Wednesday Coffee at Marsh House: A Resident Story

Suzee will tell you that she was the first resident at Marsh House Apartments in Waterbury, Vermont. “Or one of the first,” she’ll add, “but I was there on the first day to sign my lease.”

A retired nurse, Suzee moved to Vermont from Ohio to help care for her grandchildren. Once they went to college, it was time for Suzee to decide where her life journey would go next.

“I’m not a sitter,” she explains. “I want to be doing something. I love helping people—I still have the same heart I did when I was a nurse. So I thought this seemed like the place to be.” Located right in the center of town at 51 South Main Street—and within walking distance to almost all the amenities Waterbury has to offer—Marsh House offered Suzee just what she was looking for: a place to stay active, connected, and involved.

When she signed her lease in the summer of 2026, Suzee expected to enjoy living at Marsh House. What she did not expect is that she would meet her new best friend, Ann, just a hallway away.

Suzee and Ann are both in their 80s. They grew up just an hour away from one another in Ohio, knew some of the same people, and both moved to Vermont to care for their grandchildren. But they met for the very first time this summer as residents of Marsh House.

“Somehow, we are meant to be friends,” says Suzee. Ann agrees.

Ann is a retired writing professor and a long-time supporter of Marsh House Apartments. Before Marsh House even broke ground in 2024, Ann attended community meetings in Waterbury to advocate for the project. “We need more affordable housing,” says Ann. “Workers can’t afford to live here.”

When Ann met Suzee, the pair hit it off immediately. Ann believes Marsh House, and the unique connections it cultivates, helped make their friendship possible. “The atmosphere [at Marsh House] nurtures community,” says Ann. “People here are not afraid to say ‘hello’ and be kind and helpful.”

All summer, Ann and Suzee met in one of their apartments every Wednesday for a cup of coffee. It’s a tradition now—a routine turned ritual that keeps them anchored.

Downstreet’s Washington County Resident Coordinator, Jane Paronto, joins them for a chat most Wednesdays.

Resident Coordinators are vital to Downstreet and our residents. As a part of Downstreet’s Supportive Services team, Jane works to help participating residents access benefits and increase overall well-being. She and other Resident Coordinators create opportunities for community engagement through events, one-on-one chats, and small group activities.

“One of the questions I get asked most often is ‘what does a Resident Service Coordinator do?’ The simple answer is that I connect people to resources and assist in solving problems that could interfere with a resident's tenancy. But that is just one piece of the role,” says Jane. “For places like Marsh House that are new, I am working on building relationships. These relationships are not just between me and the residents, but between individual residents in order to create community.”

The result is an environment that promotes unity and inclusion.

“Jane is amazing,” says Suzee, “She puts people together in her own way.”

“Jane’s presence is nurturing,” explains Ann. “She creates community, she’s helpful, and she has ideas.”

The Marsh House trio have been busy at work trying to create even more opportunities for community. Over their weekly cup of coffee, they bring their best ideas to the table. So far, they’ve discussed creating a community bulletin board, a book club, a shelf for free items, and a shelf for communal board games. Suzee hosted a pumpkin painting event for the kids living at Marsh House, and the trio handed out candy on the front porch on Halloween.

Better yet, the coffee hour that brought them all together now happens in the Marsh House community room so that anyone can join.

“We want to make a community here,” says Suzee. “I’ve been alone a long time. I love being around all kinds of people here at Marsh House.”

Community can mean the difference between a place and a home. For folks who live in Marsh House like Suzee and Ann, community means everything.