Berry Dilley

Dilley had the home fully repainted before she moved in, some walls matching the color of her old house.

Berry Dilley is a 90-year-old Athens Ohio resident. Dilley is incredibly full of life, growth, and wisdom. Dilley said once “Just because someone is old, that doesn’t mean they are wise”. Dilley contradicts her own statement with the knowledge she holds that has come with aging and her experiences. Currently, Dilley is in the process of selling her home of 50 years and moving into a house that is more accessible to her. In the home Dilley is selling she would have to climb up and down the stairs and it is not sustainable for her at this point to continue doing.

Dilley spoke quite a bit about her age and the grief she has endured, she is viewing moving as a “fresh start at 90” Dilley called it. When speaking to Dilley about her age she spoke about how she views age as something that is not strictly biological. Often Dilley feels much younger than she is and when she sees photos of herself now she cannot seem to recognize or place herself as the “old woman” in the photos. In 2008 Dilley’s husband who she had bought the house in the 1970’s passed away, he passed in the house she is selling. Her husband’s passing came right after her mother and sister who both passed in the house as well between 2005-2008. As Dilley began the process of searching for a new home she became a bit hesitant at the thought of leaving what was her home for much of her life, this felt it was a way of abandoning that grief she had carried with her for many years. Packing up this home had started to bring up a lot of grief and heaviness for Dilley. Not only was Dilley moving out of her home, she was also in a sense leaving behind the grief she had endured, so while moving already was a big step it was an even bigger one for Dilley to undertake because it came alongside a mental toll as well. 

Dilley’s room before and after it had been packed up, and her things had been moved to the new house.

Berry Dilley shows off the perfume bottles that were once her mother’s.

Dilley climbs the stairs in her home. Dilley’s bedroom is on the second story of her home. This process of getting up and down is getting more difficult for Dilley as she ages. This is the main reason for Dilley's decision to move, she will be living in a home that is more accessible for her.

Dilley’s living room in the home she plans to sell. Dilley had the same pink painted in her new home.

Dilley prepares food in her new home, she has begun to settle into this space.