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Tennyson Senior Living brings a Northsider home

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Tennyson Senior Living brings a Northsider home
Fran Anderson at her 101st birthday celebration. Photo by Lori Devine

By Sue Berg
Independent Living, Inc.

Fran Anderson celebrated her 101st birthday in style with a reception of friends and relatives, and a homecoming. 

Fran moved in March to Tennyson Senior Living Community on Tennyson Lane. It’s the same neighborhood where she lived 50 years ago. “It’s kind of fun to be a few blocks from Longview Street where I raised my family so many years ago,” she said. “I never thought I’d live back here, just down the street in a brand-new building.” 

This centenarian was born Frances Lien in Rio, Wisconsin, in 1918. At age 21, Fran moved to Madison and met her future husband, Ernest Anderson, on a blind date. In 1939, they married and eventually built their Northside home just down the hill from Lakeview Sanitorium, now Dane County Human Services.

Later, the Andersons moved to the west side of Madison, where they lived for many years. Ernest passed away in 1991. About 10 years ago, when Fran needed additional support, she moved to The Gardens Retirement Community, owned and operated by Independent Living, Inc. Although she loved her time with friends at The Gardens, she was excited to move to Tennyson Senior Living Community. “It’s a really modern facility,” Fran said. 

Independent Living, Inc. opened its newest senior community in November 2018. All 60 assisted living units boast oversized floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize sunlight and warmth. Another feature is the Health and Wellness Center. Its exercise and fitness studios, plus the spa suite, offer year-round ways to stay active; but it’s the warm-water therapy pool that is the most popular amenity. The pool has an underwater treadmill, the first and only one of its kind offered in a Wisconsin senior community. 

While the features are nice, for Fran, it is the people who make the community special. “The staff is the best thing about this place. They really care about us and take such good care of us,” she said. With a mischievous grin, Fran added, “You know, I’m pretty good at gin rummy. And we need a few more people who play euchre. Hopefully, some more will move in so we can have a few tables of euchre going in the evenings.”

Seniors interested in joining Fran at the euchre table are invited to contact Resident Services Director Peggy Schmudlach, who can be reached at 608-268-5491 or tennyson@independentlivinginc.org. “Apartments are leasing quickly,” Peggy said. “Now is a good time to tour and choose which apartment you want to call home at Tennyson Senior Living.”