Avinity logo

(612) 861-2799

  • About Us
  • Senior Living Communities
    Edendale
    Independent Senior Living
    Golden Oaks of Hermantown
    Assisted Living Facility
    Golden Oaks of Proctor
    Assisted Living Facility
    Havenwood of Richfield
    Independent Living, Assisted Living & Memory Care
    LEE Center
    Independent Senior Living
    Mainstreet Village
    Independent and Assisted Senior Living
    Mainstreet Village Memory Care
    Memory Care
    Mill Pond Gables
    Independent Senior Living
    Northland Village Buhl
    Assisted Senior Living
    Northland Village Hoyt Lakes
    Assisted Senior Living
    Northland Village McGregor
    Assisted Senior Living
    Scandia Shores
    Independent Senior Living
    WestRidge
    Independent Senior Living
  • Home Care
  • Spiritual Care
  • Helping You Choose
  • Home
  • A Day in the Life
  • MEET REIKO
    Text resize:
  1. A
  2. A
  3. A
Email this page

Share

Print this page

Categories

Archives

  • April, 2018
  • March, 2018
  • February, 2018
  • January, 2018
  • December, 2017
  • November, 2017
  • October, 2017
  • September, 2017
  • August, 2017
  • July, 2017
  • June, 2017
  • May, 2017
  • April, 2017
  • March, 2017
  • February, 2017
  • January, 2017
  • December, 2016
  • November, 2016
  • October, 2016
  • September, 2016
  • August, 2016
  • July, 2016
  • June, 2016
  • May, 2016
  • April, 2016
  • March, 2016
  • February, 2016
  • January, 2016
  • December, 2015
  • November, 2015
  • October, 2015
  • September, 2015
  • August, 2015
  • July, 2015
  • June, 2015
  • May, 2015
  • April, 2015
  • March, 2015
  • February, 2015
  • January, 2015
  • December, 2014
  • November, 2014
  • October, 2014
  • September, 2014
  • August, 2014
  • July, 2014
  • June, 2014
  • May, 2014
  • April, 2014
  • March, 2014
  • February, 2014
  • January, 2014
  • December, 2013
  • November, 2013
  • October, 2013
  • September, 2013
  • August, 2013
  • July, 2013
  • June, 2013
Schedule a tour

Come for a visit

Taking a tour is the best way to see what life is like in our Avinity senior living communities. Meet the staff. Visit with the residents. Share a cup of coffee. Check out the apartments. Explore the property. Ask questions. Feel the spirit. If you visit in the afternoon, join us for a meal. Our treat. Walk-ins are welcome, but we can guarantee more time with you when you schedule a tour.

MEET REIKO

May 28, 2014

In Tokyo, Japan, on September 17, 1928, Reiko “was born dancing.” She was the daughter of a French mother and Japanese Diplomat. She spent her first three years in Tokyo, then her father returned to his diplomat post in Mexico, where her brother and her sister were born.

When Reiko was young, she would speak Spanish and English at school, but French at home. She grew up loving Mexican culture, but had few friends aside from her family and siblings because of the gated diplomat community.

REIKO ITO SHELLUM KOECK, Mainstreet Village of Richfield, resident

When she was eight years old her family was recalled to Tokyo because of Japan’s war with China as well as the impending World War. Being French, her mother was not able to return to Japan with them. Reiko was enrolled in Japanese school and immediately felt the foreignness of the Japanese culture. Being fairer of skin and hair color and unable to speak Japanese, she was bullied quite a bit, but learned to fight back. And she did learn the language.

In 1945, the war had escalated to the point where Reiko’s family was forced to evacuate Tokyo. They evacuated to an area near Osaka, where Reiko attended a high school.  She and her classmates were put to work in a clothing factory manufacturing garments for the army.  One day, Reiko got a terrible pain in her stomach. She went to the infirmary and was told that she had appendicitis and she needed to go to the hospital. The closest one was thirty miles away, and the only transportation was a bicycle-pulled cart.

When she reached the hospital she was told there were no rooms available, so she was placed on a futon in a waiting room. Since there were not enough nurses available, her father hired an elderly woman to provide care for her. Napalm bombs were dropped on the city that evening and Reiko couldn’t stay in the hospital, so the elderly woman wrapped her in a blanket and helped her out into the street.  Amidst a “sea of fire” they found shelter under a tree and when the bombing stopped they found their way back to the hospital which was now only partially intact.  She stayed there a couple days to recuperate after her surgery and returned to live with her family.  She was horrified to learn that the city where she went to school and worked in the clothing factory was destroyed and all the other children had died.  If she hadn’t had the appendicitis attack, she would also be dead.  She felt this meant she had a special purpose in life.

She remembers being close enough to Hiroshima to see the fire in the sky when the atomic bomb was dropped.  She was 15 years old when the war ended.

Later Reiko began college and got a job as an interpreter at a US army base, which gave her special privileges as she was a “foreign national.” In time, Reiko met and married Duane, an American GI.

When Reiko became pregnant, her father encouraged her to study Nihonga (Japanese-style painting), in accordance with the Japanese belief that a child’s learning begins during its time in the womb.   She became very accomplished at this. 

In 1952 she and Duane decided to move to the United States, to Duane’s home town of New Ulm, Minnesota.  When the weather turned cold in late September and Reiko began to take frozen diapers in off the clotheslines, she told Duane that they were not going to stay in Minnesota any longer! They moved to Mexico where her siblings lived.

After Duane finished his degree in Mexico City and Reiko became pregnant again, they moved back to Minnesota and settled in Mankato. She wanted all her children to have US citizenship.  Eventually they had five sons.  Reiko’s mother joined her husband in Mexico so Reiko was able to see her when she went back for visits.

In 1960 Reiko suffered a bowel obstruction and although she healed, she kept feeling unexplainably “lousy.” In order to regain her health and energy she decided to join a ballet company. With a little persuasion Duane joined his wife on the floor. Eventually all of their sons also danced ballet. 

While Duane worked with the Minnesota Orchestra, the family lived on a farm in Elko, Minnesota. This enabled Reiko to get a St. Bernard dog which she always wanted.  They added many other animals and kenneled dogs of orchestra members when they traveled.

In 1973, Reiko and Duane started Minnihon Arts Center. They offered Japanese painting and Japanese dance classes.  But after Duane developed cancer in 1980 they had to close the arts center.  Duane lost his battle with the cancer in 1984.

Life changed tremendously for Reiko after that.  She had never worked for pay since marrying Duane. With the help and encouragement of her sons Reiko acquired her first driver’s license at age 55! She then began working for large companies as a liaison for Japanese and American businesses. She hosted various groups of Japanese businessmen when they were in the Twin Cities on business and taught American businessmen proper Japanese behavior and interaction. Reiko was also able to resume teaching Japanese painting and offering dance lessons.

A few years later, she began an exchange program and took a group of her painting students to one of her old schools in Japan. They trained with her old teachers and greatly benefited from the experience.

In 1987 Reiko married again, to Eugene, an old family friend and fellow ballet dancer.  While continuing her independent work as a liaison and keeping up her art teaching, she decided to begin teaching her own ballet classes at the Minnetonka Community Center in 1990. The classes became the Développé Dance Group.

In 1992 Reiko received the Asian-Pacific Leadership Award from the State of Minnesota in recognition of her outstanding services in cultural heritage.

In 2012, Eugene was admitted into a special nursing facility for Alzheimer’s care and Reiko discovered she had a large tumor on her kidney. It was successfully removed with surgery and after a short recovery period she went back to teaching her classes.  But after suffering a fall, her sons began searching for a place for her to live that would be closer to them. That is how Reiko came to live at Mainstreet Village.  

Reiko was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and is taking chemotherapy treatment. She still teaches ballet classes and painting classes a couple times a week, and has recently started teaching a ballet class to the other senior residents living in her community.

REIKO ITO SHELLUM KOECK, Mainstreet Village of Richfield, resident

Her joy in life is her family. Her five sons visit and call often.  She is the proud grandmother of ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  As she reflects on her life she wants to be remembered as a fair and good teacher. She has dedicated so much of her life to passing on the skills and education she has acquired. She is the first women to have danced Madame Butterfly when it was adapted for the Ballet, and through her time in the Twin Cities she has gotten to see Minneapolis become second to New York in the ballet world. Her classes in the Japanese Arts have proved instrumental in the Japanese-American community.

Through her service to her students and her family, Reiko has already established a legacy. 

Excerpted and edited from her life story written by Bethel University students for their aging class project.

comments powered by Disqus

Recent posts

  • Keep Singing!

    April 4, 2018

    Happy Easter! I hope you were able to attend worship and sing the majestic songs of Easter.   He is Risen!

    The Voicehas become such a popular show, and popular phenomena of discovering vocal talent. Aside more...

  • Spring Thaw

    March 6, 2018

    What a cold winter it has been. I know we are all looking forward to spring. I can’t wait to see the beauty of Crocuses coming up through the thawing ground.

     

    For me, the spring thaw began in January more...

  • Talk about Love

    February 6, 2018

    One day I asked a dear friend of mine if she cared to tell me why she never married. She lived to be 101 and was a vibrant senior adult who continued walking and volunteering at her church into her 90s. So she told me, “You can’t marry more...

  • Who’s Your Neighbor?

    January 3, 2018

    I love my neighborhood. Those that live next to me and my family are the kind of neighbors we all hope to have. They are ready to help; easy to talk with and share in life’s ups and downs. For example, when it snows outside we each seem to more...

  • Thank God for Friends

    December 5, 2017

    Meet Patricia! She is a newer resident who is full of energy and enjoys being active. She entered right into the Scandia Shores community and has already made many friends. She credits a member of the hospitality committee for more...

  • Thank You Veterans

    November 7, 2017

    Each year, I try to take a veteran out for lunch or coffee as a way of saying thank you for the sacrifices they have made serving our country.  Recently I was looking for ways in which I could inspire others to find a Veteran to honor with more...

  • Preserving and Passing along our Precious Memories

    October 3, 2017

    Our residents have incredible stories, stories showing their character and tremendous courage. These memories need to be preserved for the next generations. I think of a lady named Verlie. One of 15 siblings, she learned to work more...

  • A Community of Caring

    September 5, 2017

    A few weeks ago, I traveled to Duluth to officiate a funeral for one of our dear residents from the WestRidge community in Minnetonka. As a chaplain, it is a high honor to care for families through their grieving and to invoke more...

  • Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind

    August 1, 2017

    Much is written these days about keeping our minds healthy. We hear of the body-to-brain health connection. One website lists 100 ways to keep your mind healthy and fit (“Brain Power: 100 Ways to Keep Your Mind Healthy and Fit.” Open more...

  • Now Listen Up!

    July 6, 2017

    “The first duty of love is to listen.”

    Noted Theologian, Paul Tillich

     

    I have discovered the beautiful force of silence. Silence is at the very core of listening. When I listen to a friend voice their concerns and more...

  • What My Dad Taught Me

    June 6, 2017

    It’s soon Father’s Day. Take time to remember Dad.

    My dad has been gone for 17 years this month. I am incredibly fortunate he was a dad who was involved in my life, a hard worker and married to my mom for 50+ years more...

  • The Importance of You!

    May 2, 2017

    There are times in our life when we question our importance and influence we have in our homes, workplace, faith circles and friendships. We like to be assured that we make a difference in the lives of the people we get to know more...

  • Why Women?

    April 4, 2017

    You may remember the commercial (1968) used by the tobacco industry to promote women smoking: “You’ve come a long way” (sometimes the word “Baby” was added). It showed the “new woman” and her freedoms having progressed to the point more...

  • Never Give Up On Compassion

    March 7, 2017

    Albert Schweitzer, noted theologian, organist, philosopher, physician and Nobel Peace Prize recipient is quoted to say: “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others more...

  • Love and Foregiveness

    February 7, 2017

    In February we think of love—Love is the greatest gift one can give to another human being. We celebrate love on Valentine’s Day with chocolates and valentines and flowers and chocolate-covered strawberries! But real love is more...

  • Behold, I Make All Things New

    January 14, 2017

    “Behold, I Make All Things New”—Revelations 21:5

    I love to restore old furniture, especially if it comes from one of my ancestors. Recently, I restored my great-grandmother’s kitchen pantry. The frame had rotted away more...

  • Be Not Afraid

    December 6, 2016

    Christmastime is here! The wonderful time of tree decorating, cookie making, parties and lots of eating! But don’t forget the music—carolers, special concerts, and piano recitals. Oh, and I omitted the gifts more...

  • Whistle a Happy Tune!

    November 1, 2016

    “Whenever I feel afraid I hold my head erect And whistle a happy tune so no one will suspect I'm afraid. While shivering in my shoes I strike a careless poseAnd whistle a happy tune and no one ever more...

  • Navigating Change

    October 4, 2016

    Seasons change. Now we enter the beauty of October with its vibrant changing leaves—vivid reds, oranges, luscious gold, even brown and burgundy. In Minnesota we get to experience the four seasons—each season with its own beauty more...

  • A Leader Among Many

    September 30, 2016

    A leader plays an important role in the lives of those around them. People look to leaders to set an example and high standards for others. Today, Avinity is proud to recognize a community leader and dedicated employee, Kari Horbacz more...

  • Woven Together

    September 6, 2016

    It has been my absolute delight to be the editor of the history of short book about a lovey woman named Betty (age 89), who now lives in Minneapolis. She has taken the time to look back through-out her life and more...

  • Reaching Triple Digits

    August 17, 2016

    People who reach the landmark age of 100 years old are given the distinguished title of Centenarian. Certainly, reaching Avinity Centenarian status is worthy of a special celebration!Leo Maki, a more...

  • Born to Lead

    August 4, 2016

    Here at Avinity, we are all about finding cool new ways to highlight employees at our various communities. Everyone has a different story to tell and we want to be sure to share those stories with all of you, which is why we have started more...

  • Doing good Is Good, it also makes you Feel Good!

    August 2, 2016

    Have you ever wondered why you feel so good after you do something good for another human being? Did you know there is an explanation for that? Allan Luks, former executive director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of New York City, calls more...

  • From Paper to Plastic

    July 25, 2016

    Adapting to changes in life is a skill as much as it is a necessity. It is not easy transitioning from familiarity to new ways of doing things, but change is unavoidable. Changes in the span of one’s life can be both big and small more...

  • 3-2-1 COOK OFF!

    July 13, 2016

    It is time to celebrate the accomplishments of another Avinity family member! Roberto Mendoza, lead chef at Mainstreet Village of Richfield is the man of the hour!

    Recently, Roberto participated more...

  • As Time Goes By

    July 5, 2016

    Remember the song As Time Goes By? It gives us a glimpse of what the generation gap looked like back in 1930s and 40s. Back then, Einstein’s theories challenged the way we viewed the universe; technology was skyrocketing, and more...

  • Work it Out

    June 27, 2016

    What’s better than giving back to our seniors? Trick question, there is nothing! We love rejuvenating their youthful spirit with new activities and forms of engagement. This time around, we focused on keeping them physically more...

  • Perspective

    June 7, 2016

    Meet Bill, an incredibly interesting Scandia Shores of Shoreview resident who described life experiences to me I only could imagine. Bill grew up in Rhode Island, lettered in four sports in high school—one of the “last four more...

  • Making a Difference in the Community

    June 2, 2016

    Avinity has long been known as a senior living organization that fosters compassion and community. Our mission is to create communities for older adults that nurture body, soul, and spirit. We are proud to say that employee more...

  • Northland Village of Hoyt Lakes Evacuated Due to Wildfires

    May 9, 2016

    On Friday, May 6, 2016, wildfires in the northern region of Minnesota threatened the town of Hoyt Lakes and caused the evacuation of Northland Village of Hoyt Lakes, an Avinity assisted living community of 18 residents and 24 staff more...

  • The Avinity experience - and Paul McCartney!

    May 6, 2016

    Recently, CEO Dale M. Fagre donated Paul McCartney tickets to the Avinity Foundation.  The Foundation asked employees to submit their name for a drawing, and to include a paragraph about how they share the Avinity Experience with more...

  • Seasonal Changes

    May 3, 2016

    For a short time in my life, I lived in Florida. Now, for a Minnesota country boy, Florida felt like a never-ending summer.  Summer is my favorite season. While living there, the seasons came and went without much fanfare or change more...

  • Celebrating our volunteer!

    April 13, 2016

    During this Volunteer Appreciate Week, we celebrate our awesome volunteer, Joyce.  What makes Joyce so special?  Let me count the ways…

    Joyce has been volunteering at both Mainstreet Village of more...

  • The Power of a ‘Well-turned Phrase’

    April 5, 2016

    We just celebrated Easter. “It was early this year.” Why do we say Easter was early this year? Easter came when it was scheduled on the calendar. Yes, it can arrive as early as March 22 or delay until April 25, depending on when the first more...

  • Look at Your Hands

    March 1, 2016

    Billy Graham once said: “God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.”  This is such an insightful statement and a beautiful way to live life with spirit. You see, our hands are more than just an incredible more...

  • Growing the Family to Perpetuate the Mission

    February 22, 2016

    Inspired by God’s love, Avinity’s mission is to create communities for older adults that nurture body, soul and spirit. To that end, we are focused on growing our Avinity family so that we can bring the mission to more people more...

  • Happy Valentine’s Day!

    February 14, 2016

    Enjoy this story of fate and love from Edendale resident, Jan:

    My husband and I met in 1950 at Calhoun Beach in Minneapolis. I was with a boyfriend and while swimming I was suddenly pulled under the water more...

  • Walk on with Hope in your Heart

    February 2, 2016

    The song sung at my high school graduation was titled “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” The lyrics that sum up this famous song are:

    “Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart and you’ll never walk alone more...

  • A Daughter’s Testimonial

    January 27, 2016

    We want to share this testimonial from a daughter of a former Mainstreet Village of Richfield resident who moved due to health complications:

    My mom and I both loved it at Mainstreet!  She was having so more...

  • What Would I Have Done if I Knew What I Know Now?

    January 5, 2016

    One day my mother told me she felt bad she didn’t help her mother milk cows as a teenager. In looking back she wished she could re-do the experience and correct it. I didn’t know where Mother was headed with her reasoning, I know now more...

  • Wishing You Well, Nyla!

    December 30, 2015

    Nyla has been a cook at Care-Age Country Home since September 1994. Nyla is known for her calm, patient, reliable, sweet and caring nature, in addition to being an amazing cook and a source of wisdom to everyone around her more...

  • The Gift of Spiritual Care

    December 29, 2015

    During this Christmas season we remember the birth of a lowly infant, who was born to humble parents in a stable with animals for company. We give thanks for Mary and Joseph's willingness to step out into the unknown and play their more...

  • The Christmas Letter

    December 1, 2015

    As Christmas approaches, I anticipate the beauty it brings. Christmas décor is everywhere you walk. Seasonal music fills the air. Being Scandinavian in heritage, I look forward to Pepparkakor, Krumkake, Lefsa, and yes, even more...

  • Rediscover the Joy of Giving

    November 3, 2015

    We will soon enter the season of Thanksgiving and Christmas—the season of giving. Perhaps you are already receiving requests for donations. The Giving USA Foundation said in its annual report that the 2014 tally of $358.38 more...

  • What Makes You “Tick”?

    October 6, 2015

    When I was a boy I loved to tinker; take old phones apart, small electronics or watches that quit working. I wanted to be like my grandfather who could fix anything. Of course, being a child, I was unable to reassemble, let alone repair more...

  • Happy Birthday Don!

    September 29, 2015

    Happy Birthday to Care-Age Country Home resident, Don.  He was born at his Grandmother’s house by Dorset, MN, in October, 1933. He lived with his family a few miles away from there most of his life. He had three more...

  • Why Worry?

    September 1, 2015

    Recently a woman expressed concern for her friends who worry a lot. She reminded them that they can pray about their concerns and give them to God. Apparently, that seemed too simplistic an answer for them. So I started thinking, how more...

  • Marnie Revisited—and Toned!

    August 31, 2015

    Remember Marnie from WestRidge of Minnetonka? (http://avinityseniorliving.org/blog/meet-marnie)  She is now a couple years older - 103 - and still going strong! 

    Marnie is a very active participant more...

  • Ice Cream Truck Comes to LEE Center!

    August 13, 2015

    An ice cream truck has been coming each Tuesday for the past three weeks, and it’s been a big hit!  Many of our residents participate and wait patiently at 3:00pm for their treat!  They can remember ice cream trucks going through more...

  • Memory Care Coming to Mainstreet Village!

    August 6, 2015

    As we continue our mission of imagining, nurturing and inspiring a youthful spirit in every older adult, we are thrilled to announce that we are opening a new memory care neighborhood at our Mainstreet Village location in

    more...

  • Thanksgiving in August? - Why Not?

    August 4, 2015

    Recently, something beautiful happened during a chapel service. As we entered into our time of worship, I asked people to call out something for which they could be thankful to God. Not only did I more...

  • What a beautiful day for mulching!

    July 31, 2015

    The Avinity executive staff and Mainstreet Village of Richfieldstaff, and one recruited family member, rolled up their sleeves and put on gloves for a property beautification project today.  We must say, after 3 hours more...

  • Resident turns 101 years old!

    July 30, 2015

     Marguerite turned 101 years old on the 8th of May! 

    She has been living at Care-Age Country Home (managed by Avinity) for a little over two years now.  She was born in Tipton, Iowa, but grew up in more...

  • Welcome Care-Age Country Home

    July 24, 2015

    Desmond Tutu once said, “You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.”  The addition of Care-Age Country Home in Park Rapids, MN has certainly been a gift to the Avinity family.  From the welcoming more...

  • Family Picnic

    July 9, 2015

    Residents, staff , family and friends gathered at Mainstreet Village of Richfieldon Wednesday June 25th to enjoy the Family Picnic that took place in the dining room from 4 – 6 pm.  William (Bill) Lundholm of more...

  • Musings for Independence Day

    July 7, 2015

    Roll out the fireworks, it is time to celebrate. The United States officially turned 239 years old this July 4th. We celebrate the day our Declaration of Independence was signed declaring America’s more...

  • All-Avinity Luncheon

    June 26, 2015

    Thursday, June 18th, the All-Avinity Luncheon was hosted by Mainstreet Village of Richfield. The annual event gives residents from all senior housing locations owned or managed by Avinityto more...

  • June, a Month for Weddings

    June 2, 2015

    Weddings have been on my mind because my daughter’s wedding is just around the corner.  I love stories about how people meet one another.  I’d like to share with you a story about a couple whose early courtship was filled with wonder more...

  • Meet Jane and Bruce

    May 26, 2015

    WestRidge of Minnetonka resident Jane had just finished her first year of teaching in White Bear Lake, MN, when she returned to her home town of New Richland, MN, (population 800).  There she met more...

  • Why Music?

    May 5, 2015

    Scandia Shores of Shoreview recently hosted a Spring Sing where a group of 6 people from a local Lutheran church led 75 Scandia residents in an hour-long program of singing, praise and worship. As chaplain at Scandia, I more...

  • Love is Stronger than Pain

    April 2, 2015

    Recently, I watched an amazing account of one family’s survival of a plane crash in Alaska. I was drawn into the dramatic portrayal of this family’s harrowing experience, and inspired by this young man who struggled to keep his more...

  • Corned Beef and Cabbage and more

    March 19, 2015

    In 1941, Hal from Blaine Courts of Blaine was in the Navy and going to school in Chicago, IL.  While attending a Corned Beef and Cabbagedinner sponsored by the USO he met Colette, an Irish lass.  They more...

  • St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland

    March 14, 2015

    Molly, a resident at Blaine Courts of Blaine, lived in Northern Ireland when she was young - in Portstewart, Co Derry, which is by the sea.  St. Patrick’s Day was always a fun time, with parades that included more...

  • Fall Prevention

    March 10, 2015

    Falls are serious at any age, but especially for older people as they are more likely to break a bone when they fall.  The fact is, falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults. more...

  • WestRidge Talent Show 2015

    March 5, 2015

    What comes to mind when you hear the phrase Talent Show? Junior High gatherings where trembling youth get up to give a speech or sing a song?  Every year WestRidge of Minnetonkahas a talent show more...

  • The Shields of God

    March 3, 2015

    Life can be scary and dangerous, especially during the harsh and bitterly cold months of a Minnesota winter! (As I write this article it is -10°)  But, the scriptures are very clear that God is watching over us and protecting us as a more...

  • Meet Vi - A Life Well Lived

    February 25, 2015

    One of the incredible benefits of serving as an Avinity chaplain is the wonderful opportunity to hear the life stories of our residents. Vi, a 10-year resident at WestRidge, an Avinity senior more...

  • How We Met - Don and Millie

    February 14, 2015

    Here is the final response in the series of notes we received from our residents about how they met their "Valentine":

     

    Don and Millie of Scandia Shores of Shoreviewmet at a square dance at the more...

  • How We Met - Alice and Ralph

    February 13, 2015

    Here is the fourth response in the series of notes we received from our residents about how they met their "Valentine": 

    WestRidge of Minnetonka resident, Alice remembers: 

    I was walking to the bus more...

  • How We Met - Bruce and Jane

    February 12, 2015

    Here is the third response in the series of notes we received from our residents about how they met their "Valentine": 

    WestRidge of Minnetonkaresidents Bruce and Jane recall: "We met the summer after more...

  • How We Met - Jerry and Nancy

    February 11, 2015

    Here is the second article in the series of notes we received from our residents about how they met their "Valentine": 

    WestRidge of Minnetonkaresident, Jerry, was delivering medical supplies to more...

  • How We Met - Verlie & Al

    February 10, 2015

    Here is the first in a series of notes we received from our residents about how they met their "Valentine":

    Scandia Shores of Shoreview resident, Verlie, remembers:

    My father hired Al, to cut wood more...

  • Winter Carnival comes to Scandia Shores

    February 5, 2015

    The chilly day of January 31st was warmed up at Scandia Shores of Shoreview by a visit from the St. Paul Winter Carnival Royalty.  If you aren’t familiar with St. Paul’s winter tradition, check it out more...

  • Valentine’s Day

    February 3, 2015

    Valentine’s Day is upon us once again and we will undoubtedly hear heart-warming stories of couples facing unlikely odds to survive or to find love. Those thoughts inspired me to share with you the unlikely story of how my wife and I more...

  • Meet Mary

    January 30, 2015

    WestRidge of Minnetonkaresident Mary is just amazing! Legally blind since birth, she can place a label on an envelope straighter than her sighted friends, knits beautifully, and walks regularly.  She used to bowl, play darts more...

  • Feed My Starving Children

    January 15, 2015

    For the past several years, WestRidge of Minnetonka residents have gone as a group to help pack food and label bags at the Feed My Starving Children sites in Coon Rapids and Chanhassen.  Each time more...

  • Blaine Courts Celebrates the Christmas Season in a Big Way!

    January 8, 2015

    If you’ve ever wondered what goes on in a senior living community during the holidays, here is a list of the activities made available to our residents at Blaine Courts of Blaine:

    1. Decking the more...

  • Living with Purpose

    January 6, 2015

    Not all of us have the luxury of knowing our life has really affected other people and made a difference. What a gift to be able to look back over your life with satisfaction and gratitude for a good family and a life lived with purpose more...

  • CEO’s Year End Letter

    December 31, 2014

    2014 was a year of change and transition for Avinity after 12 years of consistent leadership and direction. My time began on June 2, 2014, and the welcome I received was very uplifting and humbling more...

  • Mickey…and the Hats

    December 30, 2014

    We have an amazing resident at LEE Center of Hibbing!  She has been in the blog before because she was in a Hibbing newspaper article about the first female miners.  But we’d like to share with you a more recent endeavor of hers more...

  • Santa Comes to Visit!

    December 10, 2014

    It was a strange sight yesterday morning at Mainstreet Village of Richfield!  A vehicle with antlers, a red nose and a license plate that read "C Santa" came into the parking lot.  Behind the wheel was no one else but more...

  • Gifts to Give this Christmas Season

    December 2, 2014

    Jesus said: It is more blessed to give than receive (Acts 20:35)! 

    Every Christmas season I have a problem: I can’t figure out what gifts to give! My wife is really good at gift giving. She usually says around August, “I more...

  • Meet Pastor Dave

    November 12, 2014

    Pastor Dave Johnston has been providing spiritual care for Avinity communities for seven years. Pastor Dave provides nondenominational ministry through Chapel services, Bible studies, hospital visits and one-to-one more...

  • Giving To The Max

    November 4, 2014

    “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”  

    - Maya Angelou

    We are about to recognize GiveMN’s “Give to the Max Day” on November 13th. But before you more...

  • Matching Grant Now Available

    October 30, 2014

    Give to the Max Day, November 13th, is fast approaching and we have an exciting announcement!

    The Avinity Board of Directors and the CEO of Avinity have collectively issued a $10,000 matching challenge to help us more...

  • Meet Jerry

    October 28, 2014

    WestRidge of Minnetonka resident, Jerry, is the definition of “active aging.” He was a life-long resident of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, until he moved across the border into Minnetonkathis past more...

  • Avinity Fall River Cruise ‘14

    October 22, 2014

    Early on a recent Saturday morning, the sun not even out yet, residents from several Avinity communities gathered together for a “fall colors cruise” on the Mississippi River booked through more...

  • Happy Birthday!

    October 8, 2014

    Every month our communities honor residents who have a birthday during that month with treats and entertainment such as singers and dancers.   The September birthday party at Mainstreet Village more...

  • How old are you really?

    October 2, 2014

    What do Jimmy Carter, Tony Dungy, Julie Andrews, Brett Favre, Pat Sajak and Jerry Rice all have in common?  It has something to do with October. Their birthdates all begin with the tenth month. And, at least one Avinity more...

  • Slice of Shoreview

    September 24, 2014

    Every summer Scandia Shores of Shoreview is a proud sponsor of the Slice of Shoreview Days during July. On July 26, 2014, we again participated in the Slice of Shoreview parade.

    Each year our bus more...

  • National Assisted Living Week

    September 12, 2014

    Avinity staff always aspire to promote a youthful spirit in every older adult they meet and fulfill our mission daily.  During this National Assisted Living week, our staff organized two fun-filled more...

  • KKMS Interviews Avinity Staff at MN State Fair

    September 10, 2014

    Dale M. Fagre and Lead Pastor Dave Johnston stopped by KKMS Radio at the Minnesota State Fairto visit with Lee Michaels live on the air.  In addition to introducing Dale as the new Chief Executive Officer of more...

  • Lifelong Learner

    September 2, 2014

    Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.  Anyone who keeps learning stays young. ~ Henry Ford

    To be a lifelong learner means to never stop growing and to never stop expanding your more...

  • Meet Carin

    August 26, 2014

    For the last 18 years, Blaine Courts of Blaine resident, Carin, has been attending Camp Omegain Waterville, Minnesota. Camp Omega is a place of God's ministry and changed lives for 50 years.  Campers get to more...

  • National Night Out

    August 20, 2014

    Several of our communities celebrated the 2014 National Night Out event on Tuesday, August 5th, at noon with free food and activities.  The weather was perfect and the gatherings fun-filled.  more...

  • Veteran’s Honor Flight

    August 6, 2014

    Cay, a 13-year resident of Mainstreet Village of Richfield, enjoyed a World War II “Honor’s Flight” this past April to Washington, D.C.  Cay (in the Navy from 1944-1946) wants everyone to know about this great event more...

  • A True Friend

    August 5, 2014

    Don't walk behind me; I may not lead.
    Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow.
    Just walk beside me and be my friend.
    --Albert Camus
     
    Euripides once said: “One loyal friend is worth ten thousand
    more...

  • Meet Andy

    July 29, 2014

    Every person is a multifaceted human being with many dimensions that define who they are. Andy, a resident at Scandia Shores in Shoreview, is a great example of such a person.

    If you saw Andy more...

  • Let’s Go Fishing

    July 23, 2014

    On July 7th you would have caught (pun intended) a group of residents from Mainstreet Village of Richfield fishing on Riley Lake in Eden Prairie.  This outing was organized through Let’s Go more...

(612) 861-2799

© Avinity

Formerly Twin City Christian Homes (TCCH)

Avinity is a 501(c)3 Corporation.

7645 Lyndale Avenue South

Suite #110

Richfield, MN 55423

Directions
  • About
  • Senior Living Communities
  • Employment
  • Schedule a Tour
  • Donate to Avinity
  • A Day in the Life Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

Stay updated on what’s going on at Avinity

Newsletter Signup
Like us on Facebook
Subscribe to our YouTube channel