Terms like “stomping ground,” “neck of the woods” or “roots” describe where you were born or grew up – places for which we have fond memories. For Renie (Irene) K., Westchester has been her home for decades, as it has been for her mother and father, her husband, Walter, and their children, Gary and Lois.

Renie K. is happy that she decided to make her home at The Knolls in Westchester.

Strong roots

Renie’s father grew up in White Plains and her mother was raised in New Rochelle. On her husband’s side, Renie’s father-in-law emigrated from Germany before World War I and began a confectionary shop in White Plains.

A Towson by birth, Renie’s family left England in the mid-to-late 1600s for America. “We waited for the Pilgrims to build it up a bit,” Renie laughed.

Way before genealogy software and DNA tests were invented, Renie’s aunts on her mother’s side of the family spent endless hours in libraries to create a family tree that now resides in the Library of Congress.

Ties that bind

Renie, who has lived in White Plains all her life, is a member of the White Plains Woman’s Club and the First Baptist Church in White Plains. Three of her Woman’s Club friends are also residents of The Knolls in Westchester. With such strong ties to Westchester, it’s no surprise that Renie chose The Knolls when she decided to move to a Life Plan Community. “White Plains has always been my home,” Renie explained.

A lovely new lifestyle

Although Renie moved to The Knolls in late 2018, her decision to relocate began well before then. “It was a very snowy and cold winter and I felt isolated in my home,” Renie said. She also knew the upkeep was becoming too much, but she didn’t want in-home help. Her daughter, who was visiting from Australia, encouraged Renie to visit The Knolls in Westchester. “Lois and I had a glass of wine at the Bistro and several ladies came over to greet us,” Renie recollected. “It was so friendly and fun. I was really taken by it.”

“I went from winter alone to talking and meeting people every night,” Renie shared. Although she has only lived at the Knolls for a relatively brief time, she has already met many of the residents and looks forward to meeting even more.

Best of both worlds

Living in Westchester, Renie can still easily visit her son in neighboring Putnam County and take family members to festivals like the Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze in nearby Croton-on-Hudson. It’s just one of her favorite fall activities in the historic Hudson Valley, and The Knolls’ proximity makes it easy to access it all.

Renie also feels that The Knolls is adding joy to her life. “The social and stimulating atmosphere keeps us going,” said Renie. She also views independent living as a worry-free lifestyle because of the services offered and the connection to a community.

Without the chores of home upkeep, Renie fills her days spending time with her new friends, attending exercise classes twice a week, enjoying wine socials on Mondays, creating with the knitting and crocheting club, and participating with an artist group. A gifted quilter, she also stays busy making wall hangings and creating baby quilts for her future great grandchildren.

For Renie, her address has changed, but her roots remain in place. “I made the decision to move and I’ve never looked back.”

If you enjoy independent living but want to remain in Westchester, download our white paper to learn how a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) may be right for you. Or call us at 914-461-4517 to arrange a visit to The Knolls.

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