At The Heritage of Green Hills, love takes many forms—lifelong friendships, enduring romantic partnerships, and the strong bonds of a caring community. February, a month that celebrates love, is the perfect time to highlight the deep connections that make this senior living community in Shillington, PA, so special.
A Friendship of 55 Years: Vicki & Billie
For Vicki Appler and Billie Snyder, their 55 years of friendship is more than just companionship — it’s family. “We’ve always been there for each other,” explains Appler. “Through good times and bad. We’re both only children, but I always wanted a sibling. Now we have each other. She’s my sister. It’s been a Godsend to me. When I’ve needed her, she’s always been there.”
Though they attended Governor Mifflin High School a few years apart, two first became friends a few years later when they were married and starting their families. “I only knew of Billie in high school as the girl with the long blonde ponytail and the capriccio shoes to match every outfit,” Appler laughs.
“A mutual friend introduced us because my husband was going to be working in the same
school district as Vicki’s husband,” continues Snyder. “About a year later, we discovered that we were pregnant at the same time. It was my first, her second.”
school district as Vicki’s husband,” continues Snyder. “About a year later, we discovered that we were pregnant at the same time. It was my first, her second.”
As their children grew, so did their friendship, with a bond deepened over decades of shared meals, adventures, and cherished vacations at the beach.
Later, the pair relied on each other in times of profound grief — Appler’s daughter and Snyder’s husband both passed away within a short period of time.
“I would have never gotten through what I went through without her friendship,” says Snyder.
“Nor would I,” Appler agrees.
“I was concerned about what moving to The Heritage would mean for our friendship,” Snyder says, “but she and her husband are here, now. The friendliness and feeling of welcome I got was one of the main reasons I chose The Heritage — that and the pool — and now that Vicki and David are here, it’s even better. We each have a nice circle of new friends, too.”
“Billie was a big part of us choosing The Heritage,” Appler adds. “We knew how happy she was here, so we decided to come for a visit, and we were just amazed. You’re walking down the hallways, and people would stop and introduce themselves, and everybody was just so nice — both the residents and the people who work here.”
“The friends you make living at The Heritage are true friends,” Snyder says. “It’s amazing and it’s really heartfelt. When you’re not feeling good or you’re not around, somebody’s knocking on your door or calling you on the phone, asking if you are okay and checking in. That says a lot for the whole place. It’s a true community where people care about each other.”
