homelike setting for those individuals who need assistance with daily self-care in a supportive and attractive environment.

As part of a full-service retirement community, Hawthorne Village of Ocala provides a full spectrum of care to meet all of your health care needs, including a state-of-the-art inpatient and outpatient Bounce Back Rehab and skilled nursing—all of this, on one beautifully manicured and easily accessible campus.

“For me, coming here was very deliberate,” says Kathleen, who chose a beautiful, two-bedroom, one-bath apartment home. “I like having my co ee on the screen-enclosed patio in the mornings,” she adds, noting that Okie also appreciates this private outdoor space.

Kathleen was delighted with the opportunity to live in such a sizeable apartment home, as well as all the amenities included in the monthly rent. She studied the floor plan carefully to design the perfect layout of her furniture.

“That let me have a plan of exactly what I desired and needed to bring with me,” she says.

Kathleen belongs to The Book Club, which meets weekly in the handsome library of The Estates. She enjoys playing bingo twice a week and wouldn’t miss the fellowship of the scrumptious Ice Cream Social every Sunday afternoon. There is always a jigsaw puzzle in progress down the hall, and Kathleen has been known to