Some people have a remarkable ability to focus on what’s gone right in life.
Diane and Bill Minges are two of them.
Talk with the longtime educators for a few minutes and you’ll hear them reflect on a reluctant blind date that led to 58 years of marriage, careers they treasured, a family they adore, and, more recently, a move from Yorkville, Illinois, to Beacon Hill, a senior living community in Lombard, Illinois that they describe as one of the smartest decisions they’ve ever made.
They don’t talk as though these things were inevitable.
They talk about them as gifts.
That sense of gratitude has shaped every chapter of their lives, and today, it’s one of the reasons they’re embracing retirement with as much enthusiasm as they embraced every chapter before it.
A Blind Date Worth Saying ‘Yes’ To
During their college years, neither of them really wanted to go on the blind date but fortunately, they did.
Bill still remembers being immediately “smitten” with Diane.
She remembers someone who was handsome, funny, and easy to talk to.
She was a student at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois; he was at St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana. Distance made the relationship challenging, but letters bridged the gap. According to Bill, “a lot of letters.”
Looking back nearly six decades later, they’re still grateful someone encouraged them to take a chance.
Careers That Made a Difference
Diane had an almost fifty-year career, teaching high school students with reading difficulties at Oswego High School. She treasured helping young people discover abilities they didn’t know they had.
One memory still stands out.
After the daily silent reading period she built into every class, a student approached her and said, “Mrs. Minges, I actually finished a book. It’s the first book I’ve finished in my whole life.”
The book happened to be Harry Potter, which Diane had brought to share.
“It was wonderful,” Diane said. “Can you imagine never having finished a book before? I loved inspiring students, preparing them for the future, and simply interacting with them.”
Diane’s connection to education didn’t end when she retired from Oswego High School. She continues to support the next generation of educators through her part-time work with North Central College in Naperville, where she supervises students preparing to enter the teaching profession.
“I love watching the students and their enthusiasm for the career,” she said. “It’s exciting to know these are the young people who will be going into teaching.”
Bill’s path to teaching came through an unexpected career counselor.
“The parish priest from the school I’d attended, thought I should be a 4th grade teacher. It turned out there was an opening at the school he was trying to fill,” said Bill. Having been considering careers ranging from engineering to finance, Bill filled in as the 4th grade substitute teacher for a year and discovered he loved the classroom. He never looked back.
Fourth grade was perfect for him. “Ten-year-olds are old enough to not be little kids, but aren’t old enough to have become smart-alecky,” Bill said. Recalling ‘aha’ moments that he treasures, he cited, “When the students realized they could do something they didn’t think they wanted to do or could do, it was very fulfilling.” In addition to classroom teaching in Somonauk, Bill coached basketball, soccer, golf and high school Scholastic Bowl.
When you ask Diane and Bill about retirement, they don’t talk about what they left behind.
They talk about how fortunate they were to have spent careers doing purposeful work they genuinely loved.
Why Did They Choose a Life Plan Community?
Enjoying years of traveling, spending time with family, and embracing retirement, Bill and Diane began thinking about the future.
They wanted to make a decision while they were still able to make it for themselves and one that would give their daughter peace of mind.
“This is a gift to give your kids,” Bill said, adding, “This experience has also been a gift to ourselves as we enjoy it more than we thought possible.”
They looked at a number of senior living communities, and found they felt a special difference at Beacon Hill. “It was so warm and welcoming and there was a lot of activity,” Bill said.
Planning for the future was important to them, so they decided they wanted a Life Plan Community, also known as a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), that they could continue calling home even if their needs changed over time.
What particularly appealed to them was Beacon Hill’s approach to supporting residents as those needs evolve. Through Lifespace Personal Services, Beacon Hill residents can receive personalized assistance in their independent living apartment without moving to a traditional assisted living setting.
“It makes sense to us,” Bill said. “I’d like to remain in our apartment as long as possible. And we can keep living together.”
Their decision to move to Beacon Hill was made.
Ironically, they expected the actual move to happen several years later than it did.
After having decided on Beacon Hill, they had joined a wait list for a specific floor plan, assuming it would take some time before an apartment would be available. Then, unexpectedly, an apartment they wanted opened up.
The location was ideal, overlooking the pond and its resident swans. The timing felt too perfect to ignore. They didn’t want to risk waiting years for another apartment they loved.
“When we saw it, I looked at Diane and said, ‘This is going to happen now isn’t it?’” said Bill.
And it did.
Even the fact that the apartment needed renovations was a blessing, as Diane and Bill were able to help select virtually every finish, making the apartment distinctly their own.
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They moved into their new home in September of 2025.
What Is Life at Beacon Hill Really Like?
One of the things that has surprised Diane and Bill most about Beacon Hill is how much their social world has expanded.
“We’ve always had a good social life,” Bill said. “But it’s even better here.”
The friendships they’ve made have been one of the greatest gifts of their move.
“We have friends who really care about us,” Diane said. “It feels like we’ve known them for 30 or 40 years.”
They feel the same way about the Beacon Hill team. Both Diane and Bill are quick to praise the staff members who make the community feel so welcoming and caring.
“The team here is so special,” Bill said. “They are delightful people.”
The sense of connection is one of the reasons they have come to love life at Beacon Hill so fully.”
Diane quickly embraced the opportunities around her.
She sings with the Hilltoppers Choir, tends her floral and vegetable garden on campus, and serves on several committees.
Before moving to Beacon Hill, exercise was more of a good intention than a regular habit. Today, she attends fitness classes and circuit training in Beacon Hill’s fitness center three mornings each week. And enjoys it.
Together, Diane and Bill serve as marketing ambassadors, meeting with prospective residents, because they genuinely enjoy helping others imagine themselves at Beacon Hill.
“The more we talk to prospective residents about life here, the more aware we become of how lucky we are. How blessed we are,” Bill said.
A Perspective That Lasts a Lifetime
Spend time with Diane and Bill and it’s easy to see what fulfilling lives they’ve built.
Fortunate to meet on a blind date that neither of them wanted to go on.
Grateful to discover purposeful careers they loved.
Blessed to build a happy family and a life filled with meaningful experiences.
Thankful to find Beacon Hill at exactly the right time.
But they would be the first to say that gratitude has played just as important a role as good fortune.
Diane and Bill have spent a lifetime recognizing the good things in their lives rather than taking them for granted. That perspective has shaped the way they approach every chapter, including this one.
Today, surrounded by people who already feel like longtime friends, they’re still finding new reasons to be grateful.
