Special March “Save the Dates” from Fuller Village

Think of This as Our Version of “March Madness”

Say “hello” to March with a great lineup of events that range from  important and insightful to endlessly entertaining. Engage in timely and meaningful discussions. Enjoy some great music and take some time to mix and mingle with our fabulous residents. Save the dates for all of our awesome March events and reserve your seats today!

View Our Upcoming March Events

February Events You’ll Fall in Love With

Fuller Village Wants to Add Some Excitement to Your February

Join the conversation with a New York Times best-selling author, a Curry College Professor, and a resident storyteller—then, join us on the dance floor for an exciting lineup of musical talent and don’t miss a screening of an important and poignant documentary. From thought-provoking to toe-tapping, there’s something for everyone at Fuller Village this February.

View Our Upcoming February Events

January Senior Living Events You Won’t Want to Miss at Fuller Village

From lectures on musical maestros, Greek history, and health to musical events ranging from piano concerts to our first Pub Night of the new year, Fuller Village invites you to experience firsthand what makes living here a fuller life for our residents.

Pianist Frederick Moyer

Sunday, January 7th – 7:00 PM – Brush Hill Function Room


Frederick Moyer is one of the most exciting pianists before the public today.  Equally at home with Bach, Rachmaninoff, Schoenberg as well as Ellington and Peterson, his recitals are creative, engaging and entertaining and generally include time honored favorites as well as pieces that audiences may be hearing for the first time. He has performed in 44 countries and in such far-flung venues as Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Sydney Opera House, Windsor Castle, Carnegie Recital Hall, Tanglewood, and the Kennedy Center.

This performance is co-sponsored by the Fuller Village Residents’ Association.


Join Rich Travers for
All Aboard: The Conductor

Tuesday, January 9th – 2:00 PM – Brush Hill Function Room


What are the responsibilities of a ‘Maestro’?  What do all those conducting motions signify? Music examples of composers and the famous conductors (and egos) from all periods will be listened to, analyzed, and discussed.


Historian Paolo DiGregorio presents:
The Origins of Ancient Greece:
The Aegean World in the Bronze Age

Wednesday, January 10th – 7:00 PM – Blue Hill Activity Room


Often, when we think of Ancient Greece, we picture the architectural splendor of the Parthenon or the intellectual curiosity of Plato and Aristotle.  Yet the history of Greece begins thousands of years before the Golden Age.  The story of the development of Greek culture involves war, peace, prosperity, and destruction, and is one of the foundations of the West.


Steps in the Treatment of Low Back Pain

Thursday, January 11th – 2:00 PM – Blue Hill Activity Room

The Spine Program at BID Milton offers leading-edge surgical care as well as pain management therapies to treat a full range of spine disorders, including spinal deformities and injuries, spinal stenosis, herniated discs and spinal tumors. Join  Dr. Papavassiliou from BID Milton and BIDMC to learn how to better manage lower back pain.

Efstathios Papavassiliou, MD
BIDMC Neurosurgery
Co-Director:The spine center at BIDMC
Assistant Professor Harvard Medical School


Maria Judge’s Storytelling
The Five-Year Honeymoon

Tuesday, January 16th – 3:00 PM – Blue Hill Activity Room


Part of an ongoing series with our partners at Beth Israel Deaconess Milton.

One week after their wedding, Jerome and Eleanor Judge moved to Ireland to study at University College, Dublin under the GI Bill. They expect to spend one year away but instead stay for 5 years, during which they travel around Ireland and Germany, work for Catholic Relief Services, have three children, perform on stage with Carroll O’Connor and eventually get a PhD.

Fuller Village resident Maria Judge presents more stories of her family’s early years and travels around the world.


Join Us for Pub Night With the Dwayne Haggins Trio

Thursday, January 18th – 6:30 PM – Brush Hill Function Room
(Doors and bar open at 6:30; music starts at 7:00)


Dwayne and his friend Ahren have been entertaining Fuller Village residents for years in their duo version.  Now come and enjoy them play an eclectic mix of rock, blues, funk and soul as a trio! They will play anything to get you up and off your feet! Dwayne’s silky voice and showmanship make him a standout performer and we are excited to welcome him and his bandmates to their first Pub Night!

Complementary appetizers will be served and we will have a full bar available (cash bar for guests, residents’ drinks will be billed to their account).


Author Talk: Kevin P. Martin, Jr.
All is Well: Life Lessons from a Preacher’s Father

Monday, January 22nd – 2:00 PM – Brush Hill Function Room

A memoir of a parent’s sudden passing from ALS, recalling life lessons learned, and regaining faith in the process.

Kevin P. Martin, Sr. was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, better known as ALS, in August 2019. He died only a month later. Over a thousand people would attend the wake and funeral in South Boston — after all, Kevin Sr. was a leader in the Southie community and in the Catholic Church, both as a business owner and family man. But Kevin Jr. struggled with a bottomless grief; neither his father’s example nor his own faith as a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of Boston fully equipped him to cope with the loss.

All Is Well is the story of the good life well-lived and life lessons Kevin Sr. taught his son. It’s a story of how Kevin Jr. moved from darkness to light after his father’s death. It is a memoir that gives a roadmap out of grief, taking a path whose landmarks are the Beatitudes, family, miracles, baseball, rites of passage, bucket lists, and love; it offers insights into leadership, marriage, parenting, resilience, practicality, suffering, giving, forgiveness, joy, and savoring the little things.

100% of this book’s profits will go to ALS research, care charities, and support organizations. Books will be available for purchase at the event. 


Fuller Village Residents Reach New Heights Climbing Mount Washington

Taking Fuller Village’s theme, “Live a Fuller Life,” to new heights was done literally by four of the community’s residents who spent two days climbing to the top of Mount Washington, the highest point on the East coast.

In 2023, Nancy Wilbur, Mary Ann Millsap, Jane Cotter, Barbara Cocci, Irene Brannelly and Nancy Wilbur trained by hiking over 40 miles of trails, spending approximately 200 collective hours in Fuller Village’s fitness center during which time they probably completed about 3,742 squats. As Mary Ann noted, “with proper training and support, we elders can do most anything, even climb a mountain!.”

As members of the Fuller Village Adventure Club, formed by Jen DeLeonardis, the community’s Fitness Director, these women, along with Jen and her partner, Professor Robert Rennan hiked five miles during the two-day climb which included a 3,250 -foot gain in elevation and an overnight stay in bunk beds at the Lake of the Clouds hut before reaching the 6,288’ summit on August 4, 2023.

Each person carried their own clothing, equipment, water and snacks in their backpacks. As Jen noted, a challenge like this requires both mental and physical preparation. Maintaining and building on a solid fitness base is critical including cardiovascular, strength and endurance training. But an individual’s determination and desire are most important, noted Jen.

Barbara said, “I remain astounded by the teamwork and spirit exhibited 24/7 by our group. I have played on many teams but never have I experienced such camaraderie, generosity, and kindness over and over.”

Stopping for a group photo on day one of the climb were (left to right): Nancy Wilbur, Mary Ann Millsap, Jane Cotter, Barbara Cocci, Jen DeLeonardis and Irene Brannelly.

Although Nancy was unable to make the complete two-day climb for personal reasons, she had trained with her fellow climbers for months so after climbing two miles on the first day, she took the cog railway to the top on the second day to celebrate her fellow hikers’ achievement.

Although the weather on the second day’s climb as they approached the summit included dense fog, precipitation, windchills around 30 degrees a single clap of thunder, the overall experience and sense of accomplishment was, in a word, “fabulous,” Jen said.

Jen and her partner Robert are no strangers to mountain climbing. They have successfully climbed the top 100 peaks in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, many of which were finished during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic. “During that time, many people were forced to shelter in place, but I was fortunate to be able to ‘shelter in nature,’” Jen remarked.

Jen and Robert’s experience and guidance were appreciated by all the hikers. “We had a wonderful coach and assistant coach. Jen always believed we could do it even when we may have doubted it and Robert was always ready to offer a hand up, explain and teach. It was an honor to share this once in a lifetime experience with such kind, supportive and patient people,” commented Jane.

Celebrating reaching the Mount Washington summit were (left to right): Robert Rennan, Barbara Cocci, Mary Ann Millsap, Jane Cotter, Irene Brannelly and Fuller Village Fitness Director Jen DeLeonardis.

Irene echoed Jane’s feelings about the experience. “Did I ever think that I would be climbing Mount Washington? Definitely not! Will we ever sleep in a hut with ninety people, no electricity, no hot water or climb the second half of the mountain in the rain, fog, and fierce wind? Probably not. However, there is one thing I can say, we have all formed a bond that will last a lifetime and we will never forget this phenomenal adventure.

Nancy Wilbur, who participated in all the training and did the first day of the climb, noted, “I was totally delighted to join my fellow hikers and walk the trail with them the first day. I got to be with the group and really participate. I also did the hike that was right for me.” She then joined the group at the summit on the second day taking the cog railway to the top. A ride that all the hikers thoroughly enjoyed on the trip down.

What’s next for the Fuller Village Adventure Club’s 10 members? While no plans have yet been set for Summer of 2024, the Fuller Village hikers are eagerly anticipating a new challenge to strive towards in the coming months.


Welch Appointed Executive Director of Fuller Village

Chris Heavey, chairman of the board of directors of Milton Fuller Housing Corporation, has announced the appointment of Molly Welch as the new executive director of Fuller Village.

She succeeds Deborah Felton, who served as executive director of the non-profit community since 2007.

For more than 20 years, Welch has been working with seniors and their families, striving to provide them with the best accommodations, services, and programming possible.

Her career in the senior care industry has encompassed skilled nursing homes, an assisted and independent living community, hospice agencies, and home care staffing.

Since 2003, Welch has worked with Sheehan Health Group, most recently serving in leadership positions as regional director of admissions and marketing and as an operations consultant.

“We are delighted to have someone with Molly’s depth of leadership experience in senior housing taking over for Deborah, whose positive impact on the growth and enrichment of Fuller Village during the past 16 years has been instrumental in creating a reputation for Fuller Village as one of the most highly respected senior communities in eastern Massachusetts,” Heavey said.
Welch’s appointment concluded an extensive search for Felton’s successor.

“The vision and culture of Fuller Village are consistent with the beliefs I have always held that pro-

viding a living environment where seniors can enjoy the fullest life possible is paramount,” Welch commented. “Offering a lifestyle where our resi- dents can participate in the many activities and programs at Fuller Village is important, not just for the residents themselves, but also for their family members who know their loved ones are living in an active community that is engaging and caring.”

Prior to entering the senior care industry, Welch earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a concentration in health policy and management from Providence College.

She resides on the South Shore with her husband and two daughters.


Leading Age Academy Provides Innovative Training for Fuller Village Team

Milton, MA –After working for more than 30 years in senior housing, including Vi Senior Living in Maryland, Sherburne Commons in Nantucket and Village at Laurel Lake in western Massachusetts, Andrea Doherty thought she had seen it all.  From skilled nursing and memory care to assisted living and, most recently, independent living at Fuller Village in Milton, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her position as Marketing & Operations Director at Fuller Village where she has worked since 2016.

So when Fuller Village Executive Director Deborah Felton offered Andrea the opportunity to apply for The Leadership Academy (TLA), a 10-month intensive program conducted by LeadingAge, which culminates with a “graduation” at the Annual Convention, Andrea was excited about the opportunity if she was accepted.

After just a few weeks into the TLA program, Andrea realized that while, in fact, she did know much of what was being done in senior housing, the TLA provided a much broader exposure to the gaps in the field of aging services, combined with learning about reflective leadership practices to learn how to have the most impact as a leader on Fuller Village’s management team.

When asked about the benefits of The Leadership Academy, Andrea said it was very impactful to be a member of the Academy during this unprecedented time of a pandemic. It provided a broad viewpoint of aging services as an industry across the country, not only for the clients we serve, but also all the front-line workers who serve our clients.   “It was a fabulous  opportunity and forum to be with other non-profit senior care providers throughout the United States to share ideas on how they approach serving seniors at all levels with the most advanced care and social programs during one of the most challenging times in recent history,” Andrea remarked. “While it’s important to be dancing on the dance floor, it’s equally important to see the bigger picture from the balcony,” she added. The Leadership Academy provided a forum for that “bigger picture.”

Deborah Felton feels so strongly about the importance of the work LeadingAge does for the senior living and aging services industry that she had two other Fuller Village staff attend the Annual LeadingAge Conference in Atlanta this fall with Andrea.

“To remain a leader in this industry and to provide the most innovative thinking and social environment for our residents, it’s important for members of our team to see and hear what other leaders in senior housing are doing around the country,” Deborah said.  “LeadingAge provides that perspective and insight that can’t be learned just by doing our jobs each day,” she added.

Joey DiGiano, Operations and Executive Assistant and Daniel McGarr, Project Coordinator at Fuller Village, attended the four-day conference in Atlanta with Andrea.  For all three, it was an opportunity for them to learn and see what other senior providers and communities in the United States are doing to meet the needs of today’s seniors and prepare them for future generations.   “There were discussions about the latest technology to assist seniors, the topic of ageism and its evolving role in society, and ways to attract and retain staff, so you took something away from every session,” Joey said.

“As a leader in the senior housing industry, we need to be more proactive and not just reactive to the needs of today’s seniors,” Andrea remarked.  Fuller Village’s involvement in LeadingAge, and our exposure to what other industry leaders are doing throughout the country by participating in The Leadership Academy, will help keep us in the forefront in the future,” she concluded.


woman standing on the top of a mountain

Pandemic Pushes Hiker to New Peaks

By Elaine Cushman Carroll Milton Times staff

Milton resident Jennifer DeLeonardis knew she’d turned a corner when she printed out the official list of the New England 67 as COVID-19 was settling in.

While she has never been a list keeper, she admits she enjoyed checking off each of the 67 mountain peaks in New England that are over 4,000 feet tall that she had already climbed.

Then she set her sights on the remaining ones.

This fall, DeLeonardis said she has just one more to go: Mount Mansfield in Vermont.

She explained when she realized she had turned a corner.

“I’ve never been a list keeper but all of a sudden I’m looking at the list,” she said.

DeLeonardis is planning a trip with her life partner Robert Reenan in October to achieve the goal.

“It was a great way to spend COVID,” DeLeonardis said in a recent interview in a courtyard at Fuller Village where she works as director of aquatics and fitness.

DeLeonardis, who was once an owner of the former West Newton restaurant, Lumiere, said she did her first hikes when her son was four years old and she had a sense that it would be good for him as a person to connect with the outdoors.

That was 14 years ago and Christopher is now a senior at Milton High School.

They enjoyed the “gorgeous but small mountains”

See DeLEONARDIS Page 10

Milton resident Jennifer DeLeonardis

DeLEONARDIS from Page 1

of Acadia National Park.

Christopher now sets too brisk a pace to hike with her, but they still sometimes tackle a mountain at the same time.

In 2015, DeLeonardis got a little more serious with a group of friends who took on a section of nine peaks in the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire.

Despite being gung-ho about the experience, life, jobs, and everyday things sidelined the best of plans.

During the COVID-19 restrictions, mountains were open, DeLeonardis said, adding that Reenan was also an inspiration.

“He keeps saying you could have done it without me,” she said, shaking her head no.

According to DeLeonardis, it was the natural beauty of the mountains that initially drew her in. She said what takes her breath away are vistas where contrasts exist, such as where a mountain peak meets a body of water or a valley of fir trees.

“When you see that contrast, you’re kind of blown away,”DeLeonardis said.

She loves the whole experience of hiking. including the times when you have to challenge your mind and your body just to take that next step.

“It’s frequently peaceful. It’s a way to remove yourself from the hustle and bustle. You know you’re not going to be able to answer your cell phone,” DeLeonardis said. She also likes the sense of community of hikers, although the recent increased usage of the trails has led to dirtier trails.

DeLeonardis said the pandemic also helped her get more active about sharing her passion with the residents of Fuller Village, an over 62 community.

She went to Fuller after she left the restaurant and had become a personal trainer.

DeLeonardis said she lucked into the job after agreeing to fill in for a person who went out on maternity leave a little over five years ago. The person didn’t return, and she was given the job permanently.

DeLeonardis said that in her job, she is often asked to recommend an exercise for someone.

“I tell them that the best exercise is the one you’re going to keep doing because you love it. That’s usually the best for you,” she said.

When a resident asks why he or she is not losing weight despite working out, DeLeonardis, who said she loves to eat cookies on the trail, said the truth is that it’s difficult “to out-exercise your fork.”

DeLeonardis said that during the pandemic, she was able to offer more outdoor experiences for Fuller Village residents including snowshoeing and hiking nearby at the Blue Hills.

“It was nice to transfer something I love to the residents,” she said. “It’s not for everybody.”

DeLeonardis said winter hiking is becoming her favorite since it bypasses two things she doesn’t enjoy: bugs and hot weather.

“The scenery is so different. It’s stunning,” she said.

DeLeonardis is drawn in by sights like frozen fog and sun shining on snow-covered trees as well as by the deep silence.

She said Mount Jefferson is one of her favorites in the winter, particularly an area that is like an open saddle in the mountain, where “it felt like you were crossing the moon.”

“Talk about quiet. It’s remarkably quiet,” she said.

DeLeonardis believes that while hiking, it is particularly important to find a pace that you can sustain and abide by the rule of hiking that the slowest person with you sets the pace.

She is currently hiking with a friend who is 71 and wants to hike the New Hampshire 48 again as a person over the age of 70 despite having knee and back problems.

DeLeonardis recommends that people who have never hiked before simply get a pair of good, sturdy shoes and “just go out and start walking. The more you do it, the better you’re going to get at it.”

“We’re lucky here that we have the Blue Hills,” she continued, adding that there are checklists of smart hiking protocols that people should follow for basic safety.

Those include always going with someone in case something should happen and bringing water, sunscreen, and bug spray.

She said winter hiking requires more planning and a day pack with supplies, a compass, a map, food, multiple layers of clothing, snow shoes, crampons, an ice axe, insulated hiking boots, and wool socks.

DeLeonardis said she found out first hand that hiking in snow can also result in a sunburn on the roof of your mouth so a neck gaiter is a must.

“Don’t rely on your phone for anything,” she said. “You really have to track the weather and be smart about your decisions.”

She recalled that she and Reenan, whose most recent goal is to climb the Northeast 111, which includes New York peaks, in the winter, had to turn around three times at the trailhead to a mountain on his list because of the weather.

“It would have been at some significant level of risk,” DeLeonardis said. “The mountains are not going anywhere.”

She said her favorite hiking quote is “Getting to the top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.”

DeLeonardis said she has no interest in heading to a mountain like Everest and maybe some higher peaks in Colorado.

“I plan to go back to the ones here that I fell in love with,” she said, adding, though, that she has no plans to print out the list again.

Jennifer DeLeonardis at the summit of Mount Lafayette in New Hampshire, one of the 66 mountain peaks she has climbed in New England. (Photo submitted by DeLeonardis)


Fuller Village selects Best of Care Inc. as preferred home care provider

Milton and Quincy, Mass., December 27, 2017 – Family-owned home care agency Best of Care Inc. has been selected by independent senior living community Fuller Village as its preferred provider of private-pay home care services to Fuller Village residents. The agency began providing services at Fuller Village on December 18, 2017.

Fuller Village chose Best of Care because it offered a high level of quality service that its residents expect, according to Fuller Village Executive Director Deborah Felton. Best of Care’s onsite home care aides allow Fuller Village residents to add personalized assistance services as they wish, paying only for what they need, when they need it.

“We wanted to partner with an agency that would be responsive to residents’ diverse in-home care needs and in tune with our community’s values,” said Felton. “Best of Care came highly recommended; we’ve been impressed with their approach and philosophy.“

“We are excited to expand our private pay business into the Fuller Village community,” said Best of Care President and COO Kevin Smith. “There are many things that connect us: We are both local, independent, non-franchise organizations. Our personalized approach can support residents of the community at any stage in their continuum of care - whether it is arranging service upon hospital discharge, delivering 24/7 care or simply providing an hour of housekeeping.

“Best of Care is an on-site resource not only for residents of the Fuller Village community, but also their family members,” Smith added. “Beyond home care service delivery, we also plan to present an interesting series of programming including blood pressure clinics, wellness prevention initiatives and family caregiver support groups.”

About Best of Care

Best of Care is a family-owned and operated home care agency headquartered in Quincy, Mass. that has delivered home care services to Massachusetts communities since 1981. Best of Care provides an extensive array of home care services to over 100 towns and cities throughout Greater Boston, the South Shore, the South Coast, Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard – with offices in Quincy, Raynham, New Bedford, and South Dennis. Services include personal care, homemakers and companions, hospice care, nursing care management and specialty services as they relate to dementia, psychiatric and acquired brain injury care.  Best of Care Inc. was named a 2014 Family Business of the Year finalist by the Family Business Association of Massachusetts.  President and Chief Operating Officer Kevin Smith serves as Vice President, Executive Committee Member, Board Member and Technology Committee Chair of the Home Care Aide Council of Massachusetts.  Visit www.bestofcareinc.com, follow on Twitter @bestofcare and Facebook www.facebook.com/bestofcare