What Would Bootsie Do? The Woman Behind Aging Gracefully

Remembering Margaret “Bootsie” Beryl on her birthday, October 5

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Before there was Aging Gracefully, there was Bootsie.

For Melanie, founder of Aging Gracefully, her grandmother was much more than a beloved family member. She was a role model, a source of wisdom, a champion, and the inspiration behind the heart and spirit of the work Melanie does today.

On October 5, Melanie's grandmother, Margaret “Bootsie” Beryl, would have celebrated her birthday. It is an opportunity to remember the woman who taught Melanie so much about caring for others, embracing life, and making people feel truly special.

The Heart of a Small Town

Bootsie lived in Zachary, Louisiana, a small town where her family was deeply connected to the community. Her husband was the first doctor in town, and Bootsie became something of a matriarch herself.

Her home sat across the street from the high school, right in the middle of town. For Melanie, her sister and her cousins, it was a place where afternoons unfolded naturally. They would walk to Bootsie's house after school, enjoy a Coke, do their homework, and come and go as they moved between activities.

Her home was also on the parade route, making it the perfect gathering place when the town celebrated. Everyone knew they could find a spot on Bootsie's lawn.

“Her house was grand central station, everyone was always coming and going and knew they were welcome to stop by anytime” Melanie recalls.

Bootsie was the hub of activity. She loved to gather people, plan parties, and welcome friends and family into her home. She was a gracious hostess who knew how to make every occasion feel special.

But her greatest gift was the way she made people feel.

“She had this way of making you feel like you were the most important person in her life,” Melanie says.

Every grandchild would have wagered that they were Bootsie's favorite. And, in a way, they all were. She was intentional about making each person feel seen. She remembered their favorite things, knew what was happening in their lives, and took a genuine interest in the people they cared about.

Even after Melanie moved to St. Louis at age 22, Bootsie remained a constant presence. They spoke on the phone at least once a week. Bootsie remembered the names of Melanie's friends, even those she had never met, and asked about the meals Melanie was cooking for her family. Sometimes, she would even write down the recipes, despite no longer cooking herself.

That was Bootsie. She made people feel treasured.

A Woman Who Embraced Life

Bootsie had a personality all her own. She knew what she wanted, and as she grew older, she was determined to do things her way—and look beautiful doing it.

She was a Southern belle with a love of lipstick, a flair for entertaining, and a reputation as the queen of cooking in her household. She was a wonderful cook, a loyal friend, and someone who always seemed ready for the next adventure.

She and Melanie's grandfather were square dancers, and Melanie remembers joining them on the dance floor. Bootsie loved having fun and was always up for something new.

She also had a practical side and a memorable sense of humor. When her husband was out making house calls, Bootsie used a CB radio to communicate with him. She became something of a call center for the town.

And when she left a message for someone, she signed off with “over and out”—no matter the situation, even years later.

She often answered the phone with “Hello, darling,” a greeting that made everyone feel as though they were her darling.

Bootsie lived to be 97. After her grandmother passed away, Melanie took up dancing, carrying forward a little more of the joy Bootsie had brought into her life.

The Wisdom That Lives On

When Melanie lost her mother at age 22, she leaned into the close relationships she had with her grandmothers and her mother's sister. These women helped guide her through the challenges of adulthood.

Bootsie was her cooking instructor, her practical resource, and one of the people she could turn to when she needed to figure something out.

But the lessons Bootsie offered went far beyond recipes and household advice.

One of her favorite sayings was that if you say no too often, people will eventually stop asking you to do things. Her advice? Say yes. Always say yes.

Melanie took that lesson to heart.

She made a point of embracing opportunities and being open to what life brought her. Looking back, she is grateful for the things she said yes to—and for the way that mindset continues to shape her life.

She also carries Bootsie's example of being a cheerleader for the people around her. Melanie's cousins were all different, but Bootsie encouraged every one of them. She had a gift for making people feel capable, valued, and loved.

Even today, when Melanie faces a decision or a new opportunity, she often finds herself asking a familiar question:

What would Bootsie do?

Bringing Bootsie's Spirit to Aging Gracefully

When Melanie started Aging Gracefully, she knew she wanted her grandmother to be part of it.

Bootsie had left such an important mark on her life that Melanie wanted to carry her influence into the business—not just in name or memory, but in the way Aging Gracefully serves people.

For Melanie, channeling Bootsie means leading with compassion and taking the time to know people on a personal level.

It means being intentional.

Bootsie believed in making people feel welcome, valued, and cared for. Melanie brings that same philosophy to her work with older adults and their families.

And Bootsie's appreciation for beauty and thoughtful details has found a place in Aging Gracefully, too. Melanie considers how to make things beautiful and meaningful, from the company's logo and stickers to welcome baskets and the words used to communicate with clients and families.

For her, beauty isn't just about appearances. It is about thoughtfulness. It is about creating an experience that tells someone, You matter. We took the time to think about you.

That is the kind of care Bootsie modeled throughout her life.

A Legacy of Making People Feel Seen

Bootsie's legacy lives on in the people she loved, the stories she told, the traditions she created, and the way she made everyone around her feel important.

It lives on in Melanie's work, too.

Every time Melanie takes the time to learn someone's story, every time she finds a thoughtful way to make a family feel supported, and every time she asks how something can be done with a little more intention, she is carrying a piece of Bootsie forward.

Bootsie was the woman who made a home feel like a warm embrace. She gathered people together, celebrated their differences, remembered the little things, and encouraged everyone to embrace life.

For Melanie, that is a legacy worth building upon.

And on October 5, as she remembers her grandmother on her birthday, one question will continue to guide her:

What would Bootsie do?

Happy birthday, Bootsie. Your influence is still making the world a little more beautiful.