VILLAGE Valentines ‘ We found love!’
TRUDY AND PETER ARE ENJOYING A RETIREMENT ROMANCE
In Trudy Boersen’s mind there’s no doubt the timing of her move to a Tauranga retirement village couldn’t have been more perfect.
Little did the 68-year-old widow realise that within months of selling her Rotorua home and shifting into the resort-style residence, she would be dealt a major health blow but then find love thanks to a chance meeting at a village social event.
Brimming with happiness, Trudy tells the Weekly she is over the moon she decided to follow her heart and buy into the new development within a stone’s throw from the Mount Maunganui beachfront.
“It’s been absolute wow all the way,” enthuses Trudy. “I came to visit a friend here at the village, and just loved the whole setting and what they had done. I went back, thought about it, then put my house up for sale and moved here in April 2014.”
That, she says, proved to be a smart decision.
“Less than a year later, I was diagnosed with cancer. I wouldn’t have been able to manage everything from Rotorua, including going to radiation in Hamilton because that treatment is available in Tauranga.”
Battling adenoid cystic carcinoma, the disease had spread from her salivary glands to facial nerves, and required two major surgeries and extensive radiation treatment.
But in the midst of her health crisis, her life took another unexpected turn when, with the worst of the cancer treatment behind her, Trudy crossed paths with fellow resident and widower Peter Jackson (76) after a village social event in February last year.
“After it, we went to a friend’s place in the village with some other people. Peter walked me home, and we probably talked for a few hours and found that we had a lot in common. We started meeting after that.”
Life was definitely on the up with friendship continuing to flourish and Trudy’s health seemingly on the improve until her mouth started to give her problems midway through last year. What she initially thought was a problem connected to a root canal was unfortunately the return of her cancer, now deemed inoperable.
“When I found out about that, I rang Peter and said, ‘It’s not good news.’ He said, ‘You can’t be by yourself, so come over with me for the moment.’”
After an extended holiday, Peter returned and the couple decided to formalise their relationship, marrying in an intimate ceremony at their villa in March.
Widower Peter, who lost his wife from cancer seven years ago, initially came to the village in 2016 after his daughter was well into her university course. He says after spending a few years on his own in his Tauranga home, he wanted his adult children to be free from the burden of worrying about him.
“So I thought, as I still had my marbles, I’ll make the choice myself of moving into a village.”
Impressed by the location and amenities, which includes a pool, bowling green, gym, restaurant and cafe, he’s enjoying his days in the village, attending interest groups both within and outside the village, as well as hosting friends at the villa he shares with his new wife.
“There’s a theatre and wine club in the village, and we have happy hour every Friday night. It’s all going on all of the time!” says Trudy, who had to pull back from activities involving partners such as bridge due to her health.
But every night as the couple retire from their busy day, they’re reminded why they enjoy their new life so much, lulled to sleep by the sound of crashing waves at the nearby beach.
Tells Trudy, “It’s like you’re living in a resort.”