If you have siblings, you may have experienced a bit of rivalry growing up. But Sonny Fudge and Grace Lachapelle seem to be the exception. The brother and sister, born just a year apart, have been close their entire lives—and they wouldn’t have it any other way. Now they both call Elim Village Garrison Crossing home.
Before moving to The Hawthorn two years ago with her husband Bob, Grace did her homework. “I visited every senior’s retirement community from Langley to Chilliwack,” she says. “Then I found Elim Village, and I knew it was the right place for us.”
Grace and Bob chose Independent Plus Living at The Hawthorn because it provided the extra support Bob needed. It didn’t hurt that Grace’s brother, Sonny, was living in a gated community just a short drive away.
Originally from Newfoundland, Sonny and Grace were born to a young homemaker mother and an older fisherman father, who spent much of his time at sea. After their mother became ill and passed away in 1940, the children were looked after by a series of caregivers—some more caring than others. “That’s how it was in those days,” Sonny recalls. “Our father did the best he could, but he needed to work.”
Early on, they learned to rely on one another—something that has stayed with them throughout their lives. “We became each other’s parent,” says Grace.
When they were seven and six, their father married a widow with two children of her own. Finally, there was stability again in their young lives.
Sonny went on to attend Dalhousie, where he studied to become a Chartered Accountant. Later, he would marry and have four children of his own. After living and working in Halifax for several years, Grace met and married Bob, with whom she has three sons.
The siblings grew older but never apart; over the years, they kept in close contact and would visit one other’s families for vacations and such. Eventually, Sonny and his family followed Grace and Bob to BC, living on Vancouver Island before settling in Chilliwack.
Whenever Sonny visited Grace and Bob in Abbotsford, Grace would tell him to call when he got home. That didn’t change even when she and Bob had settled into Elim Village. Sonny chuckles at the thought. “I’d tell her, ‘Grace! It’s only two traffic lights!’”
Recognizing that his own needs were changing, and seeing how much Grace and Bob enjoyed living at Elim, Sonny felt the time was right to make the move. And when it came time to choose a suite, he did what any big brother might: he sent Grace on a reconnaissance mission to scope out which of the available suites would best suit his needs. “You had me looking at every single one,” Grace laughs.
Now, even though they live in the same building just two floors apart, Grace still teases her brother to call when he gets home. “Our relationship was cemented when we were children,” Sonny says. “Being close has made our lives even richer.”
At Elim Village Garrison Crossing, you too can live your life to the fullest. Discover more at elimvillage.com, call 604-769-0022, or email garrisoncrossing@elimvillage.com. Stay connected by subscribing to Elim’s mailing list and never miss an update on their latest offerings.