Independent living at the Good Samaritan Society provides many opportunities for seniors to meet new friends.
For Laura Miller and Carolyn Cuddy, the Society is actually bringing them back together after decades spent apart.
The beginning
Miller and Cuddy first met through their husbands in Clarkston, Washington. It was 1950 and the ladies were in their early 20s.
“I was teaching and my husband was still going to school and they were quite busy with their life,” Miller said.
The Millers and Cuddys lived about a block from each other for just over a year. They’d go to formal dances together, join up for dinners or go out sometimes on the weekends.
Job opportunities in different cities would split them up. For the next six decades, they enjoyed separate lives raising children and being active members of their communities.
“Through the years, even though we didn’t see one another all that often, we always stayed connected in our minds and our hearts,” Cuddy said.
Little did the ladies know, they’d reunite down the road.
Moscow meeting
Tammie Poe is a Senior Sales Representative at Good Samaritan Society – Moscow Village in Idaho.
“It’s just a really neat story,” Poe said.
Her office is across the hallway from Laura’s apartment at the center. Poe says the women both ended up in Moscow roughly ten years ago but didn’t realize they were in the same town.
“Meant to be. That’s a good way to say it,” Poe said.
One day, a mutual friend wanted Miller to meet someone named Carolyn Cuddy.
“Laura said, ‘Oh, my Carolyn Cuddy?’” Poe said.
The friendship picked up right where it left off. However, the story doesn’t end there.
Miller and Cuddy, now 92 and 91 respectively, have both sadly lost their spouses. Miller was the first to move to The Society’s independent living location in Moscow.
Cuddy and her family started looking into the center in 2019.
“When I came in to do the tour, they saw each other. It just happened that the apartment we had available was right next to where Laura is living,” Poe said.
“Oh we were so pleased and our children, how about that, were pleased that we had company next door,” Miller said.
It was quite the coincidence.
“It is exactly crazy. I can tap on the wall,” Cuddy said.
Feeling comfortable
Cuddy and her family didn’t hesitate to make the move knowing it would mean joining back up with Miller.
“I’ll tell you it made all the difference in my feeling comfortable about moving in here,” Cuddy said.
The two can be seen hanging out together often.
“Just enjoy visiting in her apartment and she comes and visits in mine. Or we sit down at the door and visit with people that come and go,” Miller said.
They watch movies and do their physical therapy together, socially distanced these days.
The friends even did this Zoom interview with us in the same room properly spaced. When asked what they like about each other, they highlight kindness.
“Oh my gosh. She’s sitting right here beside me,” Miller said.
“Tell a big lie!” Cuddy says laughing.
“Carolyn is very friendly. Carolyn is great at complimenting. I like people like that,” Miller replied.
Jokingly, Cuddy admits Miller having wheels doesn’t hurt.
“She always has a friendly manner. Everybody here knows her and loves her. And oh yes, she has a car,” Cuddy said.
That’s helpful when the pair want to make a run to the grocery store.
It’s a special friendship you won’t find every day in the produce section.
“God, for whatever reason, wanted these two women to have this friendship that would just span decades,” Poe said.
It’s a bond getting even stronger during their time at the Good Samaritan Society.
“We’re right next to one another. Whatever happens in one, the other understands. So, we’re in good shape,” Cuddy said.
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Posted In Senior Services
