At Carroll Lutheran Village, Mona Kirby and Shirley Tranquill discovered that meaningful friendships can begin at any stage of life. They can start with a glowing smile at a resident meeting, a shared love of exercise or a mutual appreciation for a good book.
For Kirby and Tranquill, their friendship at CLV grew from a few chance encounters into a friendship filled with laughter, shared interests and the kind of companionship that makes CLV feel like home.
After moving to CLV, Tranquill heard about Kirby form her husband who attended a Bible study with Tranquill. Intrigued by the stories, Tranquill was eager to meet the woman behind them.
“I heard so many fascinating stories about Mona, I wanted to meet the woman behind them,” Tranquill said.
Kirby remembers first seeing Tranquill at a Resident Association Council meeting. One look at her new neighbor’s smile was enough to spark her interest.
“When she stood up, she had this glorious smile, and I knew then I wanted to know her,” Kirby said.
Soon, another encounter would turn that initial interest into a friendship. Kirby spotted Tranquill chasing her dog after it escaped from the dog park. That gave Kirby a glimpse of Tranquill’s athletic side — and a reason to get to know her better.
When Kirby discovered that Tranquill was teaching a Pilates class, she decided to join. The two quickly found a shared interest in staying active, and their friendship grew.
For Kirby, joining Tranquill’s Pilates class was an opportunity to spend time with a friend while exercising.
Tranquill, who has taught movement and exercise for years, leads a Pilates chair class at CLV. The class brings people together, where residents encourage one another.
“It’s fun when you do it with a friend,” Tranquill added.
Tranquill affectionately calls Kirby her star pupil, while Kirby quickly points out that she was once her teacher’s only student. Their playful exchanges remind you that laughter is an important part of any friendship.
The two also spend time walking the campus together, enjoying the fresh air, scenic surroundings and conversation along the way.
“I like to walk everywhere. It’s such a pretty area and a beautiful campus,” Kirby said.
More Than a Shared Interest
Although their love of exercise, outdoor walks and dogs brought them together, Kirby and Tranquill’s friendship has grown through other common interests. Both enjoy good food, trying new things and books.
Together, they enjoy literary events and have even formed a small book club. Kirby, who has written children’s books including a story about the first rural mail delivery in Carroll County in 1899, often shares her passion for history and storytelling. Tranquill has supported her friend along the way, attending author events and cheering her on during a presentation about her book at the Carroll County Farm Museum.
And while they share plenty of interests, each brings something unique to the friendship. Kirby continues to teach future school librarians as a full-time professor at McDaniel College, while Tranquill shares her passions for fitness and movement to her CLV neighbors. Together, they show how friendships can grow through shared experiences and interests as well as individual talents.
New Friends, New Beginnings
At CLV, Kirby and Tranquill found a welcoming community where new friendships could blossom while
cherished, long-standing relationships remained an important part of their lives. Though Tranquill came from northern Michigan and Kirby from Texas, both quickly found a sense of belonging from the new friendships they’ve made at CLV.
“We’ve made so many good friends here. I can’t describe how wonderful it is to meet the people here — everyone is so interesting,” said Tranquill.
She especially appreciates how readily residents welcome newcomers and invite them into their lives. That spirit of connection helped both women feel at home and forge meaningful friendships.
The friendships formed at CLV are among the most rewarding aspects of community life, providing companionship, laughter and support through life’s ups and downs. While some people believe making new friends becomes more difficult with age, Kirby and Tranquill’s experience is a testament to the meaningful connections that can be made at any stage of life.
The Best Is Yet to Come
For anyone considering moving to CLV, Tranquill has some advice: don’t wait too long to start enjoying all the community has to offer. She encourages people to look beyond common misconceptions about senior living and embrace the opportunities for connection, activity and personal fulfillment.
Whether through a fitness class, shared love of books, conversation at a community meeting or chance encounter at the dog park, meaningful friendships often begin with a willingness to try something new. Kirby and Tranquill’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to make a new friend and discover a true sense of belonging.
Learn more about Kirby and Tranquill from their WTTR radio interview at bit.ly/CLVFriendship.
Every CLV resident has a unique story. Together, those stories create a vibrant, welcoming community full of connection, purpose and peace of mind. Discover their stories at clvillage.org/resident-stories.
