FellowshipLIFE_CommunityNewsletter_Spring_2026

WE ARE

FellowshipLIFE Newsletter || Spring • 2026

Edition Highlights: 1 Welcome!

2-5 Shine a Light

6 Spring Into Simplicity

Shining a Light on What Matters Most Spring is a season of renewal, a time to reflect on what truly matters. This quarter, we are proud to “Shine a Light” on the individuals who make our communities so special: our residents.

At FellowshipLIFE, our mission centers on people. Beautiful campuses and engaging programs are important, but it is the lives, stories, and relationships within our communities that give FellowshipLIFE its heart.

Each resident brings a lifetime of experience and purpose. Among us are educators, veterans, artists, caregivers, leaders, volunteers, and lifelong learners who continue to grow, contribute, and inspire. Together, they create a vibrant community unlike any other.

This issue highlights just a few of the remarkable individuals who call our communities home. While we can only feature a handful, every resident contributes something meaningful to the fabric of FellowshipLIFE. It is a privilege to walk alongside our residents in this chapter of life, continually inspired by the wisdom they share, the friendships they form, and the many ways they enrich those around them. Every resident in our community, past and present, has a remarkable story. While we can only feature a few in this issue, we wish we could celebrate each and every one of you. As you read this issue, we invite you to celebrate these stories with us and thank you for being part of a community where every life has value, every voice matters, and every story deserves to shine.

Elizabeth Fandel, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer | FellowshipLIFE

Shine a Light Meet the Residents Who Inspire Us

Charity – Pines Village At 100 years young, Charity continues to live with purpose, perspective, and heart. A resident of Pines Village for 27 years, she remains one of the most engaged and inspiring members of the community.

For Charity, turning 100 is not about the number. It is about family.

“Turning 100 means I get to know my three daughters at every stage Charity Roszel of their lives,” she shares. From watching them grow from babies to seniors, to knowing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she sees longevity as a gift of connection. Her guiding belief is simple: “Love is most important. Love of God, family, and one another.”

When Charity and her beloved husband Bob moved to Pines Village nearly three decades ago, it was Bob who encouraged the decision. Four years older, he wanted to ensure they would both be cared for in the years ahead. Charity was just 73 at the time. Looking back, she reflects that his forward thinking opened the door to new experiences and opportunities.

What has kept her engaged all these years? “The team members,” she says without hesitation. “You all have allowed me to spread my wings.” Charity credits the teamwork around her for helping bring her ideas to life. Known for initiating new programs and opportunities, she believes firmly that “aging means changing, and you have to make the best of it.”

Even in her 90s, Charity embraced something new by publishing a book. When the pandemic disrupted her routine, she began writing down her thoughts. One page led to another, and inspiration continued to grow. To anyone who feels it is too late to begin something new, she offers this advice: “Follow your dreams and allow for change.” The dreams she had at 20, she notes, were different from those she had at 50, and both were worth pursuing.

Staying active remains a priority. “The mind and body are connected,” she says. Sharing this season of life with her sister Mary Jane has also been a gift. “It has brought us closer. We get to boss each other around and care for one another,” she laughs. They attend activities, share meals with friends, and welcome family visits together.

Reflecting on a century of living, Charity emphasizes acceptance and positivity. “You have to accept people as they are and where they are,” she says, shaped by years of working with children of varying abilities. Her advice to younger generations is heartfelt: “Practice the art of positive thinking. Sometimes you have to dig for it.” Above all, she encourages others to stay open to new experiences, remembering fondly biking through Holland in her 70s and taking in scenery she will never forget.

If she could leave one guiding principle, it would be this: “Have a good laugh and enjoy the moment. The moment does not come back.”

ENRICH • TRANSFORM • EMPOWER || FELLOWSHIPLIFEINC.ORG

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Shine a Light Dotty – Applewood Village From the roar of the crowd in the 1976 Summer Olympics to the sweltering heat of the 1996 Summer Olympics, Applewood Village resident Dotty Krietzberg has attended several different Olympic Games over the years, collecting decades of unforgettable memories along the way.

Her first Games were in Montreal in 1976, where she watched in awe as Caitlyn Jenner (then competing as Bruce Jenner) dominated the decathlon, winning by an astonishing margin. “It was outstanding,” Dotty recalls, still remembering the electricity in the stadium during that record-breaking performance.

Dotty Krietzberg

The Olympics became a true family passion. Dotty’s husband, a dedicated track and field official, was selected as a head official at the 1996 Olympic Trials in Sacramento, California, an honor reflecting years of commitment to the sport. Together, their love of track and field led them to remarkable experiences, including witnessing Carl Lewis capture gold in the long jump at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Watching the New Jersey native earn his first gold medal remains one of her most thrilling memories.

Attending the Games, however, was never as simple as booking a plane ticket. Dotty remembers discovering that Olympic travel required carefully coordinated tickets, flights, and hotel reservations often through lotteries and organized groups. Eventually, they traveled with track and field organizations that secured seats and provided hospitality rooms where they could connect with fellow fans and even meet Olympic participants.

Sitting in the same seats each day, they formed friendships with those around them, creating a close-knit community within the grandeur of the global event.

Each city offered something unique. Montreal delighted her with unforgettable food: flaky croissants, rich cheeses, and international flavors. Los Angeles felt especially accessible, thanks to family in California. Atlanta, though memorable, brought intense heat and the sobering reality of the park bombing that cast a shadow over the Games.

Through it all, what stands out most to Dotty is the spirit of the Olympics: the camaraderie, the pageantry, and the once-in-a-lifetime moments she was lucky enough to witness firsthand. For her, the Games were never just about medals, but about connection, adventure, and being part of history.

ENRICH • TRANSFORM • EMPOWER || FELLOWSHIPLIFEINC.ORG

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Shine a Light Gary – Friends Village Gary’s life has been defined by curiosity, adventure, and a deep love of learning.

Raised in Elk Township, Gary spent more than 50 years in the community where he grew up alongside his parents, Roberta and Paul, and his siblings, Dick, Ginny, and Betty. He credits his loving home and supportive parents for shaping the values that guided him throughout his life.

Gary Fithian

After graduating from Delsea Regional High School, Gary earned a Science and Math degree from Glassboro State College and later a Master’s degree in Environmental Science. He went on to teach 8th grade science at Penns Grove for more than three decades, a career he describes as both meaningful and joyful.

During his teaching career, Gary received numerous honors, including being named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers three times, earning Teacher of the Year at his school, and being selected as a Fulbright Exchange Teacher. His time teaching in England remains one of his most treasured experiences. While living in a 450-year-old cottage near Banbury, he explored historic landmarks and even welcomed a special classroom visit from Princess Margaret, who later invited him for tea.

Gary’s passion for exploration extended far beyond the classroom. From camping in a surplus Army tent as a child to leading RV caravans across North America in retirement, travel has always been central to his life. As a Caravan Leader, he guided groups of 30 to 35 RVs on unforgettable journeys, including his favorite, “The Maple Leaf,” which took travelers through Glacier National Park, Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, and beyond.

Over the years, Gary has explored national parks, historic cities, and breathtaking landscapes across the United States, Canada, and Europe. He has snowmobiled in Yellowstone, rafted down the Snake River, skied in the Alps, visited the Arctic Ocean, and stood in the shadows of castles and cathedrals throughout England, Scotland, and beyond.

Reflecting on his many adventures, Gary shares, “I am so glad I was able to do so many things while I was younger and enjoyed them before all these aches and pains came along. I do hope to make many more great memories as time goes on.”

His life is a testament to saying yes to opportunity, embracing the world with curiosity, and continuing to look forward to what comes next.

ENRICH • TRANSFORM • EMPOWER || FELLOWSHIPLIFEINC.ORG

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Shine a Light Drude – Fellowship Village Based on an interview originally conducted by Fellowship Village resident Helen Beglin.

For Drude Crane, music has always been at the center of her life.

“Music, music, music! That’s what it’s all about,” she says with a smile.

From a young age, Drude loved to sing at home, at church, and at Drude Crane school. Encouraged by a Juilliard-trained high school music teacher, she pursued her passion at Northwestern University’s School of Music, majoring in voice and music education.

After graduating, Drude taught music in Arlington Heights, Illinois, while earning her master’s degree at Northwestern. During this time, she also sang professionally at the University of Chicago’s Rockefeller Chapel and at churches and temples in the area. Her growing interest in the Carl Orff method of music education led her to an intensive training program at the Orff Institute in Austria, an experience that shaped the rest of her teaching career. Soon after returning to the United States, she was invited to sing Orff’s Carmina Burana with the renowned Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Drude later moved to Pensacola, Florida, where her husband taught at a new college while she wrote, produced, and taught televised music education programs for the county’s public schools, a fascinating combination of teaching and performance.

After the birth of her daughter Kirsten and the end of her first marriage, Drude returned to her hometown of Westfield, New Jersey. There she continued teaching music to students of all ages while also performing professionally with a variety of groups, including singing under Robert Shaw at Carnegie Hall. She especially loved working with students on junior and senior high school musical productions, which became beloved events in the community.

Through her involvement with Community Players, a local theater group, Drude met fellow singer Charlie Roessler. The two married in 1979 and even performed together in Kiss Me, Kate as newlyweds. Their marriage lasted 28 years until Charlie’s passing in 2007.

Years later, Drude reconnected with a longtime friend, Glenn Crane, a retired Bell Labs physicist and fellow performer. They married in 2015 and honeymooned in Norway, the country of Drude’s ancestors.

Today, Drude visits Glenn in the Health Center each day and stays closely connected with her daughter Kirsten and her family, who live nearby. She also remains active in the community and has joined the Village Chorus at Fellowship Village.

With a lifetime devoted to music, education, and performance, Drude brings energy, talent, and warmth to the community.

ENRICH • TRANSFORM • EMPOWER || FELLOWSHIPLIFEINC.ORG

5

Shine a Light Daisy – Riverwalk Village At nearly 95 years young, Despina “Daisy” Paghidas has been a vibrant and dedicated member of Riverwalk Village for 13 years. A first-generation American raised on Long Island by Greek immigrant parents, Daisy grew up speaking both English and Greek and learned early the values of hard work, perseverance, and service.

Those values guided her throughout an inspiring 21-year career with the FBI. Beginning in the mailroom, Daisy Daisy Paghidas steadily advanced through promotions and ultimately retired as a paralegal supporting financial crime cases. Her professional journey reflects the same determination and commitment that continue to define her today.

After many years of independent living, Daisy chose Riverwalk Village and quickly immersed herself in community life. She has served on the Resident Council, volunteered in the community store, prepared weekly chapel programs, and acted as a trustee managing the employee appreciation fund. Her leadership and generosity have left a lasting impact on residents and team members alike.

Daisy remains deeply committed to wellness, participating in drum group, balance, stretch and tone, and weight training classes. Her energy and enthusiasm are inspiring to all who know her.

Inducted into the Senior Forum Hall of Fame in Hackettstown, Daisy embodies resilience, generosity, and a lifelong dedication to serving others. At Riverwalk Village, her story continues to shine brightly.

ENRICH • TRANSFORM • EMPOWER || FELLOWSHIPLIFEINC.ORG

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Spring Into Simplicity: A Fresh Start for the Season Ahead Spring is a season of renewal. As the days grow brighter, many of us feel inspired to refresh our homes and simplify our routines. But spring cleaning can be about more than organizing closets. It can be an opportunity to thoughtfully prepare for what comes next.

Downsizing is not just about reducing square footage. It is about aligning your home with your priorities. A simplified space often means less maintenance, greater accessibility, and more freedom to focus on relationships, hobbies, travel, and time with loved ones.

Over the years, our homes naturally fill with furniture, keepsakes, photographs, and mementos. Each piece holds meaning, yet not every item needs to move forward with us. Simplifying does not mean letting go of memories. It means choosing what best supports the life you want to live today.

Most importantly, give yourself grace.

This process can be both practical and emotional. Taking it step by step allows space for reflection and gratitude.

If you are considering downsizing or simply refreshing your space, approaching the process with intention can make it feel empowering rather than overwhelming.

At FellowshipLIFE, we see every day how lightening life’s practical burdens opens the door to deeper connection and renewed purpose.

Simplicity is not about having less. It is about making room for more of what brings meaning and peace of mind.

Start Small Focus on one drawer or one room at a time to build momentum.

This season, may you find clarity and a renewed sense of possibility as you spring into simplicity.

Sort with Purpose Create simple categories such as keep, share, donate, and discard. Ask yourself whether each item serves your current lifestyle or brings genuine joy.

Preserve the Memories Photographs and important documents can often be digitized, and treasured items become even more meaningful when you share their stories with family.

Plan for your space If preparing for a move, measure furniture and prioritize pieces that are versatile, comfortable, and aligned with how you want to live.

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FELLOWSHIPLIFE NEWSLETTER || SPRING 2026

Let’s Stay in Touch!

We welcome your questions about campus life, levels of care, amenities and activities, or whatever is on your mind. Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you’d like to schedule a private tour of one of our communities or attend a community event.

Upcoming Events: Mark Your Calendar!

Click a logo below to visit that community’s events page for the latest updates.

Fellowship Village 8000 Fellowship Road Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 908-580-3840 | fellowshiplifeinc.org/fellowship-village

Riverwalk Village 798 Willow Grove Street Hackettstown, NJ 07840 908-684-5952 | fellowshiplifeinc.org/riverwalk-village

Pines Village 509 County Road 530 Whiting, NJ 08759 732-849-2046 | fellowshiplifeinc.org/pines-village

Applewood Village One Applewood Drive Freehold, NJ 07728 732-303-7416 | fellowshiplifeinc.org/applewood

Friends Village 1 Friends Drive Woodstown, NJ 08098 856-823-0778 | fellowshiplifeinc.org/friends-village

8000 Fellowship Road, Suite 1C Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 908-580-3800 | FellowshipLIFEinc.org

Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care • FellowshipLIFE Villages are not-for-profit 62+ Life Plan Communities