Lifelong Friends Surprised to Be Next Door Neighbors

Lifelong friends Al and Margaret keep in touch regularly, yet it surprised them both to discover that they are now next door neighbors at Age Well Centre for Life Enrichment, an assisted living community located at 246 Berger St., Green Bay, WI.

“Oh hey, this is really great!” said Al when he learned that his new neighbor was his old, dear friend, Margaret, while touring the community with his wife, Rena. Al and Rena moved to Age Well at the end of February.

Margaret, who has been at Age Well since December, was equally pleased. “That’s great. I am so happy,” she said, adding that she’s known Al “a long, long time.”

Al and Margaret met when they were 12 years old and attended church and bible study together. They became fast friends and ran with the same crowd. Both recalled a lot of dancing and double dating, that is until each found their mate, and then all four went on to create more lifelong memories together.

They shared many milestone moments, like Al and Rena’s engagement. “Clarence and I were there when Al gave Rena her diamond!” said Margaret. “We all went to hear a band play and Rena said, ‘I have something to tell you’ but I already knew, because I saw the ring on her finger.”

“Boy we had lots of fun together,” she recalled. While each couple was raising three children, they found time to ice fish, deer hunt and go on dinner and dancing double dates.

“My goodness, when Margaret’s husband Clarence was living, all four of us would go ice fishing,” Al remembered. “We’d catch our limit, then Clarence and I would clean the perch, and we’d all enjoy a fresh fish fry.”

Nowadays, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Al and Rena are limited to waving to Margaret during hallway social hours and programs. However, Margaret said that she is content for now to live with the memories. “I think of all the good times I’ve had with family and friends and that makes me happy,” said Margaret, who has been on her own for eight years.

Margaret left the family dairy farm in Brussels, WI, where she lived since birth to move to Age Well. “I got married and stayed on the farm. It’s where we raised our three kids and it’s all I’ve ever known as home until now,” said Margaret, adding that she is glad during this time to be living in a safe, caring community…especially with a good friend right down the hall.

Al said he is looking forward to having a meal with his old friend Margaret again and to making new friends when groups can once again gather. Meanwhile, he is happy to keep company with Rena, his lifelong love of 73 years.

Age Well is a Pathway to Living assisted living community that features 58 one- and two-bedroom private apartment homes and Pathway’s award-winning VIVA! lifestyle that celebrates life with engaging programs and opportunities for residents to pursue their passions. For more information, call 920-468-9174 or visit www.pathwaytoliving.com.