V illageOICEV
WINTER 2025
Masonic Villages include locations in Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill, Sewickley and Warminster.
Published by Masonic Villages’ Public Relations Department Masonic Village, One Masonic Drive Elizabethtown, PA 17022
717-367-1121, ext. 33383 or email pr@masonicvillages.org
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Masonic Villages is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Decisions concerning admissions, the provision of services and referral of residents are not based upon race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age (where minimum age for admission is met), sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, limited English Proficiency (LEP) or any other protected status.
Home Care Launches in Lafayette Hill
Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill is the latest campus to offer home care services to retirement living residents. Currently available at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown and Sewickley, home care is a secure, convenient option for those who want to receive personalized care or individualized services in the comfort of their home.
Home care is a non-medical service designed to support individuals and their primary caregivers with daily living and household tasks, including meal preparation, light housekeeping, personal grooming and transportation.
Clients can look forward to quality trained staff, services available 24 hours a day – on an hourly, daily, regular or temporary basis – and a free comprehensive initial assessment and consultation for needs.
Home Care launched at Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill on Nov. 1, 2024. Lisa Johnson, home care services coordinator, started last September. She previously worked in home care at various continuing care facilities before coming to Masonic Village.
Lisa has a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology from Albright College, a master’s in health care administration from Strayer University and a certificate in Social Gerontology from Community College of Philadelphia.
Lisa said she was looking to join a community that was established and cohesive, with a primary focus on person-centered care.
“Home Care services are valuable because we want people to age gracefully in their homes,” Lisa said. “When they come here from a larger home and downsize, it gives them a sense of security that they can stay in their apartments and someone can come in and assist them.
“Some residents worry about going to the personal or nursing care areas because they feel like they won’t be independent anymore. Home Care allows them to stay independent in their apartment with some support.”
As of January, 11 residents were receiving home care services, and 14 in-home caregivers have been hired.
Home Care services are paid private and are only offered to retirement living residents at this time, although that could change in the future, Lisa said.
Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill resident Ed Flounders (shown above with Vera Jennings, in-home caregiver) currently receives Home Care services in his apartment. He previously used an outside service when his late wife was sick in 2020. Now, he has a Masonic Village employee come in to change his bedding, do his laundry, clean the kitchen and make some meals.
“This is an excellent program,” Ed said. “I couldn’t live in retirement living without someone helping me. Vera [in-home caregiver] is very reliable and professional. She comes in for two hours, two days a week. And that’s really all I need. If I need more time, I just ask for it. She gets it all done so quickly, there’s usually time left over!”
Residents may contact Lisa Johnson at 610-825-6100, ext. 61324, or lisjohnson@masonicvillages.org to arrange a Home Care consultation.
Planned with Purpose: A NEW LOOK FOR MASONIC VILLAGES
On Jan. 1, 2025, the Masonic Charities, including the Masonic Villages, unveiled new logos. This follows the rebranding of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania/Pennsylvania Masons in 2024.
Thanks to generous donor support, the Masonic Charities serve distinct missions, from senior care and youth services to blood and organ donations and preserving Masonic history. Over the years, their respective logos were developed independently. The rebranding aims to create cohesive, modern logos that reflect each charity’s unique mission while strengthening their collective identity. The new designs share common visual elements to enhance recognition and consistency across all the Masonic Charities.
The rebranding process was conducted by Masonic Charities staff and involved gathering input from stakeholders through surveys, focus groups, competitor analyses and leadership feedback.
Masonic Village has transitioned to a new, simple and modern logo that embodies and embraces our mission and values.
At the heart of our new logo is the acacia branch, a symbol rich in Masonic meaning. It represents the immortality of the soul, reminding us of our lasting impact on those within our care. The buildings depicted reflect our strong sense of community and the wide range of services available at Masonic Village locations across the state.
The calm color scheme exemplifies security, trust, abundance, and the promise of new beginnings, reinforcing our commitment to those we serve. The iconic square and compasses symbol integrated into the “A,” pays homage to our organization’s rich Masonic heritage, connecting our past with our future.
Together, these elements create a logo that truly represents the essence of Masonic Village. It unifies our family of Masonic Charities, committed to serving residents, employees, donors, volunteers and clients.
We are excited for this new chapter and look forward to continuing our Mission of Love!
LOGO MEANING: The “tree house” theme represents childhood. The home illustrates a sense of safety, protection and belonging, while the heart signifies love and charity. The trees represent growth, and the calm color scheme exemplifies security, abundance and new beginnings. The font is youthful.
LOGO MEANING: The abstract shapes in this logo represent compass arrows used to symbolize adventure, direction and way-finding. The integration of various colors and shape sizes represent diversity. The right-facing arrows symbolize movement and forward-thinking. The font is youthful.
LOGO MEANING: The lantern and window pane are a direct representation of the Masonic Temple doorway. The lantern and open book also symbolize Masonic light or knowledge, and the window serves as a “window into the past.” The font treatment gives the logo a historical presence, while still feeling modern.
LOGO MEANING: The heart in this logo represents organ donation, as well as love and charity. The blood droplet signifies blood donation. The color palette includes shades of red to symbolize humanitarian aid and action.
LOGO MEANING: The truck symbolizes farming and gathering, adding a hometown feel. Apples depict the fresh produce, famous apple cider and apple picking the farm market offers. “Farm Market” uses a friendly, sturdy font – a font you might find stamped on an apple crate. The colors used can be found in nature.
WALKING TOGETHER
A dementia diagnosis comes with a lot of questions and concerns. Those unfamiliar with the disease may not realize what they don’t know, which is why Masonic Village staff offer valuable information that can provide peace of mind during an uncertain time. Resources and support can help make this life-changing event less overwhelming for families and loved ones.
“Like the rest of life, there are ups and downs with a dementia diagnosis,” said Dr. John Mast, primary care physician, who works with Masonic Village at Elizabethtown. “Meeting this challenge is tough, but love makes it possible to meet this challenge with grace.”
CHUCK AND BUNNY’S JOURNEY
During a talk he gave to residents in 2023, Dr. Mast shared the story of Chuck and Bunny Armstrong (shown below)
Chuck and Bunny raised a family together as he worked in the military, and they traveled around the world for his career. They had just retired to Mechanicsburg when Chuck noticed Bunny’s memory was worsening. After her official dementia diagnosis, Chuck believed the disease was part of God’s path for them. They accepted the path they were given, and their plan was to keep enjoying their lives together.
The Armstrongs realized they were getting older and knew they’d need some help down the road. They looked all over the East and West coasts and found Masonic Village at Elizabethtown was the best place for them both. They moved into the Sycamore Townhomes.
Bunny’s disease progressed to a point when she couldn’t manage at home with Chuck’s help anymore, so upon the guidance of staff, she moved to one of the memory support areas of the Masonic Health Care Center, where she was well cared for. Chuck visited every day, and she was reassured by his presence. He was her anchor.
Seeing him leave made Bunny feel sad, and it was hard on Chuck. After dinner, they had quiet time in the Chapel counting blessings and listening to hymns. This prepared them for the night time and gave them hope for the next day.
“We find when individuals with dementia have difficulty with agitation, distracting them works best,” Dr. Mast said. “If someone is upset, it’s best not to directly confront them or say, ‘You can’t go home.’”
Bunny was gradually losing the ability to say words, but she could always laugh, Dr. Mast recalls.
To include some self-care, Chuck went out for breakfast with friends. Eventually, Masonic Village Hospice provided close support to them both. After more than a year, Bunny suffered a sudden illness, and the plan was to keep her comfortable in place. She passed peacefully in her sleep with her love, Chuck, by her side.
Chuck and Bunny navigated this difficult journey of love successfully with lots of helping hands.
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
According to Dr. Mast, people with mild cognitive impairment can take care of themselves without any difficulty. Needing a bit of help with bills or cleaning doesn’t mean a person has dementia.
“Dementia is a collection of symptoms related to memory loss and cognitive decline, and there’s a continuum of cognitive changes,” he said. “Dementia can include problems with thinking, but also with behaviors and emotions, too. It’s caused by biological changes in the brain.”
Dementia affects activities of daily living that keep people from independently bathing, dressing, toileting, walking, eating and caring for themselves. There are many types of dementia, with Alzheimer’s being the most common.
SIGNS OF DEMENTIA
It’s a normal age-related change to sometimes forget which day of the week it is but figure it out later. While a diagnosis requires a physician’s consultation, some early signs of dementia in a loved one may include:
1. Losing track of dates, seasons and the passage of time on a regular basis
2. Forgetting where they are or how they got there
3. Experiencing balance problems
4. Having difficulty reading, judging distance and noticing colors and contrast
5. Getting lost while driving
6. Trouble following or joining a conversation (not to be confused with hearing loss)
7. Stopping in the middle of a conversation and having no idea what to say or frequently repeating themselves
8. Having difficulty naming a familiar object or calling it the wrong name, which is called paraphasia
9. Accusing others of stealing their things or moving their furniture around (they may not remember where their furniture was yesterday but may remember where it was 20 years ago and think it’s suddenly different now)
10. Having issues with judgement or managing their money
11. Paying less attention to grooming or keeping themselves clean
12. Feeling confused, suspicious, fearful, depressed or anxious.
GEORGE AND ANGIE’S STORY
For George and Angie Kohlweiler (shown below with Masonic Village staff), the day they’d move to the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown was always on the horizon.
“That day came on Aug. 3, 2018, when my wife was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s,” George said.
They moved into the Sycamore Townhomes in 2019, as Angie’s health continued to decline. They requested Masonic Village Home Care services and received regular assistance at home until May 2022, when staff felt it was best to move Angie to one of the memory support areas in the Masonic Health Care Center. She stayed there until her passing on Feb. 28, 2024.
“Overall, I knew I was passing the torch of her care from myself and my daughters who live locally to Dixie [Colvin, dementia nurse manager] and her crew, and it was a smooth handover,” George said. “It couldn’t have been any better.
“They don’t treat you like a resident. As soon as you walk through those doors that are secured, you’re family. They guide you and hold your hand every inch of the way, and you are never in the dark or have a question of what’s going on.”
PHILOSOPHY OF CARE
“The most important thing we do is meet the residents where they are, whether it’s where they are in their changes in cognition, activities of daily living, mobility, eating and even their ability to communicate and participate in family events,” Dixie said. “It helps us to treat them better and provide a more holistic environment.”
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As staff get to know each resident and family, they are able to offer personalized services which are best for each individual. Social work, spiritual care and nutrition services, as well as therapies, ranging from speech, physical and occupational therapy to pet or music therapy, can be beneficial.
Secured courtyards with water fountains, trees and gazebos give staff a place to allow deescalation when residents get agitated.
Murals on elevator doors, which create a homelike environment, feature two pastoral scenes from Masonic Village’s campus and were made possible thanks to a donation from Concordia Lodge No. 67, Jenkintown. The colors are important, with green being one of the last colors to be recognized by someone with dementia, and the purple flowers surrounding the water fountain representing support for Alzheimer’s disease and research.
The murals provide a calming distraction for residents who have wandering tendencies. The recognizable imagery promotes reminiscence, enjoyment and conversation. For example, residents who were farmers notice the cows in the pasture. Those who took care of their property at home notice the perfect mow lines or the tree shadows. Residents familiar with Elizabethtown will recognize the water tower in the background.
An additional mural will be completed soon, thanks to residents David and Lisa Law and Lodge No. 9, Warminster.
“One of the important things when families bring their loved ones in [to Masonic Village] is to allow us to provide the care,” Dixie said. “They allow us to not only provide the care to the resident, but a break to the loved one. Caregiver fatigue is a huge concern. Once your loved one is here, it’s time for you to also take care of yourself. Give yourself the grace to have a little time.”
Adding to the knowledge and comfort staff provide, a resource room, located outside the memory support areas, provides family with materials to help answer their questions and concerns. There is also a dementia caregiver support and education group which meets monthly in Elizabethtown.
Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill does not have a dedicated memory care area but does offer support to residents
with dementia and families in need. Certified activity professionals provide specialized sensory programming. At Masonic Village at Sewickley, two secured areas within the Sturgeon Health Care Center provide a safe and comfortable home for 32 residents who may be at risk for wandering.
Masonic Village at Dallas staff can provide resources and guidance with any coordination of care. If additional health care is needed, residents receive priority access to the Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, as well as other Masonic Village locations across Pennsylvania.
The experience of dementia continues even after the loss of a loved one.
“Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease,” George said. “We continue to work with research and raise money to fight the disease.”
Dixie and George, alongside other staff and resident family members, have participated in the Lancaster Walk to End Alzheimer’s for several years on behalf of loved ones to raise awareness and show their support in “fighting for a different future.” Throughout the year, they host fundraisers, including craft/paint nights, bake sales and candy gram sales. For the 2024 walk, the group surpassed its $5,000 fundraising goal and was able to contribute $6,123.30 to the cause.
The team also held a mini-walk at the Masonic Health Care Center, so residents could participate. During the walk, everyone enjoyed beautiful fall weather, with family members invited to visit and walk, too.
“A person’s dementia journey doesn’t start and finish the same day or the same way, and neither does their care or their stay here,” Dixie said. “We truly go where they are and with the support and input from families and therapists, it makes a difference in the care we’re able to provide.”
“This is the greatest place to be, and we’re just so fortunate that God steered us here,” George said.
Walking in Their Shoes
Rachel Langjahr, a certified nursing assistant at Masonic Village at Warminster, attended a recent dementia simulation exercise for staff, led by Penn/ Temple LTC RISE employees, a team of social workers, physicians and nurses who assist longterm care facilities in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Rachel made her way through a variety of stations where she had to button a shirt, write a grocery list and set a table – all while wearing gloves and listening to distracting music through headphones. It wasn’t easy, but it gave Rachel a glimpse into the mind and life of someone diagnosed with dementia.
The different hands-on stations are designed to understand loss of hearing and increased confusion, loss of central and peripheral vision, loss of sensory nerves and fine motor skills and feelings of frustration and overstimulation that accompany dementia.
“I know now how the residents feel when they can’t do something for themselves,” Rachel said. “It gave us a lesson and was very informative.”
According to Glynis Meyrick, a social worker with LTC RISE, there are seven stages of dementia, ranging from short-term memory loss to total impairment.
While Masonic Village at Warminster does not have a dedicated memory care area, staff provide care and services to many residents with memory impairment.
“We work with each individual resident and their family to deem the best way to support them, based on their level of impairment,” Kelly Shrum, executive director, said. “We utilize baby dolls for residents who, due to their cognitive impairment, believe they are still caring for their babies. The dolls are lifelike and offer our
residents a feeling of peace. Similarly, some of our ladies love to fold the basket of ‘laundry’ we bring to them. Their agitation lessens considerably when their hands are busy.”
Staff members are well-educated and trained to understand memory impairment, Kelly said. Ongoing education also includes annual video-based modules to ensure that nurse’s aides receive regular training on how to care for residents with dementia.
Across all Masonic Village locations which offer nursing services, staff are provided initial training and continuing education for working with residents who have dementia.
Following the recent dementia simulation, Glynis asked participants about what they experienced and how they would handle various hypothetical situations with residents. Samantha Cole, social worker, and Diana Ellison, R.N., assisted Glynis with the presentation.
“How did you feel? Not so good?” Glynis asked about the simulation activity. “That’s how residents [with dementia] feel when they can’t do tasks for themselves. When caring for a resident, take it one task at a time and break it into steps. There’s a lot of repetition involved. We need to be patient and meet them where they’re at.”
The BEST of the BEST 1
In 2024, thanks to readers’ choice voting through various media outlets, national rankings and state department inspections, Masonic Village locations were recognized for going above and beyond in the quality of care and services provided. Residents can find comfort and security knowing they’re residing among the best senior living communities in the state amidst dedicated, professional staff.
Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill and Sewickley were included on Newsweek and Statista’s list of America’s Best Nursing Homes 2025. Assessment and rankings were based on performance data, recommendations of medical professionals and resident satisfaction. Categorized into separate lists by state and size, Masonic Village at Elizabethtown ranked 2nd (150+ beds), Masonic Village at Sewickley ranked 13th (100149 beds) and Lafayette Hill ranked 8th (50-99 beds).
“We’re so excited and thank our staff for being a part of this recognition,” Matt Mayo, assistant executive director/health care administrator, Elizabethtown said.
“We know they all share joy, love and their hearts every day with our residents.”
“I am so proud to be a part of this amazing organization that has stood the test of time and continues to care for and love our residents like no other organization,” Bill Kingsbury, CEO, said. “Our staff are amazing people, and the love they show every day by going above and beyond in caring for our residents and each other – there are really no words for it.”
“We are proud every day, but we are a little extra proud to celebrate this recognition,” Denise Jones, assistant executive director, Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill, said. “Thank you to the residents who give us purpose and to the staff who drive Masonic Village’s mission.”
“I wasn’t surprised by this recognition, not just because we have a five-star nursing facility, but also because I have a chance to hear from our residents and from our family members and to hear the impact our staff have on their lives every day,” Eric Gross, executive director, Masonic Village at Sewickley, said.
This achievement is also no surprise to many residents and their family members.
Jeff Hoachlander’s parents, Nelson and Alverna Hoachlander, moved to a retirement living cottage at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown in 2017 and loved the lifestyle and community.
When the couple transitioned to nursing care in the Masonic Health Care Center (MHCC), they received the loving assistance and care needed for their unique situation. Nelson passed away in 2021, and Alverna moved to personal care for a short time and then returned to nursing care.
“It is just a beautiful place for her to be living,” Jeff said. “The staff here are just fantastic.”
When the weather was warm, Jeff and his wife, Debbie, enjoyed taking Alverna outside to walk the same trails she regularly traversed when she first moved into her cottage. They also liked to visit the Masonic Village Farm Market.
As Alverna’s health has declined, she is limited in what she can do and is receiving care through Masonic Village Hospice.
“The hospice team has been terrific and they, along with other staff, have really taken care of my mother,” Jeff said.
Although the idea of a continuing care retirement community feels far in the future for them, Jeff and Debbie joined the priority wait list for retirement living after witnessing the care and attention given to his parents.
Masonic Village Home Care, Home Health and Hospice staff
Barbara McKee resided at Masonic Village at Sewickley for four years before her passing in 2023.
“Mom had never relied on anyone for anything in her 80 years,” her son, Shawn McKee, said. “She was very independent. She liked helping people. Now that she was the one who needed help, we weren’t sure how it was going to go. But the nurses and aides connected with my mother like it was their own mother or grandmother. They would sit and ask questions about her life. The deep connection she had with them – I wasn’t expecting that.
“They treated her not like a patient but like a loved one they deeply cared for. It was more than a job [for them]; it seemed like a passion.”
Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill, Masonic Village at Sewickley and Masonic Village at Warminster were all rated 5 Stars by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2024. CMS rates nursing homes based on health inspections, staffing and quality measures, with five stars being the highest possbile rating.
Masonic Village at Elizabethtown and Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill were also recognized among U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Nursing Homes 2025.” Both were designated as “High Performing,” a level only 19% of organizations on this list achieved.
Masonic Village at Sewickley was voted among TribLIVE’s 2024 “Best of the Best” awards. The campus placed gold in the “Retirement Community” category, silver under “Personal Care” and bronze under “Nursing Home.”
Masonic Village at Elizabethtown was voted “Best of the Best” in the “Senior Living” category for Harrisburg Magazine’s “Simply the Best” awards.
Masonic Village Home Health in Elizabethtown was named Best Home Health Agency in LNP + LancasterOnline’s Readers’ Choice Awards. Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, Masonic Village Home Care and Masonic Village Hospice also placed in the top three for their respective categories. Masonic Village Home Health in Elizabethtown also earned the Strategic Healthcare Programs’ SHPBest™ Superior Performer patient satisfaction award for 2023.
Beyond the awards and accolades, Masonic Village staff constantly seeks feedback from residents, staff and family members in the form of care plans, food and activities committees and resident councils. Every day, efforts are measured through smiles, laughter and shared experiences that leave lasting impressions on everyone who lives, works and visits a Masonic Village.
The Party May Have Ended, BUT THE PARTNERSHIP LIVES ON
In 2013, after 18 years of window displays filled with party supplies, balloons and children’s toys, Party Ants in Sewickley closed. Owners and Masonic Village at Sewickley residents Robin and Ding Hays (above, l-r), who are also sisters, decided to retire, citing a sluggish local economy and a desire to volunteer more in their community.
The name of the store – Party Ants – was derived from a drawing the sisters’ niece sketched of the word “party” with two ants to its side. Primarily a party store when it opened in 1995 with a small selection of toys and gifts, it expanded to offer more toys, games, balloons and other items.
“I had been in retail my whole life and had worked at a Hallmark store for 18 years,” Robin said. “When my boss sold the business, I decided it was time to move on and started working at a clothing store in Sewickley. I went to a party store to buy something, and the owner said she was selling the place. She knew me as a frequent shopper and thought I might want to buy it. And the rest is history.”
Ding was on board with co-managing the store. She kept her job at a Pittsburgh bank for about a year until the store was more established, and then joined Robin full-time as co-owner, alongside two other female employees. The two rarely had downtime.
“People
say, ‘oh, you own your own business, you can do whatever you want,’ but that’s not true,” Robin said. “Owning a business is 24-7. You’re never not thinking about it.”
Ding added: “One July 4, we were closed but a customer needed balloons for a bike parade her kids were in. Robin and I went and blew up balloons for her. That’s what a small business is. You do what you have to do.”
As trends came and went, the sisters said the Beanie Baby craze of the mid-90s led to one of the most successful years they ever had. Other popular toys they sold included Hoberman expanding mini spheres and Rokenbok remote control construction toys.
“We were really on the ground floor of a lot of toys,” Ding said. “We would see something at toy fairs and really like it and think it would do well. It always seemed to take off. Robin had an eye for it.”
The most gratifying part of owning the business for the sisters was getting to know the people from Sewickley and the greater community.
“People were always coming in for a fun event,” Robin said. “It’s not like we were a dentist about to drill someone’s teeth. It was a very happy and gratifying place. We miss the people and the relationships we formed, but it’s nice to be retired.”
Robin and Ding share a villa at Masonic Village, but spend January through March at a 55+ retirement community in Bradenton, Florida. They credit their fandom for the Pittsburgh Pirates for luring them down south.
“We went there many years ago on a trip sponsored by one of the sports writers in Pittsburgh,” Robin said. “We stayed for a week and went to three [spring training] games, fell in love with the place and decided to buy a home here.”
The sisters always make sure to go back north in time for Easter, which their family considers to be an important holiday. Robin and Ding are two of five siblings, and only one other is still alive. Their parents started an Easter tradition where on Easter eve night, the front yard is decorated with handmade Easter bunnies and baskets. Ding and Robin have continued the tradition for the past nearly 40 years.
“When we sold our house [and moved to Masonic Village], the new owner wanted to keep doing it,” Robin said. “We took some of the bunnies to Masonic Village this past Easter. We plopped them into the mulch, and it was kind of nice.”
Robin and Ding moved to Masonic Village in January 2024.
“We love it here. It’s wonderful,” Robin said. “Our experience has been nothing but positive. We’ve spent most of our time here packing and unpacking, so we need some time now to relax and get into things.”
Robin and Ding are known as “the sisters” at Masonic Village. People still approach them about Party Ants. “They’ll tell stories about being in the store, and it just makes us feel very good that people remember us,” Robin said.
They have spent many years volunteering in the community, whether it was with a local food bank or through the YMCA’s food delivery program. In 2007, they were named the Sewickley Herald’s “Women of the Year.”
The sisters weren’t always so close growing up because of their six-year age difference and living far from each other. One day, they had the opportunity to live together in their great aunt’s house, and “that was the beginning of our sisterhood again,” Ding said.
“Our lives have always been about taking care of family,” she said. “We’ve never married. We were too busy with work and family. We credit our closeness to our parents and the love they had for the family. Robin and I have similar interests, and we enjoy doing things together. Of course, we have our moments when we get annoyed with each other, but then it’s over. It’s a wonderful partnership.”
Sisterly Affection
Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill residents and siblings Claire Davis and Norma Leis (shown on next page, l-r) agree that having each other to lean on through the good times and the bad makes living here even more fulfilling.
“It makes things better having my sister here,” Claire said. “It makes us even closer than we were before.”
Claire and Norma are one of five sets of siblings living at Masonic Village. Claire, 93, has been a retirement living resident for more than nine years. Her husband, Jim, lived with her until he passed away in March 2023.
Norma, who will turn 99 in July, has lived at Masonic Village for 15 years, first in retirement living and now in the personal care area. Her husband, Charles, lived with her for about 10 years before his passing.
“I try to get up to see her most days,” Claire said. “I don’t always make it, but I try. All we have is each other. Our other sister passed away.”
The sisters have always been close, but never lived near each other until now. Norma lived in Arizona for 15 years when Charles was in the Army Corps. The couple were married for 75 years.
Claire and Norma were born and raised in Philadelphia. Claire and Jim lived in Florida and Texas when he was a Colonel in the Air Force for 28 years. After the service, the couple settled in Doylestown. They were married for 70 years.
The siblings and their husbands would often take trips together all over the country in Norma and Charles’ RV. Claire, a former office manager at a doctor’s office, has four children, 14 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
“I have a few children to go around,” she joked, “and I see them fairly often since three of them are local. They come a couple times a week. I’m very blessed.”
Norma, a former administrative assistant at the University of Arizona, had two children, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her daughter lives close by and her son recently passed away.
Claire said it’s “wonderful” living at Masonic Village. She enjoys all the activities and the ease of living here.
(L-R): Claire, their sister Jane (who passed) and Norma
“I don’t have to cook if I don’t want to,” she said. “I volunteer in the gift shop, go to the Wellness Center and do other things.
“Before we came to Masonic Village, Jim and I used to sing with a group called The Now Time Singers. It was a wonderful group, and we sang in churches, at the Bucks County Playhouse and many other places.”
Claire has a toy poodle named Bailey, named by her husband after Bailey’s Irish Cream. “Everyone in the east building knows the dog,” Claire said. “She’s 15 years old and such a friendly little thing.”
Norma enjoys living in personal care because it has everything she needs. The people are also very friendly, she said.
Despite their five-year age difference, Claire and Norma have always gotten along and rarely fought, and that hasn’t changed as they’ve aged.
“We’re five years apart, but we’ve always had a good relationship,” Claire said. “Our mother always said, ‘First up, best dressed!’ When I was a kid, I used to steal some of [Norma’s] clothes and shoes. She didn’t like me wearing her clothes. Those were the only disagreements we had.”
Making the Most of Time Together
While Glenn Knight and his younger sister, Janice Hartman, grew up in Lititz, Pennsylvania, their lives took them across the country, and in Glenn’s case, around the world. Returning close to their roots, the siblings were reunited in 2023 at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown.
“We went years without talking. We knew we were okay, and if something happened, we’d be there for one another, but we didn’t talk much,” Glenn said. “Now we’re a phone call away. We spend at least one meal a week together.”
Lititz was an idyllic, small town, where everyone knew everyone. If there were any problems, everyone knew the police and vice versa, and issues were quickly resolved.
Glenn and Janice’s dad was a World War II veteran and their mom was a Camp Fire Girl. As a child, Janice had polio, and her father worked while also caring for her, and her mother worked, too. Glenn spent a lot of time with his grandparents, as well as in their closeknit community.
“Mom and dad had a lot going on,” Glenn said. “They were very active.”
Janice’s first experience with Elizabethtown was when she spent 10 months in the State Hospital for Crippled Children awaiting a leg brace. Glenn couldn’t visit her in person, but he remembers standing outside her window and waving.
Their mom loved to travel, and their dad would plan trips across the country. By the time Janice was age 11, they
had visited 48 states. In 1958, the family traversed Route 66, and Glenn recalls his dad staying up late to plan their route each night, so they’d be able to stop at gas stations.
Janice’s favorite spots were Colorado and the Canadian Maritimes (consisting of the New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island provinces). Glenn fondly remembers Disneyland and the Rocky Mountains.
Much like their parents, Janice and Glenn grew up to be very active among military service, raising children, jobs, traveling and volunteering.
Janice earned a home economics degree from Mansfield University and worked for a year as a teacher in Pottstown. She also served as an assistant dietitian for St. Joe’s Hospital. After she married her husband, John, she stayed at home with their three sons, later working at JCPenney as a custom decorator.
They returned to Elizabethtown, where they built a house, before moving to Baltimore, where Janice worked for the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program. She also volunteered for years assisting with a post-polio newsletter. She and her husband later moved to Delaware and Florida.
After John passed away in 2006, Janice moved in with her middle son and his family in Washington state for 10 years.
“It was fun to be with my two grandkids,” she said. She has a total of eight grandchildren.
After high school, Glenn joined the Marines for four years, during which time he met his wife, Beverly. He then spent 16 years in the Air Force and retired as a
Master Sergeant and public affairs officer. His military service took him across the country and to Turkey, Korea, Japan and Germany, among other countries.
After his retirement from the Air Force, Glenn worked as a fundraiser for Ephrata Commuity Hosptial and Penn State University in Harrisburg, as publisher of “The Parkesburg Post,” as executive director of the Lancaster County Historical Society and in other roles.
He and Beverly spent several winters in Florida and lived in an RV as they traveled the country. Now “retired,” he’s a Park Ranger at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia.
“I know almost everything there is to know about the Liberty Bell,” he said in jest.
Glenn has two children, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Among his hobbies are visiting the wellness center and throwing telephone poles, a Scottish tradition known as a caber toss. He competes in the annual Convenanter Scottish Festival and Highland Games and was named champion of his age bracket in 2024.
“I do it now because it might not be possible tomorrow,” he said. “My goal is to have better health next year than this one.”
Glenn is also a Mason and cites the existence of Masonic Village at Elizabethtown as one of his reasons for joining while he was living in Indiana.
“I planned to move here since 1976,” Glenn said.
He and Janice had an aunt who lived at Masonic Village. Before moving in, she had been told she had six months to live. She ended up living five more years.
Janice wasn’t originally planning to move to Masonic Village. She and John were set to live in Florida.
“I never expected my husband to pass,” she said. “In the back of my mind, I knew Glenn was coming here. I contacted marketing, and some prayers were answered. We have longevity in our family, and living here gives us good insurance.”
She especially appreciates the accessibility of the tunnels, which connect the apartment buildings in the Village Green area to all the amenities in Grand Lodge Hall. She’s easily able to get where she needs to in her motorized wheelchair. Her family enjoys visiting Masonic Village, her home since 2022.
“My grandkids love the tunnels,” she said. “They say grandma lives in a castle. It’s a nice place to live. It’s exceeded my expectations. I’m happy by myself, or I can go and sit in the lobby and talk to someone. You have options.
“Being here with my brother, I can’t think of a better environment.”
Glenn and Beverly moved to the campus in 2023. He likes knowing he’s not responsible for home maintenance.
“It’s freedom,” he said. “I have confidence I’ll be taken care of, even if my funds run out.”
Reunited and settled in their new home, Janice and Glenn enjoy reminiscing about their childhoods while embracing the new faces, sights, sounds and smells of Masonic Village.
“Growing up, we’d walk to school and hear the sounds as we crossed the railroad tracks and smell the chocolate from Wilbur’s,” Glenn said. “We moved here, and now we hear the train and smell the chocolate from the Mars factory.”
FROM Brothers TO Best Friends
The more things change, the more they stay the same, at least that’s what siblings Henry and Louis “Lou” Menapace (above, l-r) have experienced.
The identical twins have been mixed up by acquaintances since they were young boys. To this day, the 88-year-olds still look so much alike that fellow residents at Masonic Village at Dallas mistake them, too. Lou was born one minute before Henry, and the two have been inseparable ever since.
“I was a surprise,” Henry said. “We were born at home, and my mom couldn’t believe when a second baby popped out. She already had a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old. Because we were born at home with the doctor, he didn’t tell my mom beforehand. She had no idea she was going to have twins. In 1936, they didn’t have the maternity care they have today.”
Henry and Lou were born in Freeland, Pennsylvania, about 45 minutes from Dallas. Their father was a coal miner, but the family eventually relocated to central New Jersey for his new job. Their mother was a homemaker who had five children in succession. She stayed home for a while, before becoming a seamstress. As children, Henry and Lou used to pick blueberries up in the mountains and string beans from a local farm during World War II.
The brothers were very close growing up. “We argued and fought daily, but it was a good competition,” Lou said. “We did dress alike. When we
got to school, they would get us confused, so they made us wear
different shirts. We’d go out into a hallway
a week, and the girls wouldn’t know which one of us was asking them to dance,” Lou said. “The girls knew the conversation was different, so they quickly identified us.”
After high school, the siblings went in different directions. Henry became a U.S. Navy Seal, stationed in California and then Virginia. He met his wife, Louise, at a polka dance in New Jersey while he was on leave from duty. Lou, on the other hand, stayed home in New Jersey and eventually got married. Both siblings later became carpenters; Henry in commercial construction and Lou in home building.
Two of their sisters have passed away, and another sister, Sarah, currently lives at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown.
Henry and Louise have six children (one died at birth), one of whom lives in Dallas. They have 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. “We’ve been married 64 years, and it’s a wonderful life,” Henry said. “We love living at Masonic Village.”
Lou, who most recently lived in the Poconos, now resides in an apartment at Masonic Village. He has three children, and his daughter moved from Arizona to help take care of him after his second wife passed.
The two brothers live about a minute apart on campus; Henry has lived here for nine years and Lou for four. The brothers especially enjoy being able to see each other whenever they want. They go out to dinner weekly and have daily phone calls.
“It’s a wonderful place to live,” Henry said. “It’s a caring community. You get to know most of your neighbors. There’s a lot of activities. We like the fact that it’s maintenance-free. And living in Dallas, we’re very close to shopping, doctors, hospitals. It’s in a great location.”
Both brothers volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and the Boy Scouts. They also used their carpenter skills to provide services to their former parishes.
“I enjoy my brother’s relationship,” Henry said. “We are very close. Everyone should have a twin.”
“Everyone should definitely have a twin,” Lou echoed.
Art is in Bloom in Sewickley
Masonic Village at Sewickley resident Mary Preuss always enjoyed dabbling in art, but never really had time to devote to it due to a busy career teaching Spanish at the public school and university levels.
When she came to Masonic Village four years ago, she was thrilled to learn there was an Art Studio on campus that offered classes.
“I think the last time I took art was back in the ninth grade,” Mary said. “I started taking watercolor classes here. I liked the individuality of it – that you had free reign to paint whatever you wanted. I’ve learned so much from Donna [Billings-Davis, the teacher]. When I’m involved with art, I forget about everything else in the world. It’s very relaxing.”
The Art Studio opened over 20 years ago, offering classes from both residents and local artists. It has been particularly active this past year, with a list of new classes, teachers and special “pop-up” workshops. The studio is run by an arts committee chaired by Donna and made up of resident artists, some of whom volunteer their time, and others who teach classes and workshops. One woman is even a docent at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh.
Donna, who is also a resident, recently completed a twoyear term as president of the Retirement Living Association (RLA). Now, she’s enjoying more time in the Art Studio.
“I’m pretty much looking forward to doing art now and nothing else,” Donna said. “I do watercolor, and I’m teaching myself Chinese brush painting. I was always interested in art but didn’t start painting until I was in my 70s. I’d always wanted to, and I had a friend that challenged me to do so.”
While Donna was president of the RLA, she was also chair of another committee, and one of the members suggested doing something to enhance the look of the salon. Donna approached the late art teacher and resident Susan Bikowski and said, “Let’s perk it up.” The two ladies took on the project and enlisted the Art Studio to help them. They researched color combinations and added color to one wall and removed the old window drapes, which opened the space. Another artist, Marcia Brackin (shown below), painted one landscape and three pastels and framed them on the wall.
“We also made an abstract acrylic painting that we hung behind the chairs,” Donna (shown left with the painting) said. “We finished all the work by mid-November. People are really loving the way the room looks today.”
The demand for arts programming at the Sewickley campus has increased in recent years. In January, Donna offered a fourweek watercolor class, which she taught, as well as a “popup” Cocoa and Crochet class, a four-hour workshop taught by Brandy Onze, an instructor with Sewickley’s Sweetwater Center for the Arts. The watercolor class was for beginners who wanted to play with water and brushes. They learned five widely used watercolor techniques to create landscapes, postcards and/or bookmarks. Cocoa and Crochet involved drinking hot cocoa while learning how to crochet a beautiful winter scarf.
“We do a lot of heavy marketing and put information in the Village Living magazine, on flyers and on the doors of the Art Studio,” Donna said. “A lot of it is word of mouth. We’ve got a huge room, with tables for classes and a display area, where each artist can display their work. Every two months, we display a different artist in the front window. People stop by to see who is displayed next.
“There are a lot of residents interested in art at Masonic Village, whether it’s pastels or watercolors or something else.”
For the most part, there are enough spots in each class for everyone, but with the pop-up workshops, sometimes they have to turn people away, Donna said. Someone usually cancels at the last minute, though, so they can often make accommodations.
Resident Dick Wagner is both a student in watercolors and a teacher in perspective drawing. He is entirely selftaught and has drawn and painted with oils his entire life. He said he enjoys being part of a community of artists.
“I help people at all different levels of ability,” he said. “I have one lady who had a stroke, so I work closely with her. I will spend an hour helping her. I have about five regular students right now. It’s also a very social activity, so we talk a lot, which is nice. It’s a lot of fun.”
The In Memoriam Wall displays artwork by residents who have since passed away.
Show your pride for Masonic Village – in style – with a shirt, mug, bag, hat or more than 50 other items available in our new online merchandise store. Featuring our new logo, items come in a variety of colors, sizes and styles.
Even children and K9 friends can show their love for Masonic Village, with clothing for babies and scarves and hoodies for pets.
Items make great gifts for current and new residents, family members and friends. Visit MasonicVillageMerch.com or scan the QR code.
Questions about ordering can be directed to info@designsunlimitedapparel.com. Items will be shipped for no additional charge to your preferred address. If there are other items you’d like to see in the store, let us know at logos@masonicvillages.org.
FRANKLIN LEGACY SOCIETY
The Franklin Legacy Society recognizes and honors individuals who believe in and support the mission of one or more of the Masonic Charities, including Masonic Villages, through planned giving.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP
Members help ensure the good works of one or more Masonic Charities by committing to one or more of the following methods of support:
Naming a Masonic Charity as a beneficiary in their will or trust
Purchasing a Charitable Gift Annuity to benefit a Masonic Charity
Establishing a Charitable Remainder Trust naming a Masonic Charity as a remainder beneficiary
Including a Masonic Charity as a named beneficiary of an IRA, life insurance policy or the like
Including a Masonic Charity as a named receipt of a bank account or brokerage account through a Transfer on Death (TOD) or Paid on Death (POD) designation
MEMBER BENEFITS
Members of the Franklin Legacy Society are recognized in the following ways:
- Invitations to special events
- Recognition on a special donor wall*
- Recognition in the Annual Report for the Masonic Charities*
- Recognition with a special gift for joining
*Persons who wish, may remain anonymous while participating in the activities of the Franklin Legacy Society.
HOW MAY I JOIN?
For an application, visit MasonicCharitiesLegacy.org, email us at giving@PAmasoniccharities.org or call 1-800-599-6454.
NEW GIFT!
New members to the Franklin Legacy Society will now receive a brand new, meaningful gift as a token of our appreciation: a leather-bound journal, embossed with the Franklin Legacy Society logo, accompanied by a wooden, engraved pen handmade by members of The Rooster Woodshop at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown – crafted from a tree on the beautiful campus!
View our charitable solicitation disclosures by scanning the QR code.
Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2219
OUR MISSION: To empower and inspire our residents, customers and team members to achieve the highest quality of life, and to provide exceptional person-centered care and services to seniors, including many vulnerable members of our Masonic family without regard to their financial status.
Masonic Village at Dallas