Sisters reunited in retirement

MOVING into a retirement village can often mean family separations, but in the case of two trios of sisters at Buderim, it has brought about family reunion.

Three sisters live together at Immanuel Gardens Retirement Village, Buderim (from left) Olive Smith, 91, Winifred Carlyon, 94, and Phylis Evans, 96. Picture: Cade Mooney

MOVING into a retirement village or aged care can often mean family separations, but in the case of two trios of sisters at Buderim, it has brought about family reunion.

Sisters Phylis Evans, 96, Winifred Carlyon, 94, and Olive Smith, 91, live side by side at Immanuel Gardens, while Nancye Berg and her sisters, Elaine Wishart, 83, and Fran Stirling, 78, are also neighbours within the complex.

Winifred sees one sister every afternoon and visits another twice a week.

"I'd be lonely if I didn't have my two sisters around," she said

"We've always been a close family and it's nice to visit them"

Nancye said she was glad to be living close to her sisters after many years apart.

She worked in Sydney, Elaine lived in Biloela, and Fran was in Toowoomba for many years which meant they did not get to see a lot of each other.

"My mother would be so delighted all of us girls are together," Nancye said. "It's really great here and we're each other's friends as well as family."

Elaine said her family meant everything to her and being close to her siblings contributed to a full life.

"We've always been a part of each others' lives and now in our later years we're enjoying each other's company," she said.

Fran said it was great to have a sister handy.

"You can always tell them when you are upset and they will understand," she said.

"We all get on very well.

"We have our own individual pursuits but we keep Sunday free to spend together."

The members of the sibling trios live in various accommodation types at Immanuel Gardens, ranging from independent living units to hostel accommodation and the nursing home.

Immanuel Gardens general manager Steve Stacy said having two sets of sisters at the village was remarkable but being able to keep families together was one of the benefits of co-location.

Originally published as Sisters reunited in retirement