Mary Humphry had been attending programs and classes at the Brooklyn Park Senior Center last year, but stopped because she was depressed about the death of one of her children.

It was only recently the Brooklyn resident returned, lured by a computer class. She found more than learning to use the Internet or other software, though. She found a community of friends that has helped each other get through difficult events like cancer surgeries and other deaths of family members.

"We know when someone isn't here: Are they all right?" Humphry said of what she and the other seniors ask each other. "I think it makes...