Downers Grove’s Oak Trace brightened by resident’s hundreds of painted window Christmas trees

She wears many hats and just added one more to her formidable collection. It’s a Santa hat of sorts.

Arlee Bennett, a resident of Oak Trace in Downers Grove, does whatever is available to be done around the senior living community. Liking to be busy and help out, she teaches fitness classes, helps fill water glasses in the dining room for dinner each night, assists in planning and promoting programs for the residents, helps oversee the woodshop, and more.

Her most recent endeavor has been painting Christmas trees on the windows … hundreds of windows … throughout the retirement community.

She explained, "I’m an illustrator, an artist. I’ve painted these trees for other places and felt like it was especially fitting to do now. It provides a lift for people. Right now, everyone needs a lift; we need to do things like that for each other. People see the trees, and it makes them happy."

Arlee said she has painted the trees throughout the community over the past month or so. "People in the health center kept asking me when I was coming to do the windows there. When I got there, a lot of residents sat and watched me. It was just incredible. They enjoyed it so much and it was so easy for me to do for them."

"We have so many talented and generous residents living here. Arlee is the perfect example of that, sharing her artistic skills during the holidays," said Dan Harrington, executive director. "The trees are really whimsical and festive and we’re glad to have them."

Oak Trace Senior Living

Oak Trace senior living community in Downers Grove is set on more than 40 acres of landscaped grounds featuring gardens, walking paths, ponds and abundant greenspace. Oak Trace has private independent living apartments, as well as assisted living, memory care, skilled care and rehabilitation. The Life Care Community offers guaranteed lifelong care with predictable costs. Oak Trace is owned by Lifespace, a not-for-profit organization with more than 45 years of experience in senior living. To learn more about Oak Trace, visit www.OakTraceSeniorLiving.com.