Love Finds a Home at Friends Homes
At Friends Homes, love can begin in any season of life. Newlyweds Nancy and Steve, both 78, are a beautiful reminder that new beginnings can happen when you least expect them.
Both Nancy and Steve moved to Friends Homes years ago with their spouses, both of whom later passed away. After experiencing loss, they remained active as residents, volunteering on committees and attending wellness classes. Their paths crossed often, and over time a warm friendship grew.
They began spending more time together, enjoying walks, dinners, and simple moments of companionship. As their courtship deepened, they chose to embrace the Quaker faith together. Friends Homes has deep Quaker roots, and both felt drawn to the community’s peaceful values and wanted to begin their relationship with a shared spiritual foundation.
Their turning point came during a Quaker silent meeting when Steve felt clear guidance that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Nancy. He shared his heart with her and later asked for her hand in marriage. After thoughtful reflection, Nancy joyfully agreed.
From that moment forward, Friends Homes rallied behind them. The community helped coordinate their wedding, held at the Quaker meeting where Nancy and Steve both attend.
Their wedding quickly became a community-wide celebration. With guidance from the Quaker Oversight Committee, the ceremony came together beautifully, while Friends Homes supported the day by catering the reception buffet and coordinating transportation so residents could attend with ease. Three shuttle buses brought guests to and from the meeting, where nearly 100 people filled the traditional Quaker ceremony and another 100 joined the luncheon afterward.
“Everything went just as we had hoped. Friends Homes did a wonderful job coordinating the event. We are so thankful for our community,” Nancy says.
In place of gifts, guests donated to the Friends Homes Scholarship Fund and the Friends Homes Employee Assistance Fund, a touching example of the generosity and unity that define the community.
As they prepared for married life, Steve transitioned from his home in Friends Homes’ Guilford neighborhood to the West neighborhood so he could begin this new chapter with Nancy.
Life as newlyweds has been full of joy. Nancy laughs as she points out that she cooks, and Steve cleans. They take walks, volunteer together, enjoy their beloved cats and continue attending Friends Meeting as a couple. They stay active and engaged, surrounded by neighbors who supported their journey from the very beginning.
When asked what message she would share with others hoping to find love later in life, Nancy replies, “Do it! Don’t wait, don’t have regrets. You never know what is coming.”
Nancy and Steve are a gentle reminder that friendship, purpose and even love can grow in unexpected moments. At Friends Homes the possibilities are endless.
By Jessica Ford
Kintura Content Specialist