Two Generations Find Their Home At St. Catherine’s Village Life Plan Community

When it came time to retire and move to a more carefree and cared for environment, two generations of families found exactly what they were looking for at St. Catherine’s Village. Located in Madison, Mississippi, the all-inclusive, Life Plan Community provides the right care at the right time through independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing—all in a protected and picturesque, 160-acre wooded setting.

After David Keith retired from Bell South, he and his wife Dorothy decided they were tired of keeping up a yard and all the maintenance that came with their Madison home. They crunched the numbers and realized it was within their means to move to independent living at St. Catherine’s Village, where they wouldn’t have to worry about landscape chores and everything else that comes with home ownership. Thirteen years later and the couple is still in their “penthouse” apartment on the senior living campus.

Dorothy was excited and motivated to come to St. Catherine’s Village because it offered a more carefree lifestyle plus a full continuum of senior care, should either of them need it. While she may not cook meals daily, Dorothy serves on the food committee and is still famous for her home-baked banana bread. And while they don’t have to spend their time cutting the grass, both David and Dorothy remain avid gardeners.

Before ever moving to St. Catherine’s Village, the Keiths were neighbors with Bennett Smith’s mother and she and Dorothy became close friends. In fact, Dorothy introduced her daughter Gina to Bennett and the rest, as they say, is history. He and Gina are now married and live at St. Catherine’s Village, too.

Bennett and Gina moved to the Life Plan Community during a difficult time of the pandemic after living in an historic home in Hattiesburg for 45 years. They were familiar with St. Catherine’s Village not only from the Keiths but also because Bennett’s mother had lived there in both independent and assisted living.

“When trying to find the best place for mom, I remember researching retirement communities in Hattiesburg, Jackson and southeast Mississippi,” said Bennett. “St. Catherine’s Village always rose to the top of the list. We became even more impressed when mom transferred to assisted living because the care she received was so wonderful.”

When the time came for the Smiths to retire, they hoped they too could find their home at St. Catherine’s Village. In their 70s, they really wanted a two-bedroom, two-bath independent living apartment overlooking the lake and they were willing to wait for it—five years to be exact. In the end, everything worked out perfectly.

“The staff was so kind and helped us develop a plan,” said Bennett. “And we appreciate that we have the opportunity to move to a different level of care if ever necessary.”

Today, the two families live in separate buildings on the St. Catherine’s Village campus so they remain close—but not too close. The Keiths are much busier now that the Smiths are their neighbors and Gina is following in her mother’s footsteps becoming famous for her homemade bread.

“We’re all excited and looking forward to our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren visiting,” said David of their extended family. “Maybe, someday, they’ll be the next generation to call St. Catherine’s Village home.”

To learn more about senior living options at St. Catherine’s Village Life Plan Community, log onto www.StCatherinesVillage.com or call (601) 856-0123 to schedule a one-on-one tour.