Making a House a Home

Joan Howarth is no stranger to making a house a home. “I have always been happy wherever I’ve hung my hat,” she says. Joan and her late husband went through several moves throughout the years. When they had their children, a bigger house was needed and when their children grew up and moved on, Joan and her husband found a smaller place.

Their last move together was to a two-bedroom waterfront home on Indian Hills Lake in Cuba, Missouri, with the intention of spending their retirement years there. Joan’s husband’s early death changed that and her daughter encouraged her to move into a senior community. After much searching, Joan settled on Bethesda Terrace in South St. Louis County.

“We visited Bethesda Terrace first, toured a lot of other communities, and after a year and a half of looking, knew this was the best.”

Creative Freedom

Moving to Bethesda Terrace was a chance for Joan to spread her creative wings. A hobbyist interior designer, Joan was thrilled to learn that she would be able to decorate her new apartment however she liked. Wasting no time, Joan put her creative mind to work, transforming her apartment into a modernistic purple, white, black, glass and chrome oasis.

Many Opportunities Awaited

Joan is also quite pleased with the many other aspects of life at Bethesda Terrace, from the activities and events to the meals. “After moving in, I immediately signed up for everything on the calendar,” she said. “The July Fourth celebration at Jefferson Barracks Park is a good example of something I really enjoyed and would never have done on my own. I also have a great kitchen with stainless steel appliances, but I have never even turned on the stove or the oven; the meals here are excellent!”

It appears that Joan has once again found happiness — in a new, beautifully decorated place to hang her hat.