When Kathy Chupik moved out of her parent’s house to start a life of her own, she never imagined that one day she and her mother would end up living under the same roof once again in their senior years. The connection between a mother and child is a unique bond that only grows stronger as people age, and recently Chupik has had time to reflect on motherhood and how her positive relationship with her own mother, Opal Kelly, brought them both to Buckner Westminster Place. Chupik and her husband Tom recently moved into the senior living community after deciding to downsize. The location is prime because they wanted to remain in Longview and be close to Kelly. According to Chupik, it’s been incredibly special to have the ability to walk right over to visit her mom whenever she likes, all while having peace of mind knowing that Kelly is being well taken care of. Chupik lives in one of the community’s patio homes, and when she looks out of her front door she can see the back door to the memory care building where her mom lives. It is comforting to her to be so close. Chupik often finds herself reflecting on all the years spent together and all the memories left to be made.
“Making the decision to move to Westminster Place was a given for us,” said Chupik. “Knowing that mother was here and happy just made the choice that much easier. It’s been a joy to be able to walk over and see her whenever I want and have more time together. When my mom learned we moved in, she was excited to have us so close. Buckner has been a part of my life since I was a little girl, and I knew I wanted my mom here. Now I’ve found myself here as well, and I couldn’t be more pleased knowing that I don’t have to worry about my mom or even myself and we can focus on enjoying our time together. Over the years our relationship has changed, but the one thing that never has is the love and commitment that can be felt between a parent and a child.”
According to Chupik, she tries to see her mom as often as possible, but Kelly is often busy with her own activities and friends. It’s knowing this that brings Chupik peace of mind, as she knows that her mom is living her life to its fullest potential and that she doesn’t need to worry about anything. When Chupik isn’t with her mom, it’s a safe bet that Kelly might be visiting with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren who pay regular visits to the community. In fact, everyone recently celebrated Kelly’s 91st birthday at Buckner Westminster Place with 18 members of the family in attendance.
“Being here together is something truly special, and we’re thankful for how Buckner Westminster Place has helped make this possible for our family,” said Chupik. “It’s not every day that you find yourself living in the same place as your parents as an adult, and I don’t take our close proximity for granted. With mom being in memory care, I know it gives her comfort knowing that we’re nearby, and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.”
“It’s not every day that we have parents and children under the same roof at Buckner Westminster Place, but we are thrilled to celebrate family connections like that of Kathy Chupik and Opal Kelly,” said David Sims, executive director of Buckner Westminster Place. “Because of stories like Kathy and Opal’s, we are reminded of the importance of family and those connections that we build throughout our lives. We hope that sharing stories like Kathy’s and Opal’s will inspire others to celebrate the maternal figures in their lives.”