Life is all about creating precious memories connected to the people we love. At Tapestry, we see this firsthand every day and we appreciate how important it is for people to bring their treasured items with them when they move in to one of our communities.
Recently, a group of residents at Tapestry at Arbutus Walk connected to share some of their cherished personal belongings and memories at a unique “Forget Me Nots” event.
Suggested by Tish, who has lived at Tapestry for almost two years, the event showcased 23 personal items – from a family heirloom Mah-Jong set, to a pottery cat estimated to be from the 1700s or 1800s, to a Scottish Battalion military kilt worn by a member of the World War II liberation forces for the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany.
Tish took the time to meet with each person individually, and then carefully crafted detailed descriptions that were read aloud as each item was shown. “My goal was to include something that was meaningful and maybe a little bit sentimental, that would also be interesting for the audience,” Tish says. “From the feedback, we succeeded. And they are already talking about a next time,” she adds.
Tish says two of the standout items for her were Sue’s baby dress (modelled by Tish’s lion stuffy) and Bob’s dress uniform from his 23 years in the Canadian military service. Bob says he wears the uniform with pride every Remembrance Day and for Royal Canadian Legion and other events.
Tish, who was able to bring many of her favourite antique pieces with her when she moved into Tapestry, also shared some of her possessions at the Forget Me Nots show, including a black Persian lamb fur coat she modelled with a hat that belonged to her husband, and an issue of the Vancouver Province newspaper from 1938.
The 40 people who attended the event also had the opportunity to look at all the items up close, and to ask questions of the owners. “The overall goal was to get to know each other a bit better,” says Tish. “At an event like this, you talk about things you may not talk about every day.”
Mayana Fontenele, a Wellness Associate at Tapestry at Arbutus Walk, helped Tish and her small committee with the logistics for the event. Along with fellow employee Busola Adeyinka, Mayana was also one of the employees who presented the items during the show.
“It was such a privilege to see history right there, and to touch and talk about these precious objects,” Mayana says. “These were items that are close to people’s hearts, some that had been passed down for generations, and it was very special for them to be able to share them with other residents.”
The final item shown – in true fashion show finale style – was a 1960s wedding dress modelled by Roberta. “The dress was not at all traditional – it was very short – which is what made it so unique,” says Tish. Also shared at the event was an enlarged photo of Roberta wearing the dress at her wedding.
Roberta shared that she bought the dress on her own, over a lunch hour, from a small store in Vancouver. She and her husband had a small wedding ceremony followed by a big party in her parents’ back yard, which Roberta says was the start to a fun, beautiful marriage.
At Tapestry, we understand and respect how important it is for people to continue to be surrounded by their special items and furniture. We want all our residents to have a smooth move-in experience and to feel at home, which is why we offer the complimentary services of our Sales and Move-In Advisor.
With a background in interior design, Keeley Jones – who serves both Tapestry at Wesbrook Village and Tapestry at Arbutus Walk in Vancouver – can help to coordinate all aspects of a move, including helping new residents decide what to bring, what to leave behind, and what they may need to buy for their new space.
If you are considering a move to retirement living, please contact us and we would be pleased to host you for a complimentary lunch and tour.
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