Happy Women's History Month!

In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month in perpetuity. A special Presidential Proclamation is issued every year which honors the extraordinary achievements of American women.

There have been countless women who have worked against great odds to make their mark on history, and we celebrate them during Women’s History Month in March. No less inspiring are the women in our own lives. In them we see first-hand their accomplishments and talents and their dedication to the loved ones around them – all while they reach for the stars! There are numerous women at American House who fall into this category.

Learn about some of the amazing women team members and residents in our American House family.

Sarah: A Lifelong Caregiver

While Sarah’s journey, from her grandmother’s bedside to Wellness Director at American House Brentwood, might appear to be a natural step in a caregiving family, it certainly was not an easy one. Her background is filled with hard work, risk and sacrifice. Yet to hear Sarah tell it, the takeaway is pure selflessness. Hers is clearly a story of unquestionable commitment to the care of others. Sarah takes it all in stride when words like “dedication” and “passion” are mentioned. She just smiles and says matter-of-factly, “This is what I like doing, I’ve always wanted to help people.”

Lillian Tribble, aka "Rabble Rouser”

Lillian took on corporate America’s gender-biased rules, winning the right to take off her skirt: Until then, women weren’t “allowed” to wear pants on the job. She did the same for her daughter’s school. The school enforced the same dresses-only code as offices. Until Lillian spoke to the superintendent. If you could wear pants on the job or at school, Lillian reasoned, you could wear pants in life. It was more than a fashion statement. It was a freedom statement, still felt by every woman today.

Jori: Making a Big Impact in a Small Town

Jori never considered working at a senior living community. She had a degree in health care administration and a solid career as a registered cardiac stenographer at a hospital. Performing ultrasounds, echocardiograms and stress tests, she had brief contact with people; she knew their hearts better than she knew them. So, when American House regional sales director, Amy, offered her the job of Executive Director at American House Petoskey, Jori was intrigued. She was ready to find out what it would be like to serve others on a long-term basis, to get to know them for more than a few minutes at a time. In other words, to do a complete one-eighty. And now, five years into it, she says simply, “It’s better than I imagined it could be!”

The B-29 Blonde Bomber Beauty: Audra's Story

Audra found herself presented with a new opportunity working at the Chrysler factory. Her role was very important as she was responsible for inspecting airplane fighter pilot seats. If the seat passed inspection, she stamped her initials onto them.  While working for Chrysler, Audra entered a company beauty contest competing for the Blonde Bomber B-29 title. Coming in first place, she made headline news. 

After learning about the contest, a fighter pilot reached out to Chrysler requesting a picture of Audra “Miss Blonde Bomber.” The contest picture was soon sent to him and he pinned it up in his cockpit. When the war ended and the plane was returned, officials found Audra’s picture was still hanging and her initials were stamped on the pilot’s seat as being one, she had inspected.  

Daisy: Enriching the Lives of Others, and Her Own

If you ask the residents at American House Fort Myers about their Life Enrichment Director, Daisy, you’ll discover very quickly, this is one lady who truly epitomizes her title. Daisy makes it her mission to enrich the lives of the residents she serves, and she does it with passion every day. She devotes time and energy to discovering new ways for people to enjoy their next chapter, lead exciting, eventful lives and, most importantly, make a difference in the community they live. Daisy has a great sense of what makes people happy, and her passion is fueled by hard work and an openness to try new things.

Marion: An Opera Singer Whose Story is a Real-Life Opera

Performing Beethoven’s Ninth at Carnegie Hall would likely be considered the high point of someone’s life. For Marion, that moment in her singing career doesn’t come close to the joy she discovered teaching third grade in Detroit, Michigan. Marion’s story mirrors her profession, with all the dramatic twists of an opera.  

Her lifelong passion for singing led her to the choir at Temple University in Philadelphia. It was during that time, her voice caught the attention of a music teacher who connected her with acclaimed opera singer and coach, Graciela Cappelli. She studied under Cappelli for 11 years, during which time she sang at Carnegie Hall. For 13 years, her beautiful voice graced the stage at both the Rittenhouse and Cosmopolitan opera companies.

Marina: Her Career Continues to Grow…Along with Her Happiness.

At American House, everyone’s happiness matters, from our residents and their families to the devoted people on our team who give so much. For Marina, happiness meant having the opportunity to explore an industry she felt passionate about, with the full support of a company that encouraged her growth.

As Vice President of Operations/Midwest Division, Marina looks back on how it all started over 20 years ago. “My mom was an Executive Director at a community, and I always volunteered. You could say I grew up there, it was awesome!” From early on, Marina’s mission was to learn everything about the company. She’s achieved that and more, touching so many along the way with her caring and kindness.

Piece Makers: When Quarantine Hits…Improvise!

The Piece Makers at American House Village felt the pinch more than most. Led by Carol S., Carol P. and Marge, this is a group of approximately six residents and their four-legged friend, Toby, who call themselves the “Piece Makers” – a play on words as they “pieced” together puzzles to create permanent works of art. Prior to the pandemic, they created beautiful puzzles; glazed, mounted and sold them with proceeds going to charity. With the lockdown order, some of the Piece Makers sequestered themselves, pulled out sewing machines and got to work making masks. 

Dressed to the Nines: Verda's Story

At American House, everyone has a story. Some are a little more surprising than others. Like Verda’s. Turns out Verda was a Playboy Bunny. She says the mansion was nice. But she prefers The House. Verda has lived a very multifaceted life. She and her husband had a yacht and often hosted very fancy, formal parties for their friends and families. Verda loved to host these events and went so far as to provide each of her guests with formal attire to wear. She just loved dressing to the nines, especially in Vegas. Verda and her husband were quite the “high rollers” back in the day.

Women’s History Month represents a great opportunity to acknowledge the many dedicated, talented women in our American House family. For all those women, and all the women who make our lives better every day, we thank you!

We all have a story. A story that taught us something, changed us and helped define who we are. At American House, your next chapter is waiting to be written. We’re here to help you write it. Your way.

Are you ready to start your next chapter? Contact us today.