For Love & Lilie:

Enjoying Retirement

Alongside A Furry Friend

For Masonic Village at Sewickley resident Jack Philips, pets are part of the family. The bond he shares with his 6-year-old bichon, Lilie, goes to show that our furry friends can be a source of companionship and comfort, especially in challenging times.

“I’ve been a dog person pretty much all my life,” Jack laughed.

Over the past 35 years, he and his late wife, Phyllis, had welcomed three bichons into their family, each of which hold a special place in his heart.

Lilie’s friendly and upbeat demeanor is unique from previous family pets, however. Despite her petite stature, her personality certainly packs a punch.

Despite Jack’s praises of his beloved Lilie, he is quick to add she is not without her challenges.

“She has a squeaker toy shaped like a hedgehog that she finds first thing every morning, and she insists on playing fetch with it until my arm gets tire. That’s when the barking starts,” Jack lamented. “Of course, I wouldn’t trade her for anything, but she’s definitely a character.”

Jack also highlighted the responsibilities of owning a pet, which he described as taxing, but more than worth the effort.

“I don’t feel like I have total freedom to participate in all the amenities on campus since I have Lilie to consider,” Jack explained. “I will say, though, Lilie is the first dog I’ve had who I can tell to take a nap while I’m out, and she does it happily,” he said.

Despite her quirks, it’s clear that Jack’s fondness for Lilie is unconditional. He remembers the day he and Phyllis adopted her.

“She was so small, you could hold her in your hand,” Jack recalled. “She was the only one in her litter who survived, so we were very fortunate to get her.”

Lilie has become more of a friend to Jack than a pet, especially following Phyllis’ passing in November 2021.

Jack knew it was time to make a move from the home they had shared in Point Breeze, Pennsylvania. After touring a number of senior living facilities in the Pittsburgh area, Jack found Masonic Village at Sewickley was a step above the rest.

“The campus was absolutely beautiful,” he said. “It was like driving onto a small college campus – lots of green space, beautiful buildings. It’s a lovely place.”

Jack also appreciated how pet-friendly the campus felt, since Lilie would make the move with him and would need amenities of her own in order to feel at home.

On top of that, the location nearby his two sons in Franklin and Cranberry was “the icing on the cake” for Jack. Since his official move-in last June, Masonic Village at Sewickley has proven to be the perfect home not only for Jack, but for Lilie, as well. She even joined Jack in his photo for the resident directory!

“My apartment is perfectly suited for Lilie and me,” he said. “It’s on the ground floor with sliding glass doors out to the patio, plus it has a spacious kitchen.”

Jack can attest to Lilie’s quick learning of their new environment and daily routine, which involves a 5 a.m. wake-up, several walks throughout the day and occasional trips around campus and the community.

Her frequent outings not only keep Jack active, but they’ve also made her somewhat of a celebrity on campus.

“Lilie has this ability to befriend anyone we see on our walks,” he said. “A lot more people know Lilie’s name than know mine, and that’s perfectly fine with me,” he laughed.

Residents always stop to chat with Jack and Lilie when they’re out and about, even giving Lilie snacks and singing songs to her.

“You’ll find that you really get to know the pets as much as, if not more than, the owners,” Jack said.

Even so, Jack enjoys just being known as “the guy with the little white dog” if it means that Lilie brings as much joy to other residents as she does to him.

“A lot of people are in a situation where they’ve lost somebody, and a pet can be a real friend,” he explained. “For me, I think I’m a bit introverted, so I’d be very lonely if I didn’t have Lilie. I couldn’t ask for more.”

It’s clear that Jack and Lilie have an unbreakable bond, which extends to everyone they meet. With Lilie, Jack found a loyal friend and lifelong companion.

By Natalie Torta, public relations associate

To provide 9-10 programs a year to all areas of campus

To offer socialization among pet owners

To implement the Canine Good Neighbor program, in which dogs and their owners pass a series of tests, including: accepting a friendly stranger, walking through a crowd and reaction to a distraction, such as a wheelchair, cane or walker.

To aid pet owners with pet problems

To aid residents looking for a pet

To provide a list of competent pet care professionals (veterinarians, pet supply stores, groomers, etc.)

To provide assistance to pet owners who need interim pet care