Cake Baker Makes One-of-a-Kind Cakes for One-of-a-Kind Seniors

Melissa Rodriguez, Aspired Living’s Bistro Culinarian, feels like 75-plus years of life well-lived is something to celebrate! She and her team spend weeks secretly discovering favorite cake flavors, fillings and frostings for each resident at the senior living community, so they can surprise and delight residents on their birthdays with custom, over-the-top party cakes.

“I bake custom birthday cakes to let the residents know just how special and loved they are by me and the entire team,” said Melissa, who has created dozens of unique cakes for Aspired Living of Prospect Heights residents since joining the team a little over a year ago.

For example, Melissa presented Robert, a retired Park Ridge firefighter of 33 years, with a custom cake in the shape of a firefighter helmet with the number 86 on it for his 86th birthday. “The fire helmet cake was a total surprise,” said Marge. “I didn’t even know you could make a cake look like that. Melissa is quite talented!”

Then there was the Chicago Bears-themed cake that Melissa made for diehard fan and Aspired Living resident, Will, that featured orange cake with blue vanilla mousse frosting and 3D football decorations. Will’s son called the sweet surprise a thoughtful gesture and a “real touchdown!”

“The family’s reaction was so amazing,” said Melissa, who discovered her pastry-making talent on the job. The happy, emotional and grateful reactions from residents and their families are “the icing on the cake” that inspires Melissa’s passion to keep creating, experimenting and growing as a baker and a person.

Besides her baking talent, Melissa’s has a gift for making genuine, personal connections with the seniors, which, with the help of her colleagues, enables her to create cakes perfectly matched to each of their personalities and life histories.

Melissa got to know Aspired Living resident, Susan, and her love of the color purple over coffee and chats at Aspired Living’s bistro.

When Susan’s birthday rolled around this past August, Melissa delighted her friend with a beautiful 76th birthday cake frosted with purple, ombre roses. “I was so surprised,” recalled Susan. “When someone does something special like this for you, well, it’s special!”

Susan, Will, Robert and the other Aspired Living seniors are like family to Melissa, who rarely gets to see her own grandparents who live in Mexico. As Melissa puts it, the Aspired seniors are “my USA grandparents.”

Like most “grandparents,” they encourage Melissa to pursue her passion. With their support, Melissa, a resident of Wheeling, recently opened a home-bakery, Luna’s Bon Bons, which is on Instagram at @LunasBonBons.

Susan was one of her first satisfied customers. She ordered a Tres Leches cake for her son-in-law who hails from Spain. By all accounts, the cake was delicious and authentic.

Any extra money that Melissa earns from her side gig helps supply her Aspired Living party fund. In addition to providing the custom cake, she has been known to bring party hats, streamers and birthday sashes to complement the party.

Melissa says that honoring seniors on their birthdays is just another way to show the residents “we love them and are thankful that they are here.” Likewise, Melissa.