“I like having my hands dirty,” says Carol Laniak, a resident at St. John’s Green House Homes in Penfield. “I would rather get the cows in at night than bake,” Carol jokes as she describes life growing up on a farm. She recalls plowing and bailing hay with her father while her sister handled the…

A sense of humor and a decent bottle of homemade wine might be the secret to longevity. At least that seems valid for Karl and Nancy Northrup, residents at St. John’s Meadows who have been married for 68 years and counting. The Northrup’s moved into the independent apartments earlier this year after Karl had spent…

Anyone who has ever worked in the dining services industry knows it is not easy. The hours can be long and the physical aspect can be exhausting. For Tony Zaccaglino, director of operations at St. John’s Meadows, his journey began at Charlie Riedel’s as a cook. From there, he worked as a bartender at Schooner’s…

Moving to independent living can be a difficult transition. Even after choosing a new home that best fits your lifestyle—a process that can take months, sometimes years—the period of adjustment following the move can be a stressful, sometimes lonely experience. Pat Brogan enjoys every day of her life at St. John’s Meadows to the fullest,…

“It doesn’t matter how slow you go, as long as you don’t stop.” – Confucius Setbacks, failures, and tragedies are a part of life. We all can relate to someone struggling; someone who has not been dealt the greatest hand. For Catherine Merriman, it was an unending cycle of sickness and rehabilitation for nearly three…

A part-time shahbaz at St. John’s Home, a mother to 3 children, and a student at Genesee Community College, Erika Lofton is a full time rock star at life. Erika began her journey at St. John’s three years ago and has been part of the shift from institutionalized nursing care to the small homes initiative.…

From a young age, Jean York had a compassionate heart and a yearning to help others. The youngest of three girls, she spent a great deal of time traveling with her father, Clarence Mould, a veterinarian. “Depending on where the call was, my father would take me with him. I thought it would be nice…

Alida Meyer gently dips her brush in green paint and then in water before making smooth strokes on a clean, white sheet of paper. As she continues, the colors come alive and soon the painting becomes something real. When her daughter Kathy suggests that the painting resembles the rolling hills of upstate New York, Ali…

“Be kind to one another and respect your parents.” That is the motto that Theda Hayes, a resident of St. John’s Home, has lived by her entire life – 102 years to be exact. “I never think of it as 102,” Theda laughs. “I just think of it as over 100.” She justifies her longevity…

Work is a stress reliever for Terry Neilon. As the community life specialist at Brickstone by St. John’s, Terry arranges social, recreational events, and programs for the residents at Brickstone. “[My role] simply involves finding ways to engage people naturally.” Discovering new ways to help people continue embracing life comes rather naturally to Terry and…