RESIDENT LIFE

Past Events

Celebrating 125 Years: Spirit of Heritage

The Danish Home kicked off its 125th Anniversary Celebration with a delicious luncheon event at the Hyatt Renaissance in Schaumburg and a focus on heritage. The Danish Home founder Emma Thorsen “came alive” through a fine portrayal by Karen Petersen in the dress of the day, while Chantelle Lingerie CEO and friend of The Danish Home Sonja Winther inspired us in her keynote address. John Thorsen, who discovered his great-great grandmother Emma Thorsen through our blog, The Hope Chest, and his family were our special guests. Wonderful raffle and auction prizes were also part of the day. Many thanks to The Danish Home Women’s Auxiliary for planning and hosting this event, our generous raffle and auction sponsors, and all who attended.

Celebrating 125 Years: Spirit of Family

A great time was had by all at this family-friendly 125th Anniversary Celebration event on a beautiful summer afternoon and evening. 1,000 people of all ages enjoyed Danish and American food and beverages, games, rides, face painting, balloon art, live entertainment, raffle prizes, activity tents and, in the evening, casino games and fire dancers. Special thanks to all who came out to celebrate our 125th anniversary with us and to our faithful sponsors and volunteers.

Sommerfest Sizzled

Sommerfest was a sizzlin’, steamy event but that didn’t stop over 1,000 people from joining the fun in The Danish Home garden. The kids loved the games, petting zoo and everyone loved the music, magicians and wonderful Danish treats.

Fall Fest at The Danish Home

Combine 2,000 frikadellers (Danish meatballs), 500 guests, dozens of Danish food, craft & gift items and mix well! Imagine making thousands of frikadellers by hand. If you were one of the more than 500 guests at this year’s November 6 Fall Fest — not including residents and staff — you saw and tasted the delicious results.

Chef Roger Sukhu and The Danish Home’s hardworking culinary team made more than 2,000 of these tasty Danish meatballs. More then 40 volunteers helped serve them up to eager guests along with red cabbage, boiled potatoes, cucumber salad, rolls and rødgrød (fruit pudding) with cream.

In order to accommodate everyone, there were three seatings in The Danish Home’s beautiful dining and gathering rooms. Before or after their dinner seating, guests shopped for Danish and Christmas-themed gifts at special booths. These items included baked goods, sausages, jellies, jams, handmade quilts, crafts made by residents and other gift items.

According to festival chair Esther Sorensen, the event always draws hundreds from the Midwest, including many who’ve had a family member or friend at The Danish Home.

“For many, Fall Fest is nostaligic. They want their children and grandchildren to know something of the Danish heritage. And frikadeller is the Danish national dish,” she said. “Seeing all the people is amazing. And working with such a wonderful, willing crew makes it run smoothly.”

Board president Jeff Anderson agreed.

Garden Party at The Danish Home

The weather cooperated perfectly as The Danish Home hosted its Garden Party in summer. Guests and residents strolled the grounds, toured the campus and enjoyed refreshments in the beautiful garden at The Danish Home, 5656 N. Newcastle Avenue in Chicago.

Musical entertainment was provided by Chicago Outskirts, a seventeen piece jazz ensemble comprised entirely of women from the Chicago area. The attendees at the event included visitors to The Danish Home, who are interested in learning more about the warm and hospitable senior retirement community. These guests had the opportunity to visit with current residents and have a tour of the community.

“This was a great opportunity for us to show off much of what’s best about The Danish Home; our friendly and vibrant residents; gracious facility and engaging resident life, not to mention the fabulous creations by our very own chef,” said Scott Swanson, executive director of The Danish Home.