Home isn’t just where you live—it’s a place to put down roots, make connections, and build a loving family. At Trinity Woods, this warm sense of community draws people in and gives them a place to call home. For Karen Tucker and Barbara West, this enduring connection and care is woven into every batch of cookies they bake in the communal kitchen that once served their mothers.
Karen’s mother, Mary, came to Trinity Woods in 2008 after a bout of acute pancreatitis and other physical challenges made it clear she could not live by herself any longer. The warm welcome from staff and fellow community members eased Mary’s transition into her new living space, and Karen was thrilled with the friendly, high-quality care her mother received.
When the Health Center where Mary lived converted to a house model with centrally located kitchens a few years later, Karen had a great idea: Why not bake cookies there, and let it be an event for everyone living on Mary’s hallway? She brought cookie cutters and supplies that her mother used to bake with and set about making homemade treats for everyone.
Barbara’s mother, Gena, who had dementia, came to Trinity Woods in 2013, decades after Gena‘s sister and brother-in-law had lived in one of the villa homes. “When it was time for Mom to come here, I thought it would be the best thing for her,” Barbara said. “I knew she’d recognize this place and feel at home.”
Karen and Barbara met for the first time in the communal kitchen. While visiting Gena one day, Barbara met Karen and they connected over flour-dusted hands, decorative sprinkles, and found family. Soon, Barbara began showing up to help Karen bake. Even though Karen and Barbara’s mothers have since passed away, they still consider Trinity Woods a second home. They visit the Health Center four times a year to bake, decorate, and serve trays of delicious cookies for all to enjoy. Residents stop by, have coffee and fresh cookies, and chat with each other, Barbara, Karen, and team members.
Making cookies remains a special way for these two ladies to honor their mothers’ memories. “I still think I see my mother there every time,” Barbara says. “I’m doing it for her.”
Karen agrees, appreciating the opportunity to stay connected to a community that was so helpful to her mother in her later years. “Baking cookies is a way for us to give back,” Karen says, “but it also gives to us. We have become friends. We both enjoy meeting the residents. This is just a little giving back.”
