Roses, music the potion for ‘Day of Love’ at Wexford senior community

Tony LaRussa
Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 1:15 p.m. | Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021 1:15 p.m.

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Tony LaRussa | Tribune-Review

Bouquets were presented to three woman during a Valentine’s Day celebration at The Waters of Wexford senior living community on Feb. 10, 2021. Each bouquet contained the same number of roses as their ages.

Tony LaRussa | Tribune-Review

Sister Pauline Kadilak, 101, (center) and Mary Cassesse, 102, (right) greet each other as Sister Elise Renk, 102, looks on as they gather for a Valentine’s Day celebration at The Waters of Wexford senior living community on Feb. 10, 2021.

Tony LaRussa | Tribune-Review

Betty and Gene Howell, who are marking 71 years together this Valentine’s Day, were honored by The Waters of Wexford during a Valentine’s Day celebration on Feb. 10, 2021. Betty, 88, was 18 when she met her future husband, 21-year-old Gene Howell in 1950. Gene says that first encounter was “love at first sight.”

Tony LaRussa | Tribune-Review

The award-winning musical ensemble Stellare Strings performed for residents of The Waters of Wexford during a Valentine’s Day party on Feb. 10, 2021. The event was the first time in a year the residents were able to gather for a live live musical performance because of coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

Tony LaRussa | Tribune-Review

Sister Elise Renk, 102, Mary Cassesse, 102, and Sister Pauline Kadilak, 101, received bouquets was filled with red roses during a celebration to mark the Valentine’s Day holiday. Each bouquet contained the same number of roses as their ages.

Some silky music. Lots of red roses. Well, who knows what might happen.

While that mystery wasn’t answered on Feb. 10, residents of The Wexford senior community in Marshall joyfully marked Valentine’s Day with a gathering to honor a trio of centenarians and a couple whose love has stood the test of time.

Dubbed “A Day of Love,” the party was the first live indoor musical event at the 143-unit senior community since the pandemic halted social gatherings.

“The last time we were able to treat our residents to a live show in the cafe was February 2020,” said Alaina Kuzins, the senior living consultant for the Waters. “The cafe is the heart of our home and center of our community. It’s a place that at some point, we all have gathered.”

Before the Stellare Strings ensemble took center stage to perform a set of traditional and modern songs that had residents toe-tapping, applauding and no doubt smiling behind their masks, staff delivered flower arrangements to three women — each containing the same number of roses as their age.

Sister Elise Renk and Mary Cassesse each received 102 red roses. Sister Pauline Kadilak got 101.

“We were honored to be asked to participate in this day of love and are happy to pay it forward, giving back to the community,” said Danielle Hillgartner of Flowers by Gerard in Cranberry, which supplied the roses for free.

Residents Betty and Gene Howell received a bouquet of red and white roses representing unity as they mark 71 years together.

Betty Howell, 88, was 18 when she met her husband-to-be in 1950, Gene Howell. He’s now 93.

“It was love at first sight,” he said.

Betty said she, too, was smitten when she met him.

And since their first date — a bus ride to go bowling and then a movie — the couple have been inseparable.

“He was so nice and had a southern accent that really got me.”

Gene walked her to the front door after every date so he could say goodnight to her and her parents, she said.

“He was so polite all the time.”