October Resident of the Month: Anthony Sciotti

A compassionate life of variety describes Community Homes Resident of the Month Anthony Sciotti of Willow Terrace.

A famous line from the film Forrest Gump says, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.”

Such is the life of our October Resident of the Month, Anthony Sciotti of Willow Terrace, Lebanon.

“First of all, I love living at Willow Terrace”, Anthony says, “The staff and the residents are great. I hope I can spend the rest of my life living here.”

That said, let us look at Anthony’s life journey, which is full of twists, turns, and surprises.

It began 82 years ago, in Lebanon. He is one of six children (3 boys, 3 girls) born to Philip and Elizabeth Sciotti.

The children got their education at Lebanon Catholic School, where Anthony graduated in 1957. He went on the study engineering at Villanova University, which he realized was “not for him” after just one year his real calling at the time was to become a priest. And he followed this path.

Anthony spent seven years in a seminary, and another 4 years studying in Rome and finally he became a parish priest. He discovered that parish life was not for him, and his faith led him to a trial period as a Trappist monk at the Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, Virginia which lasted five years, 1969-1974.

When all was said and done, after much prayer and reflection, he made the decision that he was not meant for the religious life after all.

He shifted his life to Lancaster, Pa to carve out a “normal” life, starting as an apprentice with Lancaster Building Supply. His talent working with numbers led to bookkeeping responsibilities with two different companies. He worked in Lancaster for thirty years.

It was during this time he found true love, in a situation that was somewhat surprising, with a divorced woman fourteen years his senior. But it worked for both and turned into a loving, long marriage that ended when his wife passed away 9 years ago.

A little less than two years ago, he found himself unemployed and facing eviction from his home in Lancaster.

But good fortune, and his faith, led him to a contact at Community Homes and an opportunity to move into a studio apartment at Willow Terrace, in Lebanon, the city where it all began. And that is where Anthony Sciotti is settled, with no thoughts of ever moving again.

Anthony now reflects on the many things he is thankful for.  “Being raised by good parents in a good family, I have a strong moral character, I get along with others, and I like helping people. I recently was a caregiver for a 96-year-old woman who was very glad for the help. I learned to love God and love my neighbor as myself.”