Butterfly Garden launched in friendship

Friendship Senior Options Foundation honored the late Herb Demmel last week as they dedicated their new Butterfly Garden at Friendship Village Schaumburg in his memory.

Demmel, a longtime and much-beloved resident of the senior living community was a known volunteer, conservationist, land steward, and more. Demmel's wish for the Butterfly Garden was fulfilled by a gift from his family to the Foundation after his death this spring. The Butterfly Garden is in the community's Secret Garden.

Over the 17 years that he lived at Friendship Village, Demmel gave generously of his time as a very active volunteer. During an interview in 2016, Demmel said that having worked professionally during evening hours for many years, he had determined that he had free time during daylight hours to volunteer.

"It gave me a way to meet a lot of people and be outdoors, which I like," he said.

Demmel was responsible for the installation and much of the maintenance of Friendship Village's koi ponds. He worked extensively in Friendship Woods, adjacent to Friendship Village. There, he cleared weeds and nonnative trees and plants, planted wildflowers, and gave nature walk lectures to residents and associates. Demmel also planned and funded the clearing of the woods at the entranceway to Friendship Village. He was also a volunteer at the Kane County Forest Preserve. Demmel received a certificate of appreciation from Friendship Village's Land Stewardship Committee and was the 2017 Schaumburg Volunteer of the Year.

During the dedication event for the garden last week, a sign was installed, reading," The butterfly garden is a parting gift from a longtime friend and resident Herb Demmel; an advocate and generous supporter of land stewardship at Friendship Village, dedicated to the great care of the wooded areas of our property and preserving nature for all residents to enjoy."

"We are always so grateful for the generosity of donors to the Foundation, which supports seniors and those who serve them," said Karen Kay, director of Friendship Senior Options Foundation. "This gift from the Demmel family will continue to positively impact the lives of residents at Friendship Village through the beautiful Butterfly Garden, while also serving as a lovely memorial to Herb."

Friendship Senior Options Foundation is a 501(c) (3) charity. The Foundation is built upon three pillars that drive its mission: Benevolence, education and the arts, and capital improvements. For information, on the Foundation or to make a donation, visit www.FriendshipSeniorOptions.org/foundation, email Foundation@myFSO.org or call (847) 884-5700.

Friendship Village is a leading Life Plan retirement community offering independent living garden homes and apartment homes, as well as assisted living, memory support, skilled nursing care, and short- and long-term rehabilitation services. For more than 40 years, Friendship Village has been providing Chicago area seniors with exceptional retirement living options. For additional information, visit www.FriendshipVillage.org