"Being around people matters" | Jeanne Nixon

When Jeanne Nixon arrived at Park Place of Elmhurst more than five years ago, she didn’t expect to stay long. She had been through a tough stretch: hospitalizations, memory setbacks, and a long recovery from shingles, and her daughters just wanted to make sure she wasn’t alone. “I thought I’d be here a week,” Jeanne says with a wry smile. “But it felt right. And it still does.”

Jeanne’s story is one of quiet resilience. A former private secretary who started working in downtown Chicago at just 17, she’s always taken pride in her independence. Even now, at 84, she prefers to take her own showers to free up staff time for those who need more help. “I’ve always tried to pull my weight,” she says. “Even now, I like to help where I can, hold a chair, ask how someone’s doing, little things.”

That balance of independence and support is exactly what she values about life at Park Place. She enjoys having breakfast in her apartment, taking time to ease into the morning. But you’ll always find her in the dining room for lunch and dinner, sharing meals with her neighbors. “Being around people matters,” she says. “It keeps you going.”

Jeanne moved back to Illinois after her husband, a retired firefighter, passed away in Naples, Florida. Her apartment in Elmhurst was a favorite; walkable, vibrant, full of memories. But after another health scare, her daughters knew it was time for a safer, more supportive environment. Jeanne agreed. “I loved that apartment, but I needed more. And I found it here.”

Even as her memory sometimes fades, Jeanne has kept a detailed journal to remind herself of what she’s overcome. “It’s all in here,” she says, flipping through worn pages. “There were moments I thought I’d never bounce back. But here I am, still me.”

On good days, she’s out walking the paths around Park Place, enjoying the fresh air and the feeling of forward motion. On quiet afternoons, she dives into a book-no romance, she insists, mysteries and thrillers are her favorite. When she finds a willing partner, she’s quick to pull out a deck of cards. “We played serious cards back on the farm,” she laughs. “No easy games in my family.”

A proud Cubs fan, Jeanne lights up when she talks baseball. “I grew up with two brothers and played first base when I was younger. And Rizzo? I just loved him.”

Jeanne’s journey has been shaped by love, loss, memory, and momentum. But through it all, her spirit remains steady. “You just keep going. You show up. You help when you can,” she says.

And for Jeanne, Park Place isn’t just where she lives. “It’s where I came back to myself.”