Letters take couple on journey to Anthem

When Carmela Ventre Olvera was serving coffee and doughnuts at a USO canteen in Providence, R.I., in 1941, she had no way of knowing it would begin a journey leading her to Sun City Anthem, Del Webb's age-qualified community in Henderson.

"We had ordinary lives affected by world events," she said about her 56 years with husband, Lupe Olvera.

The two met when Carmela Olvera agreed to be a pen pal to an airman stationed at Camp Edwards, Mass. Since Carmela lived in New England and Lupe was from Texas, she considers their marriage an "East meets West union."

During World War II, Lupe Olvera served in Germany, France, Austria and Africa.

"He participated in many invasions including the Battle of the Bulge," she said.

After the war, they moved to White Sands, N.M., then to California.

"In fact, Lupe worked as a master carpenter for Del Webb when he was constructing commercial buildings like the Beverly Hilton Hotel and the La Brea Tar Pits museum. Del Webb was a true visionary," Olvera said.

The couple will move into their new home in January.

"We researched communities in Arizona and considered moving there, but I have always missed my Italian roots," Carmela Olvera said, noting Nevada's Italian-American population.

"That swayed my vote to move to Sun City Anthem. I'm a city girl and this is a metropolitan place."

The community offers 19 models, ranging from 1,080 to 3,009 square feet. Homes are priced from the high $140,000s to more than $500,000.

"We bought the Anthem model because it is so spacious, and I love the large bank of windows that let plenty of light into the house," Carmela Olvera said.

Community amenities include Anthem Center, which offers fitness, social and recreational opportunities for residents, as well as Trumpets Restaurant and Lounge, which is open to the public.

To visit, take Eastern Avenue south, two miles past St. Rose Parkway, turn left on Anthem Parkway and then turn right on Alexandria Drive. The sales office and models are open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

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