An EverTrue Love Tale

Heidi the mini Dachshund knew before anyone that Al and Pam were meant to be.

In 2012 Pam (Winslow) Kennerly and her dog Heidi moved into a patio home at EverTrue Meridian Village, in Glen Carbon, IL. Pam’s mother Bernice had lived at EverTrue Meridian Village since 2000. So, when Pam was widowed and looking for a change, she knew that EverTrue Meridian Village was the place to go for a carefree, active lifestyle.

Al Kennerly moved into an EverTrue Meridian Village patio home in 2014. As a widower, he was hoping to branch out and make some new connections. That’s when he met Heidi and Pam. “I would see Pam and her dog walking. I love dogs. We say that I really went after the dog,” jokes Al.

Heidi was usually a reticent dog who didn’t like most people. “It was very unusual. Heidi was very protective of me and didn’t open up to people, male or female. But with Al, she ran right up to him,” said Pam.

“She had good taste!” Al remarked.

After lots of walks and visits, Al threw caution to the wind and asked Pam if she would accompany him to a movie. “I told her we could go as friends to break up some loneliness together. And she said ‘yes’!” he said. They saw an action movie and had fun. They decided that it wouldn’t be a serious relationship, just a friendship.

“Over time, it became serious,” said Pam.

They married on October 19, 2016, in a simple ceremony at Southern Illinois University (SIU), an alma mater for both, with some close friends and family in attendance.

Upon marrying, they consolidated their lives and Al moved into Pam’s patio home. EverTrue Meridian Village team members made the transition easy!

Pam had no children, but Al has two daughters and four grandchildren. It has been a whole new intergenerational experience that Pam never expected but is cherishing.

“We’ve both been accepted into each other’s families,” said Al.

Together they are enjoying good times and traveling the world by boat, plane, bus and train.

“What’s interesting is that we really don’t have a lot in common, but it works,” said Pam.

“She’s more upper crust, musicals and dance – a glass slipper. I’m more of a Country Western loafer. She takes me to musicals, and I take her to sports. We have a lot of fun,” said Al.

Heidi is no longer with us, but thanks to her discerning judgement, Al and Pam are still going strong after a decade of marriage. To date, they’ve taken 12 bus trips – both across the U.S. and internationally – and enjoyed 12 cruises together, with five more on the calendar, including trips to France and Canada.

They also share their joy of travel by volunteering in EverTrue Meridian Village’s Assisted Living neighborhood, helping plan monthly activities for residents and sharing photos and stories from their adventures.