Erin and Tom Norton Find Community Without Giving Up the Life They Love

Erin and Tom Norton wanted to make the important decision themselves: where they would live as they got older.

After experiencing the difficulty of encouraging their own parents to make a move, they did not want their children to face the same situation someday.

“It had been a painful process for us,” Erin said.

So, while they are still active and independent, the Nortons began exploring their options. Because they had lived in the Hinsdale area for many years, staying connected to the community they knew was important. When they toured King-Bruwaert House senior living community in Burr Ridge/Hinsdale, Illinois, they were particularly drawn to the cottages  that make up The Woods of K-B House.

They put their names on the waiting list, ready to make the move when the timing and the right cottage came together.

Eventually, they decided it was time.

“We’re really happy with how it turned out,” Erin said.

A Move That Kept Life Familiar

Eighteen months later, Erin and Tom have discovered that moving to K-B House did not mean leaving their old lives behind.

“We haven’t had to change our routines, our social groups or anything,” Erin said.

The location has allowed them to stay close to their longtime friends and commitments, while their cottage has given them the space they wanted.

“The cottages are unique, and ours is sizeable,” Erin said. “We haven’t had to give up an enormous amount of space.”

Travel is still part of their life, too.

“It’s so easy being here and just being able to close the door and leave for a trip,” Erin said.

Four months after moving in, the decision to make the move while they were still active and independent became especially meaningful. Tom experienced a serious ski accident.

“It was really good that we were here,” Erin said. “We were here when we should be here, and we’re very grateful.”

Growing Into a New Community

The Nortons did not simply bring their old routines to K-B House. They have also become part of the community itself.

 They both are involved in the community garden, where residents grow an abundance of vegetables. Gardeners take turns watering the plants, and the fresh produce is placed in a cooler where anyone can help themselves.

“It’s a really nice group of people working with the garden,” Erin said.

She also chairs the Residents Council for The Woods and serves on the landscaping committee.

K-B House programming has given her opportunities to explore interests with her new neighbors. When the Museum of Science and Industry featured an Anne Frank exhibit, members of the K-B House book club decided to read The Diary of Anne Frank, discuss it and then visit the exhibit together. Erin appreciates the team’s willingness to listen to residents and respond to their interests.

She also values the interesting lives of their new neighbors. “The residents have had amazing careers and lots of travel experiences,” she said. “So many people are so fascinating.”

Still Busy Beyond K-B House

Erin has plenty keeping her busy outside the community, too.

A retired banker, she spent 30 years at BMO Harris as a risk management executive. Today, she serves on the board and volunteers with a food pantry,  and is active at the Union Church of Hinsdale  participating in church committees.

Tom is equally active. He is a docent at the Museum of Science and Industry, where he enjoys sharing what he knows with fellow K-B House residents. He gives lectures, hosts tours and organizes trips downtown to the museum. He is also active with the Rotary of Hinsdale.

Their four sons were initially surprised when the couple decided to move.

“They were grateful about our decision,” Erin said. “A little surprised, but grateful. They didn’t know we’d been thinking about it.”

That was exactly the point. Erin and Tom wanted to make the decision themselves, rather than leave it to their children someday.

“We are grateful to have a place that feels like home and provides for the future for everyone,” Erin said.
But perhaps the biggest surprise has been what they found in the present: a stronger connection with their neighbors.

“We love the atmosphere, and our neighbors,” Erin said. “It’s warm and friendly.”

In fact, getting from their cottage to the main building can sometimes take a while.

“I can’t just walk over to the main building from our cottage,” Erin said. “I get stopped and greeted and I visit along the way.”

For Erin, those interruptions are welcome. They are a sign of the neighborhood connection she had been missing.

“When we were in Hinsdale, we lived in a neighborhood with young families and small children. We didn’t really have the connection with our neighbors that we have here,” she said. “I missed that and am grateful to have it here.”

King-Bruwaert House
Ideally located in what has been called one of the best places to retire in Illinois by Niche.com, King-Bruwaert House senior living community has been gracing Hinsdale/Burr Ridge since 1933. The beautiful 35-acre campus includes independent living in The Gardens of King-Bruwaert House new luxury apartment homes and The Woods of King-Bruwaert House cottages. As an elegant and dignified Life Plan Community offering all levels of care, the campus also has access to assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. Less than two miles away in Hinsdale is Godair Park, King-Bruwaert House’s single-story rental duplex homes overlooking Ruth Lake Country Club. For additional information, visit www.KingBruwaert.org or call 630-216-8659. King-Bruwaert House is located at 6101 S. County Line Road in Burr Ridge.