Peabody, MA – Peggy Ciampa and Nancy Innocenti's friendship spans the better part of six decades.
"We met as nursing students at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, [Mass.]," says Ciampa. "Nancy and I had similar interests and connected on a lot of levels. It was almost like we were sisters."
Now, through all of life's twists and turns, the two friends find themselves back together, this time at Brooksby Village, an Erickson Living community in Peabody, MA,
"Peggy and her husband Bob moved here first," says Innocenti. "The concept of a retirement community was on my mind even before they moved in. I thought it was a grand idea, having all the resources you need located on one campus."
Situated on 90 acres, Brooksby Village is home to more than 1,700 residents, ages 62 and better. The community features a variety of spacious, maintenance-free apartment homes, restaurants, an on-site medical center staffed by full-time physicians, a fitness center, swimming pool, wood shop, television studio, bank, pharmacy, and hair salon.
"Our residents enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle, designed to help them make the most of every day," says Suzanne Davis, director of sales, Brooksby Village. "The Erickson Living network of communities is devoted to one mission – helping people live better lives."
The Ciampa's moved to Brooksby Village in February 2017, settling into their two-bedroom Harrison-style apartment.
"Once I visited Bob and Peggy at Brooksby Village, I saw what life was really like at the community and how they could focus on activities that interested them without having to worry about any kind of maintenance," says Innocenti.
Innocenti scheduled an appointment with the sales team in October 2017, and learned that Brooksby Village was an affordable option.
"It was a huge advantage to have somebody to rely on who already lived at the community," says Innocenti.
Innocenti attended the Lunch and Learn presentations by Brooksby's Personal Moving Consultant Laurie Phillips, she enjoyed an overnight stay in one of the community's guest suites as part of the Live the Life program, and she met with the Custom Interiors department to select the finishes in her new apartment.
"Peggy was by my side through all of it," says Innocenti. "I felt right at home as soon as I moved in because I had this wonderful introduction to the community through Bob and Peggy."
Innocenti moved into her extra-large one-bedroom Ellicott-style apartment in August 2018 and soon joined the Brooksby Singers and the Catholic Choir.
"Nancy had a lot of transferable interests and was able to jump right in to life at Brooksby Village," says Ciampa. "Our apartments are close to each other, and it's so nice to see how it's all unfolded."
"Peggy and I have shared an awful lot," adds Innocenti. "Now to think, we're here at this special time in our lives, it's pretty exciting."
Brooksby Village is a vibrant continuing care retirement community managed by Erickson Living. The scenic 90 acre campus is located in Peabody, MA and is home to more than 1700 residents.
Photo caption: Peggy Ciampa (left) and Nancy Innocenti met as nursing students in the late 1950s. Ciampa moved to Brooksby Village in 2017; Innocenti followed just over a year later.