Home Is Where the Friendships Are

Some friendship bonds can never be broken, and a group of St. Francis, Minn. residents are proving just that. By staying connected for more than 30 years, despite moving from their beloved city street to the new Vista Prairie at Eagle Pointe senior living community in town, six friends are finding new joy and purpose in the latter stage of life. 

The group of six women, many of whom lost their husbands years ago, all lived on Eidelweiss Street in the northeast part of St. Francis for decades. Their friendship grew through shared activities and life experiences, forging a bond that endured even as life’s challenges and aging called for a change. 

Following years of shared experiences as neighbors, once Vista Prairie started welcoming community members to sign up for residences, the friend group didn’t hesitate and all decided to move in at the same time – carrying on a tradition of camaraderie and connection that was sparked decades earlier across town. In fact, at one time, multiple “for sale” signs lined Eidelweiss Street as the group started their transition, marking the group’s decision to move to Eagle Pointe together. 

“For me, and I think for the other women, I was getting tired of the things that can go wrong with a house and having to call my son or someone else to help, so it got me out from under that,” said resident, Marian Grider. “And in terms of the cost, we did the math and it’s not that different than what we were paying for our home, so it made a lot of sense.” 

The benefit of staying in St. Francis was another big draw for the group. “There really isn’t anything else like this in the entire region, so when Vista Prairie announced its plans to open in the fall of 2025, we all realized what a gift this was going to be to stay in our hometown, along with the opportunity for all of us to be under one roof,” said community member, Sharon Streeter. 

The tug of staying together during this transitional phase of life hit hard for Eileen Kampa, who was the first to move from Eidelweiss to a senior living community further away before Vista Prairie at Eagle Pointe was developed. But one day, Eileen received a call from the friend group, sharing their plans to move into Vista Prairie together. “I was planning to go to a different senior living community, but my son said, ‘won’t you miss your friends?” shared Kampa. “At the same time, I heard from my old neighborhood friends, encouraging me to consider Vista Prairie, so I did. I guess it was meant to be as I’ve been here ever since.” 

Not only did the move allow the group to remain close, but it’s providing everything they need to live a safe, comfortable and rewarding life beyond their homeowner years.  

“Our traditions of card playing, morning coffee or going out to lunch hasn’t changed a bit,” said Verle Ktytor. “The space allows us to keep doing what we did in our homes, but without the stress of owning a home and the chance to bump into each other every day of the week – just like it was back on Eidelweiss.” 

The group appreciates the fact they are all on the first floor and can easily meet up for games, dinner, and even their regular happy hour. “We get to stay close by doing the things we always did back home, like a card game, exercise, and our weekly happy hour – but all from the comfort of this beautiful community,” added resident, Joanie Tyler. “We’re definitely not idle – even though we’re all from Eidelweiss!” 

And the Vista Prairie Edelweiss group continues to grow. Former neighbor Jackie Zimmerman attended many of Eagle Pointe’s pre-opening meetings and is now planning to make the move herself, joining longtime friends and familiar faces from the neighborhood. 

“I guess it is unusual for people to go through life hanging together like this, isn’t it?” said resident Judy O’Connor. “I never thought about how unique it is until now, seeing us all together in this new place. It has really added to the quality of our life.” 

For these longtime friends, Vista Prairie represents more than a new place to live. By choosing to invest in St. Francis, Vista Prairie gave them something that might otherwise have been lost: the ability to remain rooted in the community they love – and to remain together.  

“This place is just perfect for me,” added Joanie Taylor. “It’s where I see my close friends every day while enjoying a sense of peace and comfort.” 

Without a senior living option close to home, aging could have sent each of them in a different direction, separating friendships built over decades. Instead, these women have been able to carry those friendships with them into their next chapter, proving that the right senior living community doesn’t just provide a place to call home. It can preserve the relationships, routines and sense of belonging that make a place feel like home in the first place.