Read the latest edition of our community newsletter to learn more about news and activities at Victorian Village Senior Community!
Life Style JULY 2025
VICTORIAN VILLAGE
Life at Victorian Village A Message from Tammy Tjoelker
As we celebrate our country this month, may our upcoming festivities recall the many freedoms we enjoy! We are blessed with so much, and we are so thankful for the many sacrifices made by those who brought and preserved the freedoms of this day for every citizen of the United States.
another way to show honor and respect to one another, living in a unified country. Watching fireworks light the night sky helps us remember that God has spared us through many conflicts and that we should celebrate the victories in battles that have preserved the freedoms we have. This month of July, enjoy celebrating the United States of America and realize that we indeed have much to be thankful for!
We will be celebrating in many ways here at Victorian Village with sing-alongs, events, games, and wearing the colors of red, white, and blue. There are many ways we can show our gratitude for living in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, and for enjoying the blessings God has given us as we live in our country. Coming together as fellow citizens and fellowshipping around a meal is a great way to celebrate. Waving our Flag is one way we can celebrate and show honor to those who have been brave enough to stand strong to defend our country. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance is
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Life Enrichment Activities for July
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Loaded Pancakes Breakfast 9:00 a.m. — Grand Dining Room Grand Victorian Residents can enjoy a special loaded pancake breakfast. Please sign up at the table by the Kafé. Shopping Trip: Caputo’s & Dollar Tree 9:30 a.m. Bus Departure Sign up in the What’s Happening Book
Shopping Trip: Walgreens Senior Discount & Aldi 9:30 a.m. Bus Departure Sign up in the What’s Happening book Author Dave Larson 1:00 p.m. — Grand Activity Room Author Dave Larson will present his book Black & White on Green Street .
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8 th
8 th
Crazy Bunco 1:30 p.m. — Grand Activity Center
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Happy Hour 3:00 p.m. — Grand Fireside Lounge
8 th
Bingo & Strawberry Shortcake with American Legion Auxiliary Club 2:00 p.m. — Victorian Inn Activity Room All Veterans are welcome. Bible & Prayer with Judy 11:00 a.m. — Grand Activity Room Judy from Inspire Group for helping Seniors
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Ice Cream Social & Patriotic Word in a Word 3:00 p.m. — Grand Activity Room
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Patriotic Bingo 1:00 p.m. — Grand Activity Room Wear Red, White, & Blue for an additional Bingo Coupon. Catholic Mass 10:00 a.m. — Inn First-Floor Living Room Fr. Joe McCormick from St. Bernard’s Catholic Parish will celebrate Mass.
9 th
7 th
11 th Baking Club
11:00 a.m. — Grand Activity Center We will be baking a new recipe to add to our Victorian Village Cookbook, coming out in December 2025.
7 th
Homer Glen Rolling Library Visit 10:30 a.m. — Inn Living Room
11 th Christian Service
1:00 p.m. — Grand Activity Center Pastor Rick Schauer from Trinity Lutheran church will lead the service.
7 th
Happy Hour 3:00 p.m. — Inn Living Room
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22 nd Shopping Trip: Meijer 9:30 a.m. Bus Departure
12 th Barbershop Chorus: Knights of Harmony
2:00 p.m. — Grand Fireside Lobby
Sign up in the What’s Happening book
22 nd Bus Outing: Lake Katherine 11:00 a.m. Bus Departure
15 th Shopping Trip: Neat Repeats and Walmart in Orland Park 9:30 a.m. Bus Departure Sign up in the What’s Happening book
23 rd Card-Making Craft with Linda & Ellen
1:30 p.m. - Grand Activity Center Join volunteers Linda & Ellen for a card- making craft. Everything is provided—just bring yourself.
15 th Happy Hour
3:00 p.m. — Grand Fireside Lounge
16 th Fun & Fellowship Games
1:00 p.m. — Grand Fireside Lobby Please join the group of volunteers from
24 th Book Club Discussion:
The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin 3:00 p.m. — Grand Private Dining Room
Palos CRC who visit to lead table games, and they always provide fellowship and cookies!
25 th Magic Show with Trent James 1:00 p.m. - Grand Fireside Lobby
16 th Bingo with Bethshan Residents 6:00 p.m. — Grand Activity Center
Bill Schepel will bring residents from the group CILA homes to visit and play bingo with our Victorian Village residents.
26 th Piano Entertainment: Garrisons, Lexie & Alyssa 10:00 a.m. — Victorian Inn Living Room 11:00 a.m. — Grand Victorian 1st Floor Piano Lounge 29 th Shopping: Jewel-Osco & Dollar Tree 11:00 a.m. Bus Departure Sign up in the What’s Happening Book
18 th Grand Steak Cookout & Monthly Birthday Party with Trivia 12:00 p.m. — Grand Fireside Lobby One meal only. 21 st Homer Glen Rolling Library Visit 10:30 a.m. - Inn Living Room
29 th Happy Hour
3:00 p.m. — Grand Fireside Lounge
21 st Happy Hour
3:00 p.m. - Inn Living Room
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News from the Courts Courts Happy Hour (Held the 3 rd Tuesday of each month) Tuesday, July 22 nd 4:30 p.m. — Courts Community Center 1. Bring your own beverage and container (glass, mug, holder of any nature). 2. A SMALL appetizer to pass 3. When leaving, take it all home. No RSVP needed and no reminder calls will be made.
Piano Music 10:00 a.m. — Inn Living Room
Enjoy the beautiful piano music of volunteer Ann Libs on select Sunday mornings, as her schedule allows!
Marquette Bank Full-Service Banking Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. Private Dining Room at the Grand We offer on-site banking with Marquette Bank to provide services to our residents. Banking services are set up in our private dining room at the Grand and is available every Thursday: • July 3 th
Courts Potluck Thursday, June 22 nd 12:00 p.m. Courts Community Center
• July 24 th • July 31 st
• July 10 th • July 17 th
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Book Club The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin Thursday, July 24th 3:00 p.m. Grand Private Dining Room
At the Table July is Blueberry Month, sponsored by the Blueberry Council! Sweet, juicy, and packed with antioxidants—blueberries are the little berry that could! Heart-healthy blueberries are just 80 calories per cup, a good source of Vitamin C, and contain a variety of
A moving novel inspired by the true history of America’s library spies of World War II. Ava thought her job as a librarian at the Library of Congress would mean a quiet, routine existence. But an unexpected offer from the US military has brought her to Lisbon with a new mission: posing as a librarian while working undercover as a spy gathering intelligence. Meanwhile, in occupied France, Elaine has begun an apprenticeship at a printing press run by members of the Resistance. It’s a job usually reserved for men, but in the war, those rules have been forgotten. Yet she knows that the Nazis are searching for the press and its printer in order to silence them. As the battle in Europe rages, Ava and Elaine find themselves connecting through coded messages and discovering hope in the face of war.
vitamins and minerals. So don’t forget to add some fresh blueberries to your shopping list this month!
Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group Tuesday, July 15th 5:00-6:00 p.m. Private Dining Room at the Inn In cooperation with the Alzheimer’s Association, Victorian Village offers an Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group that meets the third Tuesday of every month and allows caregivers to take a break and get recharged to continue to be the caregiver their loved one needs. This group is open to the public. Please RSVP one day in advance by calling (708) 645-2122.
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Chaplain’s Corner
made Him king, “He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray” (Matt. 14:23). When tempted in the garden of Gethsemane, He told the disciples, “Sit here while I pray” (Mark 14:32). In short, our Lord prayed continually and never lost heart. Sinless though He was, He modeled diligent communion with His Father; His deity did not make Him independent of the means of grace proper to humanity. Indeed, His very perfection was sustained through constant prayer. We ought to see in all this the immense importance of private devotion. If He who was “holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners,” thus prayed continually, how much more ought we who are compassed with infirmity? If He found it needful to offer up supplications with strong crying and tears, how much more needful is it for us, who in many things daily offend? What shall we say to those who never pray at all, in the face of such a passage as this? There are many such, it may be feared, in the list of baptized people--many who rise in the morning without prayer, and without prayer lie down at night--many who never speak one word to God. Are they Christians? It is impossible to say so. A praying Master, like Jesus, can have no prayerless servants. The Spirit of adoption will always make a man call upon God. To be prayerless is to be Christless, Godless, and on the high road to destruction. What shall we say to those who pray, yet give but little time to their prayers? We are obliged to say that they show at present very little
Now in the morning, having risen a long
while before daylight, he went out and departed to a solitary place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched
for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” Mark 1:35-37 (NKJV)
Every fact in our Lord’s life on earth, and every word which fell from His lips, ought to be deeply interesting to a faithful Christian. We see a fact and a saying in the passage we have just read, which deserve close attention. We see, for one thing, an example of our Lord Jesus Christ’s habits about private prayer. We are told that “in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, he went out and departed to a solitary place, and there he prayed.” We shall find the same thing often recorded of our Lord in the Gospel history. When He was baptized, He was “praying” (Luke 3:21 NKJV). During the transfiguration, “as He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered” (Luke 9:29). Before He chose the twelve apostles, He “continued all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12). When the crowds would gladly have
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3. Improves Mental Clarity and Focus: Prayer encourages mindfulness and self-reflection, improving concentration and cognitive function. Repetitive prayer can enhance focus, similar to mindfulness meditation. 4. Improves Heart Health: Regular prayer can contribute to cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure and heart rate, leading to a healthier cardiovascular system. 5. Activates Brain Regions Associated with Empathy and Compassion: Prayer and meditation stimulate the prefrontal cortex, which governs empathy, moral decision- making, and social behavior. 6. Increases Dopamine and Serotonin Levels: Prayer can trigger the release of dopamine and serotonin—neurotransmitters associated with happiness, motivation, and overall well-being. 7. Encourages Positive Habits and Self-Discipline: Those who pray regularly tend to adopt healthier lifestyles, as prayer often encourages self-discipline, forgiveness, and gratitude. 8. Provides a Sense of Purpose and Meaning: Prayer helps individuals find meaning in life, reducing feelings of despair and existential anxiety. People with a strong prayer life report higher life satisfaction. 9. Enhances Decision-Making: Prayer encourages reflection and wisdom, leading to better decision-making. Many successful individuals attribute their clarity in choices to prayer and spiritual guidance.
of the mind of Christ. Asking little, they must expect to have little. Seeking little, they cannot be surprised if they possess little. It will always be found that when prayers are few, grace, strength, peace, and hope are small. We shall do well to watch our habits of prayer with a holy watchfulness. Here is the pulse of our Christianity. Here is the true test of our state before God. Here, true religion begins in the soul, when it does begin. Here it decays and goes backward when a man backslides from God. Let us walk in the steps of our blessed Master in this respect as well as in every other. Like Him, let us be diligent in our private devotion. Let us know what it is to “depart into solitary places and pray.” Commentary by J.C. Ryle Scientific Benefits of Prayer 1. Reduces Stress and Anxiety: Prayer can lower stress levels by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation. A study published in The Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that people who engage in prayer experience lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. 2. Enhances Emotional Resilience: Prayer fosters emotional stability by providing comfort during difficult times. It helps individuals process grief, trauma, and uncertainty, much like meditation. People who pray regularly experience greater emotional regulation and a stronger ability to cope with adversity.
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Senior Fitness with Symbria Staying Active Has Lifelong Benefits
The latest research (2024) suggests that the benefits of exercise grow exponentially with age. Investing time and energy in daily activities from a younger age can lead to greater rewards later in life. But it’s never too late—or too early—to harness physical activity’s longevity- boosting power. Engaging in physical activity most days of the week is one of the best investments you can make in your health and longevity, regardless of your age. While exercise’s short-term benefits are often more evident in younger individuals, the long-term rewards become increasingly significant as we age. Staying active across a lifespan is a non-negotiable in terms of maintaining your quality of life and vitality at every age. Exercise: Staying active helps protect against heart disease and keeps your circulatory system running smoothly. Slows Aging Processes: Exercise fights common signs of aging by keeping your body’s cells healthier and slowing down age-related degeneration. Reduces Fall Risk: Sitting too much diminishes our innate sense of balance over time and increases the risk of falls; staying active has the opposite effect. Builds Stronger Bones: Regular movement strengthens bones and promotes mobility, which helps us maintain independence as we age.
Live & Learn Step Lively: Movement Matters Thursday, July 17 10:00 a.m. in the Grand Activity Center We’ve heard “if you don’t move it, you lose it”. Did you know that many people over the age of 65 sit for nine or more hours per day? Join Stacy for an informative presentation that explores why movement throughout the day is essential for overall health and well-being. Come away with simple tips you can apply every day to add steps to your life as you maintain your mobility and daily function.
Group Fitness Monday–Friday
10:00 a.m. in the Grand Activity Center All are welcome! A variety of classes from Balance Booster, Sit and Be Strong, and Stretch/Flex, along with many others. Check your monthly activities calendar for all the group fitness classes. For information on joining the Well-Being program, contact Stacy, your Well-Being specialist at (708) 645-2082, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
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Happy Birthday America In 1775, people in the thirteen colonies began fighting the British under King George III for their own independence.
4 th of July Fun Facts When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, 2.5 million people lived in the U.S. 249 years later, 343.9 million people live in the U.S.. August 2, 1776 is when most of signers formally signed the Declaration. Massachusetts was the first state to declare Independence Day a holiday in 1781. The Fourth of July wasn’t declared a federal holiday until 1938. The only member of the Continental Congress to formally sign the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776 was John Hancock. The average signer of the Declaration of Independence was 45 years old. Of the 56 signers, the youngest, Thomas Lynch Jr. and Edward Rutledge, were only 26. Benjamin Franklin was the oldest signer at 70 years old. Bristol, Rhode Island is home to the world’s oldest Independence Day celebration which dates back to 1785. In 1804, the White House hosted its first Fourth of July celebration. John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe were all Presidents who died on the Fourth of July.
On July 2, 1776, Congress secretly voted for independence from Great Britain. Two days later, on July 4, 1776, the final wording of the Declaration of Independence was approved, and the document was published. The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence was on July 8, 1776. Delegates began to sign the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776. In 1870, Independence Day was made an unpaid holiday for federal employees. In 1941, it became a paid holiday for them. The first description of how Independence Day would be celebrated was in a letter from John Adams to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776. He described “pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations” throughout the United States. However, the term “Independence Day” was not used until 1791. Interestingly, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, both signers of the Declaration of Independence and presidents of the United States, died on July 4, 1826— exactly 50 years after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
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Sharing Life & Making Memories
June Joy Around Every Corner! This past month, our community was alive with music, celebration, and connection! We enjoyed unforgettable performances by St. Michael’s Band and The Garrison’s, and raised a toast to love at Corin and Craig’s beautiful wedding party. Residents got crafty in our card-making class, shared laughs over games, and enjoyed a special breakfast at The Grand. Memory Care was full of meaningful moments too—with sunny patio time, a joyful French Toast Social, music-making sessions, and creative arts & crafts. We celebrated Father’s Day with appreciation and honored wellness on Senior Health & Fitness Day. And of course, our ever-popular Baking Club kept things sweet in the kitchen! Enjoy these snapshots of the smiles, music, and magic that made June shine. Here, every day brings something to look forward to—and someone to share it with.
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www.VictorianVillage.com (708) 301-0800 | vv@provlife.com | 12600 Renaissance Circle | Homer Glen, IL 60491
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www.VictorianVillage.com (708) 301-0800 | vv@provlife.com | 12600 Renaissance Circle | Homer Glen, IL 60491
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www.VictorianVillage.com (708) 301-0800 | vv@provlife.com | 12600 Renaissance Circle | Homer Glen, IL 60491
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www.VictorianVillage.com (708) 301-0800 | vv@provlife.com | 12600 Renaissance Circle | Homer Glen, IL 60491
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www.VictorianVillage.com (708) 301-0800 | vv@provlife.com | 12600 Renaissance Circle | Homer Glen, IL 60491
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www.VictorianVillage.com (708) 301-0800 | vv@provlife.com | 12600 Renaissance Circle | Homer Glen, IL 60491
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www.VictorianVillage.com (708) 301-0800 | vv@provlife.com | 12600 Renaissance Circle | Homer Glen, IL 60491
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www.VictorianVillage.com (708) 301-0800 | vv@provlife.com | 12600 Renaissance Circle | Homer Glen, IL 60491
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Victorian Village Announcements
Victorian Village Reviews Do you follow Victorian Village?
You can find us on Facebook where you and your family can see pictures from recent events or calendar reminders of upcoming events. You can also share your positive experiences with others and help spread the word about Victorian Village. Our goal is to increase our followers and have more 5-star ratings!
The Victorian Village family extends heartfelt July birthday greetings to all of our residents celebrating this month!
https://www.facebook.com/ VictorianVillageRetirement/
, In Memoriam
Lord, shine Your light upon the friends and neighbors we lost in June, and welcome them gently into Your loving embrace. We remember their smiles, their kindness, and the special moments we shared. Though they are no longer with us, their presence lives on in our hearts and in the fabric of our community. May we find comfort in our memories and strength in one another as we honor their lives.
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Coming This August: Help Us Shine in the U.S. News & World Report Survey
SENIOR LIVING
We’re proud to share that Victorian Village is once again participating in an important nationwide initiative—and we need your voice to help us stand out. This August, our residents and their families will receive a satisfaction survey from U.S. News & World Report . This survey plays a key role in determining national rankings for senior living communities across the country, including ours. It gives those who know us best—our residents and their loved ones—the opportunity to share honest feedback about their experiences at Victorian Village. The survey will ask questions about everything from the quality of care and services, to staff responsiveness, communication, safety, and overall satisfaction with daily life here. These insights are essential not only for U.S. News' annual rankings, but also for helping prospective residents make confident, informed decisions about their future home. We deeply value the trust you place in us every day, and we’re committed to continuous improvement. Your feedback doesn’t just influence rankings—it helps shape the future of Victorian Village. By taking just a few moments to complete the survey, you're helping us grow, improve, and continue delivering the exceptional standard of living our community is known for. So when the survey arrives in your inbox or mailbox, please take a moment to complete it. We appreciate your time, your insights, and most of all—your continued support. Together, let’s show the country what makes Victorian Village such a special place to call home.
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