One thing folks love about St. James Place is our welcoming community of residents who feel like family. These connections go a long way toward cultivating emotional wellness, while preventing social isolation among seniors during the holidays and all year through.
Sometimes, though, “family connections” are more than just a figure of speech. That’s because many siblings, cousins and in-laws call our Baton Rouge retirement community home. Some even tell us that every day feels like a family reunion! Let’s meet some of these devoted kinsfolk and hear about their family traditions, both old and new.
For Audrey and Joyce, Ties Stay Strong as Family Traditions Evolve
Sisters Audrey and Joyce grew up in White Castle, together with five other siblings. Audrey, whose daughter works as a therapist at St. James Place, was first to join our Baton Rouge retirement community after her husband passed away seven years ago. Since her big move, Audrey has developed a passion for watercolor painting, particularly of religious icons.
Joyce and her husband Charlie followed in Audrey’s footsteps three years ago. “Charlie and I lived in Gramercy, so we visited Audrey often—and we were impressed by all the warm, friendly people here,” Joyce explains. “After we retired, maintaining our house became a chore, so I suggested moving to St. James Place. It took some convincing, but Charlie finally agreed … and now he’s the life of the party!”
“Since Joyce and Charlie moved in, it’s really filled a void,” Audrey adds. “I can’t tell you what a wonderful feeling it is, especially during the holidays.”
Speaking of holidays, one of the sisters’ favorite memories is the big family Christmas gathering with their parents, siblings and children. Santa Claus would always make an appearance, and everyone would enjoy great food and lots of laughter. Since moving to St. James Place, Audrey and Joyce’s family tree has grown to include multiple generations, and the sisters love playing host—even if they can’t always get everyone together at once.
“My great grandson and great granddaughter came to visit, exchange gifts and have lunch,” Audrey says with joy. Joyce was equally excited to welcome her two granddaughters with their young children in tow. “Entertaining is so easy,” she says. “The restaurants here have some of the best food in Baton Rouge—and I don’t have to wash dishes afterwards.”
The sisters had one more reason to celebrate this year: Their cousin Virginia is now part of the St. James Place family. Audrey and Joyce are trying to convince their brother and his wife to join them as well. “We bring it up every Tuesday when we gather for our virtual card game, but our 91-year-old brother keeps telling us he’s not old enough,” Joyce laughs.
Maureen Heeds Big Sister Kathleen’s Advice
Kathleen and her husband Al, along with Kathleen’s sister Maureen, all attended the same pharmacy school. After retiring, Kathleen and Al made their home near Baton Rouge and loved every minute of their newfound freedom. But as time went by, they decided they also wanted freedom from things like household maintenance and yardwork. “We visited St. James Place several times and just fell in love with the community,” Kathleen says. “The Good Lord must have directed us here.”
For her part, Maureen says her sister is the reason she came to our Baton Rouge retirement community. A confirmed career woman, Maureen traveled the country as a pharmaceutical representative before retiring in 2010. “I was happy on my own, but my sister—the practical one—kept raving about St. James Place and the peace of mind she’s found here. I finally heeded her words of wisdom in 2023.”
“We’re glad Maureen listened to reason,” Kathleen laughs, “because we only saw her once or twice throughout the year. When she moved in, I couldn’t wait to introduce everyone to my ‘baby sister.’”
Both sisters love reminiscing about the special moments they’ve enjoyed throughout the decades. “Once when we were little, Santa brought us a toy switchboard, and we spent hours pretending to be telephone operators,” Maureen says. “Another year, one of our father’s friends made us wooden chairs, and Dad snapped a picture of us sitting together and hugging each other like two little dolls.”
“Maybe we’ll restage that picture this year,” Kathleen adds with a smile.
After the sisters grew up, Kathleen took on the responsibility of cooking Christmas dinner and her hand-mashed potatoes were always a hit. “I’d take 20 pounds of potatoes, add about 10 pounds of butter and throw in lots of milk and salt,” she explains. “They would disappear in a flash. It was almost like an episode of The Waltons.”
This Christmas, the sisters shared time with their “extended” family—their St. James Place neighbors—at our community’s Holiday Luncheon. “There’s no senior social isolation here,” Maureen says, “When I lived in a 55+ community, no one ever saw their neighbors, but at St. James Place, every meal is a social event.”
Room for All in Jean and Jim’s Extended Family
Jean and Jim aren’t technically siblings … they’re in-laws. Jim, a former geologist, was married to Jean’s older sister for 27 years before she passed away. A former special education teacher, Jean spent her early retirement living in Denham Springs with her husband, who was ill with Parkinson’s disease. The couple already had their eye on St. James Place because of our full spectrum of care, but they hadn’t yet “pulled the trigger.” The big flood of 2016 would change all that.
“We actually had to be rescued by the Cajun Navy,” Jean recalls. “The flood left our home unlivable, so we called Judy at the sales office at St. James Place and told her we need somewhere to go. She said ‘I got you.’ They took us in quickly and put me in a furnished apartment, while my husband received the care he needed until he passed.”
As for Jim, he lived with his second wife in St. Francisville for 32 years. After she died in 2023, Jim found himself in a large house with lots of property. “I couldn’t keep up with the maintenance, so it was obvious I needed to move,” he shares. “Jean told me about St. James Place, and when I visited it seemed like a tight-knit retirement community, very accommodating to different kinds of folks. So, I moved in last Thanksgiving.”
Jean’s sister may no longer be with her, but she still maintains deep family connections at holiday time. “I have no children, but Jim’s son and daughter, who live nearby, feel like they’re my own kids,” she says. “Every Christmas, the entire family gathers at the daughter’s house, and since Jim and I live in the same retirement community in Baton Rouge, we can drive together.”
“It’s my favorite part of the holidays,” Jim adds. There are at least 25 people coming and going, so we have to spend the whole day there to make sure we see everyone. We also have a big meal, and I bring along my homemade candied yams, which have been a huge hit for several years.”
When Jean isn’t visiting relatives, she’s enjoying a cherished tradition made new at St. James Place. “When I was young my dad would take us in his station wagon on Christmas Eve to see the lights while my mom put out our gifts from Santa,” she explains. “Now, St. James Place takes us by bus to see all the beautiful lights in Baton Rouge. It makes me feel like a kid again.”
We’re All Family at Our Tight-Knit Retirement Community
Every family has its own stories and traditions. And our 52-acre campus offers folks many opportunities to form deep connections with the family they’re born into—and the family they create once they arrive.
To schedule your tour of our Baton Rouge senior living community, call 225-215-4510.