Seniors Become "Wedding Planners" for New Lenox Maintenance Man

Wedding bells will soon be ringing for Pat Hensley and Dawn Morgan of New Lenox. On the wedding day, July 27th, Pat will head to work at Victory Centre of South Chicago, where he has been the Maintenance Manager for two and a half years. This day Pat will pay meticulous attention to the cleanliness of the grounds, as his workplace is the same place where he will marry his bride.

“I’m excited,” said Pat, who has been engaged for seven years. It is indeed the long engagement that led to his boss’s kind suggestion –or more like insistence—to once and for all set a date.

“I met Dawn at a Christmas party and knew the two made a great couple,” said Jean Alexander-Whitaker, the Executive Director at Victory Centre of South Chicago.

“Jean sat me down and said we’re setting a date today,” Pat said. “You’ve been telling me for over two years that you’re getting married, so let’s do it.” On a calendar, Jean pointed to Saturday, July 27, 2013, and it was done.

Discussing the wedding plans, Pat revealed that he didn’t have many family members left and felt like the senior residents and his co-workers were like his family now. “That really touched me,” said Jean, who added, “if you feel like we’re your family, then let’s have the wedding here.”

A Community Affair
Pat and Dawn gladly accepted the generous offer, and the wedding plans went into full swing.
A “Guess Who’s Getting Married?” contest ran in the community’s newsletter. The residents were excited to learn it was Pat and even more delighted that he chose to have the wedding at the community. “They just couldn’t believe it,” Jean said.

Soon, the entire community caught wedding fever. The bride-to-be chose the color purple and folks ran with it. Julia Milne, Life Enrichment Manager, printed invitations on her computer and is baking and decorating the wedding cake.

Residents are busy making favors for the guests, which will be a “sweet” surprise to the bride and groom. They are chocolate molded candies in the shape of intertwined hands. Residents are lovingly wrapping them up and tying them with ribbon. Another resident has agreed to be the greeter and will be in charge of making sure all attendees sign the guest book.

The nuptials will take place at 2 p.m. in the community’s outdoor courtyard by the labyrinth, a fitting symbol of eternity for the couple. The ceremony will be officiated by Pastor Green, a local minister who says weekly prayers at Victory Centre of South Chicago and has been a spiritual support for Pat.

Together, Pat and Dawn have seven children and one grandchild. All but one, who couldn’t make it, will be standing up at the wedding with the guys in kakis and purple polo shirts and the girls in purple sundresses. With two children in college, the workplace wedding venue, is also a budget friendly option, said Pat, who is supplying beef and chicken for the party, drinks, outdoor tents and a DJ. Pat who twirls around with the residents on a regular basis wanted to make sure there would be music for dancing.
“
I’ve had a humongous wedding before, but Dawn has never been married. I want to make this memorable and special for her,” Pat said. And apparently so does Victory Centre of South Chicago’s 100 residents and Pat’s co-workers!

Victory Centre of South Chicago, a Supportive Living and Senior Apartment Community, provides an enriched and engaged lifestyle and supportive services for its older adult residents. Victory Centre of South Chicago features newer, private apartments with call systems, three meals a day, support services as needed, activities and outings and other social opportunities at an affordable monthly rate.