Every year, Siblings Day is observed on April 10. The day marks the special bond between brothers and sisters. Coming from the Old English term sibb, the word referred to more than brother or sister. It meant “kinship, relationship” and could be used for “love or friendship.” This love and friendship are particularly true for three siblings who live at Touchmark at Mount Bachelor Village.
Retiring in One Place
Judith, Jane, and Gary grew up in Albany, Oregon, and are the three eldest of eight kids, all approximately 18 months apart. Over the years, the three of them found themselves in beautiful Bend, Oregon. The first to come to Bend was Jane and her husband in 2007. They were big skiers and spent their holidays in Sunriver and on the Oregon coast but eventually gravitated toward Bend. Gary followed Jane and moved to Bend in 2009 but recently moved to Touchmark about three months ago. Judith moved to Bend from New York in 2018 and settled permanently at Touchmark in June 2021.
“We are the oldest, and that plays a big part in our being close,” says Gary, adding, “We are all very different, and we all accept those differences and don’t judge each other regarding our beliefs.”
While they deliberately avoid talking about politics, Gary says, “We all have a good sense of humor, which helps!”
The trio share a love of travel and enjoy spending time in Palm Springs, Hawaii and Mexico.
While they like visiting other cities, what they all love most about Bend and their Touchmark community is the focus on a healthy lifestyle and meeting people from around the world, making for fascinating connections and conversations.
All three attend fitness classes at Touchmark, but their schedules vary, so they are rarely in the same class.
Growing Up in a Large Family
As youngsters and part of a pack of eight children, their mom constantly sent the kids to the park across the street from their home. The sisters said, “She’d say, ‘Get to the park and come home when you are tired!’”
The family of 10 didn’t go out to eat often, but drive-ins were very popular, and going out to one of them was a treat. Their favorite family outing was their annual summer trip to the Surf Tides at the beach with their mom. Their dad would join them when he had time off from work. “He was a big practical joker,” says Gary. “He would tease us all the time and get a good laugh out of it. He was a real character.”
They learned many life lessons growing up in a large family, but the three siblings all agreed that the one thing they learned most from their parents was a strong work ethic. It first came from their mother, who would send them out to pick berries at “o-dark 30,” but when they reached 15, they graduated from the berry fields to the canneries and paper routes.
“Our mother raised eight kids, went to work at 45 managing a motel, and handled the bookkeeping for our dad,” says the oldest, Judith. “She was so smart and hardworking and lived to be 85.”
Their father also set an example of a rigorous work ethic and worked very hard for his family in the lumber business. Ultimately, their parents taught them to go out and earn it themselves and not rely on others.
Reflecting on Their Bond
This year as the three celebrated Siblings Day, they reminisced about family adventures and enduring sibling bonds. The experiences that brothers and sisters share are a cherished source of memories that last a lifetime. Gary sums it up for the three siblings: “We were close as kids, and we remain so!”
