For 70 years, Jane Hutchison lived in and maintained a 14-room house on the edge of the Edinboro Business District on Meadville Street. A bustling area with students walking to and from classes, as well as steady traffic flowing through the center of town. Jane had lived there alone for nearly a decade since her husband passed away.

When you think of someone about to turn 100, Jane is not who you’d typically picture. She is fit and energetic. At home, she spent her time cleaning, tending to her yard and gardens, and exercising. She enjoyed long walks in town or at the mall. She hadn’t seriously considered a different kind of life. In fact, when her daughter, Carol, asked about her future plans, Jane would simply say she intended to stay in her home.

That changed last summer as Jane was crossing Meadville Street to donate food to the church across from her house. She looked both ways before stepping off the curb, but as she glanced down for a moment, a distracted driver struck her, flipping Jane over the windshield and top of the car. Fortunately, the Edinboro Fire Department was just a few feet away. She was rushed to UPMC Hamot in Erie, where doctors treated her for broken bones and internal bleeding. She was going to be okay—very lucky, indeed. After a week in the hospital, Jane transferred to LECOM Senior Living for three months of rehabilitation.

Carol, a retired teacher with a primary residence in Buffalo, also has a cottage on Edinboro Lake. She was able to stay in Edinboro full-time during her mother’s rehabilitation. As Jane regained her strength through physical therapy, she began walking around the hallways, although always with someone nearby and a wheelchair just in case.

Initially, Jane intended to return home. However, as she recovered, Jane realized she wanted to relax, have fun, and reconnect with friends, rather than worrying about chores, cleaning, and maintaining her 14-room house. That’s when she thought of Wesbury.

Jane had long been connected to Wesbury. As a member of the Edinboro Methodist Church, she volunteered at the Chicken BBQ and visited dear friends who had moved to Cribbs Residential Center’s personal care environment. According to Carol, the transition was smooth—once Jane made up her mind, there was no turning back. Cribbs would be her new home, and she moved in last fall.

“Our family is very happy that Mother chose to move to Cribbs,” says Carol. “My brother Mark and I helped her pick an apartment that was just right, and Mark’s wife, Cathy, brought in framed photos and monthly welcome signs to hang on the door. Our mom is proud to show her new home to friends and relatives who visit. The staff is very professional and makes it clear that our mom is a valued part of the community. They are attentive to her needs while giving her a sense of independence. In fact, at 99 years, she is one of the top point earners on the leaderboard in the Cribbs 6-month long fitness and wellness challenge that is happening at Cribbs right now. She is so active, we have to plan our visits around her activities to avoid walking in and finding her gone. We never worry about where she might be—we know she’s enjoying herself. We’re thankful that Wesbury provides a home she loves, where we never have to worry about her safety. I enjoy spending time there, too. I’ve been amazed by how quickly people learned who I was and greeted me so warmly.”

Now that Carol has been living in Edinboro full-time for nearly a year, having her mother at Wesbury gives her peace of mind to return to Buffalo or travel when needed. She says that even if she’s away for a few days, she knows her mom will be just fine—and always just a phone call away.

Jane says, “When I moved to Cribbs, I didn’t just find a place to live—I found a place to thrive. I got to choose my own apartment, bring my favorite furniture, and surround myself with wonderful friends, both new and old. My children are close by, which makes visits easy, and there’s so much to enjoy here—the Nature Trail and walking paths, exercise machines, and even a cozy library with large-print books. I can’t wait to spend summer afternoons reading on the porch or gardening in the raised beds out back! Cribbs isn’t just where I live now—it’s my home. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”