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February 19 marked a significant anniversary, the 75th anniversary of the date President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed executive order 9066, which authorized the Secretary of War to prescribe certain areas as military zones, clearing the way for the internment of Japanese Americans, German Americans and Italian-Americans to concentration camps in the United States. Marion Takehara, a 91-year-old resident of Parkway Place (1321 Park Bayou Dr, Houston, TX 7707), was transitioned with her family to one of these camps in Colorado when she was 17 years old. She was valedictorian when she graduated from the camp and the speech she gave at the graduation was read on the US Senate floor last year during a special discussion on diversity and Asian American History. A recording of this reading is available in the congressional records. In the last five years, Marion and her daughter have been traveling around the United States to educate people and share her historical experience. The presentation traces the line of her mom all the way to her granddaughter, featuring four generations of Japanese American women and highlighting how the country and culture has changed over the years.

 

Once executive order 9066 was enacted, Japanese families had a mere few days to pack their belongings into a suitcase, and were sent to assembly centers for a six month duration until the camps were ready to house them. She recalls that four families shared a 12 by 12 barracks with dirt floors and sealed windows and had to use the restroom outside. The family had been relocated from Los Angeles, and this was especially hard on her parents, who were not used to living in such conditions. Even though the living conditions were rough, Marion’s parents taught her to make the best of a bad situation and never spoke negatively of the United States. Their neighbors and friends shared this mentality as well. The Japanese word for this is Gaman (??), which is of Zen Buddhist origin which means "enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity.” The term is generally translated as "perseverance", "patience", tolerance, or "self-denial.” With this mindset, she was able to graduate as valedictorian and go to college once she was released from the camp. Not long after Takehara graduated, her father moved to Cleveland where he interpreted Japanese bombing maps. She remembers being greeted by armed guards when she went to visit him. Marion says that public opinion began to change as people learned of the 442nd infantry, which was comprised of all Japanese soldiers. These men helped to shape a new perception of Japanese people. While attending Simpson College in Iowa on scholarship, Marion would meet her husband, Ken, who also served during the 442nd infantry. Public opinion also changed, because there were no reports of Japanese criminal activity once all the families had been evacuated.

 

Marion believes it is important to share her experience while she still can, so that people may learn more about Asian American history and about diversity. After one of her recent presentations a student came up to speak to her. He relayed that he was glad to hear her presentation because he is Muslim and serves as the president of the student body, and has dealt with judgement from people that is unwarranted. She and her daughter have delivered these presentations to schools, businesses, organizations and even senior living communities, such as Parkway Place.  She values sharing her experiences to help people understand what happened. Despite the discrimination she experienced, Takehara feels no resentment even 75 years later.

 

An excerpt from Marion’s Speech:

 

“Can we the graduating class of Amache Senior High School still believe that America means freedom, equality, security and justice? Do I believe this? Do my classmates believe this? Yes, with all our hearts, because in that faith, in that hope, is my future, our future and the world’s future.”

-Excerpt from Takehara’s graduation speech, entitled “America, Our Hope is in You.”

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Parkway Place resident Eleanor Loose leads a painting class.

For 86-year-old Eleanor Loose, art is not just a hobby; it is a way of life. From the time Eleanor was a child, she loved all forms of art, she even studied art education at the University of Delaware and worked for the Delaware Art Center. When children entered the picture, she shared her love with them. Now, as a retiree living at Parkway Place, she still involves herself with the arts. She uses her abilities to volunteer for her church, Pines Presbyterian Church, by designing the stained glass windows in the sanctuary, painting scenes with acrylics for the choir room, as well as designing signs and other materials. Once a month, Eleanor also leads a painting class for her fellow residents, giving them the chance to explore the basics of painting. Eleanor is just an example of one Parkway Place resident who uses art to inspire others; there are also woodworkers, quilters, knitters and many others. These seniors will have their creations on display on Tuesday, January 31 for “Inspire Your Heart with Art Day,” and encourage the public to attend their inspiring display with art of all kinds created exclusively by seniors. They will be on display from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1321 Park Bayou Drive in Houston.

“I was approached by a resident who was nearly blind, but who wanted to learn how to paint from me,” said Eleanor. “It was so inspiring to see her desire to create something. Word started spreading about our lesson, so I worked with the staff to create an art class one time a month to teach them the basics of painting. Right now we’re practicing different aspects of pictures, like trees or skies, and eventually we’ll put these skills together and create a painting.”

Average attendance is between 15 to 18 residents, and Eleanor prepares for the class by prepping the materials and making sure the residents receive careful instruction. During the class, she encourages the seniors to spend time looking at things in the world differently and examine how things form in nature. In her own time, Eleanor often paints landscapes to give to friends to family.

“You paint what you see in the world and feel in your heart and see how fantastic this God-given world is. I think art is a wonderful way to make friends, especially for seniors, because you get to share your life and get to know the other people well. We are able to offer advice and help one another. There is always great emotion behind art, and in my opinion that is often what makes the best art,” said Eleanor.

In addition to the monthly watercolor class, Parkway Place has other ways for residents around the community to be creative. There are craft classes, a woodworking shop and a group of assisted living residents who crochet. The senior living community hopes that by sharing how these seniors are using the wishes of their heart to inspire different kinds of art, that it will encourage people of all ages to do the same.

“Residents like Eleanor are what make Parkway Place such a special place to live and work. When a resident is truly passionate about something, we believe there are no limits to what they can accomplish,” said Sunny Chatagnier, executive director of Parkway Place. “Inspire your Heart with Art Day is a testament to that, we hope that public will visit and be inspired to create their own art.”

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Adjusting family life and holiday traditions after a loved one has a change in health can be a challenge for families. As the number of people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia grows each year, it can be tough for families to experience the holidays as they have in years past due to their loved one’s mood, cognition or severity of the disease. Parkway Place, a senior living community in West Houston, has some tips for families who may be seeking advice on how to make the holidays magical once again for their family and their loved one. They provide simple ideas every family can incorporate to adjust to their loved ones’ needs while still celebrating the season together.

“It is important to plan ahead to ensure that you get the most out of the holiday season,” said Sunny Chatagnier, executive director of Parkway Place. “We find that incorporating activities families can do together while keeping expectations realistic are key components to success. We work hard in our community to help families enjoy the holidays together, especially when a loved one has dementia.”

Chatagnier offers the following advice that has proven to help residents of The Harbor, Parkway Place’s certified Alzheimer’s assisted living community:

  1. Keep familiar objects around them. They can offer support and familiarity when a person might feel anxious or nervous about change. Whether it is a favorite holiday decoration or a photo of a favorite birthday, these treasures can provide comfort to someone experiencing memory loss.
  2. Work to continue as many family traditions as possible, but adapt them to their new lifestyle. While your loved one may not remember these occasions, they are still treasured memories for your family to have. Work with your family or with outside caregivers to ensure you plan these experiences to set your loved one up for success.
  3. Adapt gift giving. Diminishing capacity may make some gifts unusable or even dangerous to a person with dementia. If someone asks for gift ideas, suggest items the person with dementia needs or can easily enjoy, like comfortable clothing, audiotapes of favorite music, videos and photo albums.

Families with loved ones living in The Harbor know firsthand the benefits of these tips. When 84-year-old Mary Sue Ferguson had a stroke a year ago, which worsened her existing dementia, her family members knew their lives would not be the same. They had to adjust Ferguson’s daily living routines and moved her to Parkway Place from Beaumont to be closer to family.

“She is treated with respect, and even during the holidays we don’t feel like we miss out on our traditions because Parkway Place allows us to carry those on just as we would at home,” said Lisa Herman, Ferguson’s daughter.

Parkway Place works to schedule holiday-themed activities for families of residents so they can continue family traditions or make new memories together. As a loved one’s disease progresses, they feel it is important to adapt gatherings to their new behaviors and adjust expectations. For instance, around Thanksgiving Parkway Place hosts a meal for families to gather and celebrate the holiday, and there is an annual Christmas open house. In the Harbor, families treasure these memories because the holidays can be especially challenging. Parkway Place suggests that families who are experiencing these types of challenges focus on creating new moments for families to celebrate together, rather than expecting your loved one to celebrate as they have in years past.

“To see not only the faces of the residents enjoying the magic of the holidays, but the reaction of their families who are in attendance at these events is something I’ll never forget,” said Chatagnier. “They see their loved one experience the joys of these traditions, and while it may be in a different way than they’ve previously done it, the sentiment and feeling of the celebration is still apparent from everyone there.”

“The best Christmas present for me is to see my mother in a place where she is happy and our holiday traditions can continue,” said Herman. “They don’t treat their residents as just residents – they always go the extra mile – and that’s a wonderful gift to be given. I feared that because my mom was someplace other than home, the holidays as we knew them would end, but they’re letting us continue them here.”

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Photo 1 - Parkway Place resident Aaron Mendoza Nav Parkway Place resident Aaron Mendoza in Navy Uniform

Aaron Mendoza, 92, who lives at Parkway Place senior living community has unique military experience to share because he served our county in two branches of the military - the Navy during World War II and the Air Force Reserves during the Korean War. Not only was he drafted to the Navy out of high school, but he was stationed in Hawaii across the island from Pearl Harbor. He was drafted to the Navy after the Pearl Harbor attacks and felt honored to serve his country during this time of need. As the 75th anniversary of this attack approaches on December 7th, Mendoza openly shares his experience on the front lines of the war, assembling, testing and maintaining torpedoes for aircrafts during World War II.

 

During the Korean War, Mendoza worked at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, based stateside, and his squadron was one of the first to be recalled. There, Mendoza worked in logistics as planes were launched to fight in the war.

 

Mendoza is a native Houstonian, and after his military experience, he went to work for General Precision selling military computers, then worked for Control Data where he sold NASA their Skylab database for mission control.

 

As a senior, Mendoza continues to share his military stories and experiences with fellow residents at Parkway Place, but also with younger generations. Annually, he visits West Briar Middle School, across the street from the senior living community, to speak to students about his experience and life in the military. Before the lunch, he and other veteran residents went to West Briar Middle School to share stories with the students as they’re honored for Veterans Day.

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A team made up of for than 30 Parkway Place residents, staff and family members participated in the Katy/West Houston Walk to End Alzheimer’s – an event Parkway Place also sponsored – to raise awareness for a cause close to their hearts. The nationwide event, which involved more than 600 community walks at the local level, is the world’s largest to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Parkway Place residents, their families and staff members were eager to engage in efforts to support Alzheimer’s research, a disease that currently ranks as the sixth leading cause of death in in the US. The team members from Parkway Place included a memory care resident, Cecelia Kouns, who has dementia. While her day-to-day life is impacted by this disease, exercising and staying active makes her feel better mentally and physically, and participating in the walk was another chance to remain active and support a cause that impacts her. Staff members accompanied them on the walk, and family members of memory care residents at Parkway Place also participated.

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Residents and staff at Parkway Place, a Buckner Retirement Services community, are preparing to participate in their annual “Shoes for Orphan Souls” shoe drive. Every year, this event brings awareness to vulnerable populations around the world, raising money and sending new shoes to children in need. Buckner International has donated over three million pairs of shoes to this cause since its inception. The senior living community invites friends, neighbors and anyone in the Houston area to donate money or new, children’s-sized shoes to the organization. Donations will benefit orphans around the world by providing them with new shoes, which will improve their daily lives. In many countries, children are required to wear shoes in order to attend school. These shoes allow the children to receive an education, and the additional foot protection decreases their chance of contracting a disease. Parkway Place will be collecting donations from Monday, October 17 to Friday, October 28, and anyone can drop off shoes or money at the senior living community, located at 1321 Park Bayou Drive. Members of the public are encouraged to support this cause, celebrate giving back and share the unforgettable feeling of changing the lives of others through this charitable cause.


“In previous years we have done shoe drives to collect new shoes for orphans across the world, and along with other donation efforts, we have collected hundreds of pairs of shoes thanks to the generosity of our staff, residents and the public,” said Sunny Chatagnier, executive director of Parkway Place. “We are thrilled to participate in this cause to benefit children all over the world who wouldn’t have shoes without this effort. Many of the residents lead inspiring, purpose-filled lives and participate in local and international mission work, volunteering and foster care. A person’s desire to give back doesn’t stop at any age, and impacting even one life through this event will mean so much to us.”

 

Many Parkway Place senior residents are volunteering to lead the charge by getting the word out to their friends and neighbors. They are also donating their time at a booth inside Parkway Place dedicated to taking the donations for the cause. Parkway Place is also arranging shopping outings for residents who are not able to drive to purchase shoes to donate, if they wish.

 

“When I first heard about the Shoes for Orphan Souls efforts, I had no idea there was such a need for children to have shoes of their own all over the world – even right here in America,” said Parkway Place resident Jane Wulf. “That’s something most of us don’t think about, but these shoes provide so much to children in need. The cause is something I personally support because, as we know, children’s feet grow fast and the continual donation of shoes allows them to lead healthier lives. I’m very happy to contribute and I consider this a worthwhile cause to support.”

 

“We invite our friends and neighbors in the community to join us in donating to this cause,” said Chatagnier. “We’re continually looking for ways to extend our ministry beyond the walls of our community and across the world. This is just one small way to give back, and the time investment is minimal compared to the large impact each donation will have. We’re looking forward to coming together with the Houston community for a greater cause.” 

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As the school year gets into full swing, many people are looking for ways to support children in their area. Seniors in Houston are taking a different approach by making sure the teachers start the school year on the right foot too. Parkway Place senior living community is home to nearly 30 retired teachers ranging from just a few years of experience to decades of teaching. To celebrate their shared background, the group will be meeting in Parkway Place’s Cabana Room on Sept. 12 at 10:30 a.m. for a “Teacher Reunion.” Together, they will share stories from their careers and spend time writing handmade cards for teachers at nearby Barbara Bush Elementary School (13800 Westerloch Drive in Houston). After the activity, the retired teachers will visit the school with notes and cookies in hand to encourage the teachers as they begin their school year. They will offer support and advice, as well as provide common understanding and camaraderie that only former teachers possess. The seniors hope to bring joy to their lives, just like the teachers do for their students daily.

 

Parkway Place resident Ray Vigneault became a teacher as a second career after retiring from working in the oil business. He taught high school chemistry in the Spring Branch ISD for several school years before permanently retiring, but this wasn’t Vigneault’s first teaching gig. He started lecturing as a graduate student and always felt he had a natural talent for teaching.

 

“I worked in marketing and research most of my life, and speaking to people is what I always enjoyed doing most,” said Vigneault. “I know that kids are a lot different today than they were when I taught, but teachers still face the same challenges. We wanted to be good neighbors to the school near us and let them know we, as former teachers, support the valuable effort they put in day in and day out.”

 

Parkway Place works with the school throughout the year to host intergenerational activities at both the community and the school. During Veterans Day, many residents attend and are honored during the school assembly. A few of the seniors also work with the children to tutor them in a particular subject. The relationship is a great way for the seniors and children to learn about other generations and make new connections in the greater community.

 

“We really enjoy having the school so close to our campus and thought this was a different way to celebrate the start of the school year for both the residents and the teachers,” said Sunny Chatagnier, executive director of Parkway Place. “We know teachers don’t always receive as much support as they should, and we want to make sure they feel supported as the school year begins. We always look for opportunities to use each resident’s interests and passions to fuel our activities and outreach, and can’t wait to make these teachers feel special in this unique way. ”

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As seniors seek to find community and purpose in their golden years after a long career, many are drawn to religious-based activities that enrich their hearts and minds, and work toward a higher calling. Parkway Place, a faith-based, Buckner Retirement Services senior living community, has many residents who worked as ministers, missionaries or in other faith-based positions, and brings the idea of caring for their residents’ spiritual wellness to a whole new level through the use of a full-time chaplain. In this role, the chaplain regularly visits residents to see how God is working in their lives during their senior years. Parkway Place’s Chaplain, John Bender, joined the senior living community in April and has already been hard at work getting to know the residents. In his role, he is enhancing the already robust program that many of the residents lead and participate in.

 

Bender previously served seniors while working as an education minister and administrator for a church in Center, Texas. While this is his first chaplain position, his passion for working with seniors has guided him for much of his career.  

 

“They have a lot to give, even if they don’t realize it,” said Bender. “Their life experience is so valuable – these people have raised children, sometimes grandchildren, and they are wise, compassionate and truly love life. They are so fun to talk with and learn from, and I’m here at Parkway Place to go through life alongside them as a friend. My goal is to help and serve them as people. I want them to continue to feel valuable and purposeful in all they do and work with them to see how God reveals that to them.”

 

Throughout each week, Parkway Place schedules various types of religious activities for its residents. Each Sunday afternoon, a non-denominational service is held at the senior living community. Two residents who are retired ministers, Paul Smith and Bill Hinson, each lead one service a month. Residents Joan Varner and Lavonia Duck use their talents to add piano music to each week’s service.

 

Bender also coordinates with churches in the area – such as St. John Vianney Catholic Church – to offer a rosary and communion service each week and mass one time a month. Emmanuel Episcopal Church also sends its reverend to visit the community and provide services for Episcopalian residents. Parkway Place also coordinates with local churches, like Tallowood Baptist Church, Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church and Memorial Drive Methodist Church, who send buses to pick up residents to attend their Sunday school and church services.

 

Residents have also created their own prayer and Bible study groups to take time to get to know one another, share their lives, learn and teach the Bible, and pray for one another. Resident Paul Smith feels that these meetings are important to the residents at Parkway Place as a whole, especially to him and his wife, Virginia, who both attended seminary school and served as missionaries in the Middle East for decades.

 

“I enjoy continuing to be involved in ministry after formally retiring from it, and feel that I’m writing some of the best sermons I’ve ever written,” said Smith. “I tailor my sermon topics to the residents here and address issues that people our age deal with or may have questions about. Living at Parkway Place has allowed my wife and me to still connect with people and be used by God. There is such a fantastic community of genuine residents and staff at Parkway Place, and we truly share life together, not just live here together.”

 

While Parkway Place’s weekly services are not open to the public, those interested in a closer look at life at Parkway Place can attend the weekly services by contacting Chaplain John Bender at 281-677-5917. 

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The true value of friendship is immeasurable, and as we age, authentic relationships become more meaningful than ever before. To celebrate the significance of these special relationships, new and old, Parkway Place senior living community paid tribute to and hoped to spark some new relationships during a special National Best Friends Day reception for residents at the community. A group of nine Parkway Place residents have known each other for decades and met through Houston’s Second Baptist Church. After forming special bonds in their younger years, their relationships continue to grow as they share life together as residents of Parkway Place.

During the National Best Friends Day reception, residents celebrated old friends and their new friendships made at the community. There was an area for residents to write notes to their friends to express appreciation. As seniors age and experience hardships, like the death of a loved one or illness, these relationships are truly irreplaceable. We hope you’ll come out to celebrate the bonds of friendships new and old with these seniors and share this inspiring occasion with others. 

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Photo 2 - Sallie Howard, Louise Nichols, Barbara M

The men and women who care for those who are injured and in danger have to tackle some of the greatest responsibilities on a daily basis. They choose to put themselves in harm’s way and in treacherous situations for the betterment of mankind. For this reason, seniors at Parkway Place senior living community have chosen to honor these men and women during National Emergency Responders Week, and give back just a portion of what they have given to the city. Residents will hand-make intricate “iris” cards with heartfelt notes on Wednesday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at Parkway Place (1321 Park Bayou Drive), and drop them off with a huge platter of cookies for nearby fire fighters and emergency medical technicians at Fire Station 78 (15100 Memorial) on Friday, May 20 at 10 a.m. The residents want to honor those who sacrifice the most for them and their city, and make sure they feel appreciated during this annual observance.

 Giving back is always at the forefront of the minds of Parkway Place residents and staff, and they continually look for opportunities to spread joy to others. Earlier this month, for International Firefighters Day the residents visited a nearby station to show their heartfelt thanks in person through notes of appreciation and baked goods.

 “It means a lot to be a part of thanking these men and women for their service,” said Parkway Place resident Wava Hayes. “They do so much for us and the community, and I am in awe of what they do on a daily basis. When I visited the fire station earlier this month, they were so grateful to us and took the time to tell us about what they do and to give us a tour of the station. I think it means a lot to them to know we truly care, and we hope to make those tough days a little easier when we visit.”

 “We greatly admire the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting and helping those around them,” said Sunny Chatagnier, executive director of Parkway Place. “It is a job that is not glamorous or easy, and we so appreciate the sacrifices they make daily to ensure the health and wellbeing of others, including the seniors here at Parkway Place. Giving back to them just a portion of what they’ve given to us is the least we can do, and I know it means a lot to the residents to show their appreciation to these people. We can’t thank them enough and continually look for ways to say ‘thank you’ in small ways like this year-round.”