Each year, United Methodist Retirement Center (Jason Lee Manor and Willson House) residents, staff and friends participate in a candlelight ceremony to honor special people in their lives and remember loved ones who have passed away.  We call this the Tree of Life Celebration.

 This event was originally started in recognition of a most beloved Activities Director, Cleo Atkinson. For 15 years we have honored her spirit and love for the residents of Willson House. 

This year, as in other years, we are asking YOU for a $25 donation in exchange for a candle lit in memory of or in honor of a special soul who has touched your life. 
All proceeds from this fundraiser will go toward the Willson House David Karr Benevolent Care Fund. This fund, established in 1998, was created to assist low income residents who need a little extra financial help to pay for the increased costs of their care. Willson House and UMRC are committed to the belief that aging with dignity should not be a matter of money. Please mark your calendar and plan to join us to pay tribute to the people in your life who you’d like to remember.

To become a sponsor for the event click here, or call Wendy at 503.585.6511, or donate $25.00 to honor a special person in your life. Thank you to our current sponsors:  City View Funeral Home, Catholic Community Services, Grove, Meuller, and Swank, Arlen Hollinshead, Willamette Valley Hospice, and Cathy Parkinson.

Tree of Life Celebration
Sunday, May 4, 2014 • 2–4:00 pm

Willson House Dining Room

1625 Center St. NE • Salem, OR 97301

We are so happy to introduce Chris Feskens as the Executive Chef at Willson House as of the end of March.  Chris comes to us with a degree in culinary arts, a wealth of knowledge, and much experience.  He
worked as the Executive Chef at the Wittenberg Inn, Keizer for two years and has experience in 3 different long-term care settings as well as having worked at the Kroc Center as the Food Services Coordinator.  Chris is a family man and uses some of his spare time to mentor high school students.  He lives locally and is involved in the community in many ways.  Chris is excited to help enhance the dining experience for all residents and visitors to Willson House.  Come to the dining room and meet Chris and choose something wonderful off the menu.  You will LOVE what you choose at Willson House dining room.  Welcome Chris!!

According to an article dated April 8, 2014 in NAMS magazine, “Taking care of grandkids one day a week helps keep grandmothers mentally sharp, finds a study from the Women's Healthy Aging Project study in Australia." 

That's good news for women after menopause, when women need to lower their risks of developing Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders. On the other hand, taking care of grandchildren five days a week or more had some negative effects on tests of mental sharpness. "We know that older women who are socially engaged have better cognitive function and a lower risk of developing dementia later, but too much of a good thing just might be bad," said NAMS Executive Director Margery Gass, MD.

There are lots of “Grandmothers” at Willson House and Jason Lee Manor who may live far from their own children/grandchildren. However, with an Intergenerational program in place since 1985, there are lots of opportunities for them to visit and spend time with children at Willson House.

At Willson House Child Development Center, you will find children and seniors interacting daily. Children and seniors will be together singing songs, telling stories, making crafts or participating in annual events like our Tea Party or Carnival. Seniors also frequent our classrooms to say hello, lead projects, or serve as volunteers. No matter what the interaction may be, the young and young at heart will be learning and growing together at Willson House.

Ever think about what the senior citizens in your life have lived through?  Imagine what they’ve experienced.  If they are part of “The Greatest Generation” they lived through the Depression and World War II; they saw the rise and fall of Communism; they witnessed the rapidly-changing technologies and inventions of so many things that we take for granted today such as the blender and sound motion pictures in 1922, the first photocopier that was invented in 1938, color TV and penicillin in 1942, duct tape in 1940; the atomic bomb and the first Tupperware were invented in 1945.  How did we live without those things today?

For the Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964, they saw even more changes in their world. A Baby Boomer, Steven Jobs invented the Apple II personal computer in 1984; the World Wide Web was invented in 1989; the first credit card was introduced by Diners Club in 1950.  The Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement in the 60’s and the assassination of President Kennedy are memories many Baby Boomers will never forget.  They also remember in the 60’s that the 1st man walked on the moon with “one small step” and the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan in 1963 launching the “British Invasion”. A new house could be bought for $12,700, a gallon of gas for .25 and a new car for less than $3000.00 in the 60’s.  What a world we had before all those things came to be taken for granted!

The seniors at Willson House who are from “The Greatest Generation” and the “Baby Boomer” generations have led amazing lives and had such interesting careers.  During a quick visit with one resident, Lorena, last week I asked her what piece of advice she would give me if she had one important thing to tell me from her life experiences. She said, “Never give up!”  

I received an interesting email from a friend this week that reminded me of Lorena’s advice to “never give up.”  Often we think that successful people had an easy path in life.  Click on the link http://distractify.com/people/famous-people-rejection-letters/ and you’ll see why never giving up is an attribute that we must possess if we are to make our dreams come true.  Oprah and Steve Jobs were both fired once!  Stephen King’s first book “Carrie” was rejected 30 times!  Marilyn Monroe was told she’d be better off forgetting about being a movie star and becoming a secretary instead!  Thank you, Lorena, for telling me to never give up!  I will heed that advice the next time I encounter something that seems way too hard for me to do.  —Mary Reitan, Community Outreach Director for Willson House and Jason Lee Manor