Leah’s journey to Geer Lodge is unique.

A resident of Geer Lodge Assisted Living for 3 1⁄2 years, Leah enthusiastically proclaims “This is not an institution, it’s my home. I love it here and my two-bedroom apartment is peaceful and quiet. I socialize when I choose to and have the most wonderful view of the trees and the mountains. After years of service to others, I am blessed to enjoy a peaceful, full life here at Geer”.

Born in Brooklyn and educated as a Social Worker in Florida, Leah tells the story of her life with excitement and vivid detail that showcases a life committed to family and service.

While in school in Florida, Leah met her husband while he was on vacation. Together they created a strong family, governed by her motto ‘I can, and I will.’

“We lived in a beautiful town in New Jersey, and it was the expected life of a housewife in the 1950s… yet I always felt I was destined to do more.” Her husband was a chemist and she had always been fascinated by his field of work.  Her motto soon rang true as she began work as a fixed asset accountant for Johnson & Johnson. “Johnson & Johnson tested all candidates for attitude and aptitude, and it was determined that I was good in math, so accounting became my job”. She worked for forty-three dollars a week, while back then, the men received double that pay.

Sadly, Leah’s husband was killed in a car accident leaving her to raise their three children alone.  She returned to school, becoming a first-grade teacher, and went on to teach kindergarten through eighth grade, and continued with her education to become a special needs teacher.

“Teaching special needs children was my favorite, as it is a profession where you reap the benefits of all you do. I loved all of my students, each and every one of them.”

After her children were grown, Leah fulfilled a goal of working with the Peace Corps and joined at the age of sixty-five. “I was in Grenada for two-and-a-half years and I loved it!  I prepared teachers to teach standardized English and create libraries with a color-coded system, so everyone could enjoy a book, whether they could read or not.“

Always loving the vibration of the mountains, Leah decided to settle in the town of Sheffield, Massachusetts, so she could be closer to her children who lived in New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts.

“I didn’t know a soul in Sheffield and decided I needed to get to know people in the area. I saw an ad in the local Shopper’s Guide newspaper for a place called Geer Senior Village only 10 mins away. They offered free programs of which I attended regularly. I met the most wonderful woman named Deb Pelletier, who welcomed me and got to know me. She offered to show me around Geer Lodge. After five years of attending programs, I decided to move to the Lodge when I began to need a little bit of assistance, and I have never regretted it.”

In fact, Leah suffered a fall at one point and was able to take advantage of the services at Geer. “It happened so suddenly, my leg came out from under me, and I fell to the ground. I fractured my left hip and needed to have surgery. I went to Geer Nursing and Rehab to recover…its right on campus! Thanks to them, my muscle strength and balance have improved significantly, and my pain is gone! “

Leah remains as driven as ever in advancing her accomplishments and giving to others. She can and she will continue to be a shining force of light at The Lodge.

“I fell in love with the big picture windows and the amazing views” says new resident, Karen Phalen, from the comfort of her apartment at The Lodge.

Having worked at the New York Public Library since 1992, Karen suddenly found herself thrust into retirement in March of 2020 as the COVID outbreak hit New Rochelle. It was a big, unexpected change to her life and routine which sadly also refused her an opportunity to say goodbye to her colleagues and friends or to celebrate her new retirement.

Karen eventually decided to move to her mother’s apartment in Southbury, Connecticut. “My mother’s eyesight had deteriorated, so I became her eyes.”
She took her mother to appointments and assisted with her daily needs and was happy to help in any way she could. After a few months, her sister Patty suggested she tour Geer Lodge. And that was all it took! “I fell in love with Geer that very day and decided to settle in Connecticut for good and come back to my roots.”

Having worked at the New York Public Library for over 25 years, Karen, at sixty-eight years young, has much knowledge to share of her own! Successfully navigating a career through the days when 30,000 or more books were tracked in wooden card catalogues, and eventually automated via computers in 1995.

Karen reminisced, “I was a children’s librarian first working with babies zero to seventeen months in age and was able to watch them grow to teens and young adults. I had the privilege of knowing families from preschool through college graduations and even meeting their children’s children.”

It’s no surprise that Geer is a perfect match for Karen. As an avid book collector, she particularly enjoys mysteries, biographies, and travel books, all of which can be found in Geer’s beautiful Library. (Her personal favorite authors are Eric Carl and Dr. Suess).

Karen’s favorite part of Geer…well there are many. “I fully enjoy the daily news and chat program, bingo, meals in the dining room, Chapel services, live concerts including music from Music Mountain, day trips to Great Barrington, restaurants and shopping.”

Socializing is a big part of life at Geer Lodge and Karen has been enjoying engaging with her fellow housemates sharing stories and attending activities.
“I have enjoyed a life of service to others and in turn expanding my own world by sharing my knowledge with others. I love my life at Geer Lodge and feel fortunate to know that I will spend my retirement years in my beautiful apartment, in an environment that is positive and fun. I am so happy to live at Geer Lodge and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”