Sisters separated for four decades reunite to live out their final years together in Tulsa

We often come across stories of family reunions taking place after decades for various reasons. But these two sisters have decided to reunite to spend their old age together. The siblings, originally from Oklahoma, were living completely different lives for forty years until they realized the importance of bonding and staying connected. Jill and Marcy Clements moved back to Tulsa, the city where their story started, according to Newsweek. Both independent women, who made their mark in their respective industries, could not resist the idea of returning to their roots after witnessing the world turn upside down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before their reunion, Jill and Marcy took time to plan out their retirement years. The siblings, now aged 68 and 72, decided to spend the rest of their lives together in a cohousing community named Heartwood Commons. Notably, Tulsa’s self-proclaimed first cohousing community is home to many seniors like them. Some people may flinch in dread at the idea of living with their siblings as they get older, but for the Clements sisters, it is the perfect living arrangement.

“We had a woman visit just the other day, and she’s like, I need powdered sage. She put that out on a text and another woman who was at the store at that moment read it and asked, ‘What kind do you want?’ She hand-delivered it like three doors away and we went to a party last night and ate what they cooked, so it’s almost like a dormitory,” Marcy said, per the outlet. The friendly neighborhood at South Quincy Avenue offers support to seniors through its engaging and proactive community. Additionally, residents at Heartwood Commons benefit from owning their private, independent homes connected with a common house. They often meet for lunches, indulge in recreational activities and enjoy heartfelt conversations.

Marcy reportedly felt nostalgic for her college days when she first witnessed the strong and self-governing community. Like many others, the siblings are the owners of two fully furnished and separate homes, enjoying the perks of privacy and communal living. Prior to this, Jill worked as a social worker for nearly 40 years in Southern California. In contrast, Marcy pursued a successful career as an artist in her home state. The single and childless siblings felt a void in their lives during the pandemic years. Emphasizing how it was a turning point for them, Jill told the outlet, “I survived COVID and really felt the extreme isolation and loneliness. So when that was over, it was time to come back to Tulsa. It was just a matter of finding the kind of living condition that I wanted.”

The sisters explored 32 different houses in and around Tulsa before deciding on Heartwood Commons, which was still under construction at the time. Marcy shared, “What made her (Jill) decide was obviously this beautiful, nice neighborhood with community. She had brought her checkbook and just signed on, so we were very happy to know that all the sisters would be back in Oklahoma.” As part of their upbringing, the siblings were consistently taught by their mom to be independent and self-supporting.