ASHBURN, Va — When it comes to family, no one knows us better than the siblings we grew up with. The hours spent playing, fighting, doing chores and everything in between make the time spent under one roof with brothers or sisters a unique bonding experience, but one that most people only encounter during childhood. However, a pair of sisters are experiencing what it means to live under the same roof again at Waltonwood Ashburn, a luxury, family-owned senior living community. Sisters Mollie Boettger, 92, and Nancy Langhorne, 89, have called the community home since 2018, reuniting for the first time since Mollie left their childhood home in Okeechobee in 1951. Since moving to the community, where they can see one another on a daily basis and celebrate life’s biggest moments together, the sisters are closer than ever.

“We were always close as children but became closest in our teenage years,” said Nancy. “Over time, we’ve only grown closer and closer, hitting on all the big moments together. Mollie has definitely taken on the authoritative role, which makes sense as she’s the oldest. The age gap between us is only three years though, so I try not to let her take it to heart.”

The pair has lived a lot of life together and fondly reflects on growing up in their small Florida town filled with cows and cowboys. Their mother was a concert pianist, so there was always classical music playing in the house. It’s no surprise this fostered a love for music, and the pair reminisce fondly about taking piano lessons and performing two annual concerts to a packed school auditorium. It’s these memories that make living at the community together all the more special for Mollie and Nancy now. In addition to their musical talents both sisters are accomplished artists. Today, they can be found participating in ArtMania, a resident-led group that meets weekly. Mollie specializes in intricate pen and ink pieces, while Nancy specializes in color pencil.

“I’d say that our relationship is stronger than ever,” said Mollie. “We enjoy one another’s company and are very lucky to be able to be part of the other’s life. While we love seeing one another daily, like any sisters we do need our own space and being here at Waltonwood Ashburn we’re blessed to have that. The community enables us to be close, but have our own space and apartments. This has enabled us to appreciate the adventures we have all the more.”

“At Waltonwood Ashburn, we believe in the importance of family, and it is an integral aspect of our community,” said Christopher Leinauer, executive director at Waltonwood Ashburn. “We take great pride in being the perfect place for family, and Mollie and Nancy are an incredibly special example of that value. Our siblings see us at our best and worst, they walk with us through life’s biggest moments, and for our community to be a part of Mollie and Nancy’s family is a privilege.”