4 RESIDENT COUPLES RENEW THEIR VOWS AT CHESTNUT RIDGE AT RODALE

Allentown, Pennsylvania—The first residents of Chestnut Ridge at Rodale, Phoebe Ministries’ newest independent living facility in Emmaus, moved in exactly one year ago.  Today, several couples celebrated their first Valentine’s Day at Chestnut Ridge by renewing their vows in their new home.

On Friday, February 14, eight residents (four couples) renewed their vows in the Multipurpose Room at Chestnut Ridge. Kari Dougan, the campus’s Fitness Coordinator, helped lead the event and delivered vows for each couple to recite. Words of devotion and attachment were exchanged, along with rings. The couples then shared a kiss with their partners and posed for pictures.

“For us to offer residents this opportunity to renew their vows on Valentine’s Day while also celebrating this new chapter of life is really special,” says Dougan.

Residents Karen and Nazz Nazarewych were among the residents renewing their vows. The two of them showed up with matching shirts humorously declaring their 23 years of marriage.

The couple first met in Emmaus at a line-dancing event. When asked why they were renewing their vows, Nazz responded with a cheeky, “Because it’s fun and because we haven’t killed each other yet.”

The couple have maintained their strong bond because of how natural they feel around each other. “We are the same whether we are with family or friends,” says Karen.

Following the vow renewal, fellow residents gathered as their neighbors took part in Phoebe’s version of “The Not-So-Newlywed Game.” Couples were asked to remember memories from decades ago in a game of laughs and love.

In addition to fun activities planned throughout the year, residents at Chestnut Ridge get to enjoy amenities including casual restaurant dining, a pub, a fitness center, a salon, an indoor pool, bike and kayak storage, a dog washing station, and a marketplace.

This wellness-focused lifestyle community, supported by Phoebe’s 122 years of health care expertise, focuses on person-centered attention and the connection between physical, spiritual, and emotional health.

Congratulations to all the couples who renewed their vows, and Happy Valentine’s Day from Phoebe Ministries.

PHOTOS

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