It was a bittersweet end to the summer season as Wesbury celebrated the retirement of two long-time staff members with a collective 97 years of dedication, compassion and service from the Grace Rehabilitation and Health Center Dietary Department. Janice Drake and Jeanette Wilhelm, who are also lifelong friends, started about two years apart, Janice’s first day was August 27, 1974, and Jeanette’s first day was June 6, 1977; 50 years for Janice and 47 years for Jeanette. Together, they have experienced many changes at Wesbury and have more stories to share than we can imagine.
According to Janice, they have worked for six different Dietary supervisors and too many co-workers to count. When they started the dress code was white uniforms, which they both said were the worst. But times change, and they like the Wesbury polo shirts they wear today. They also like the Grace kitchen renovations from a few years back as compared to the original area which was much smaller with dated equipment.
When reminiscing, they talk about working on the Wesbury floats for the Halloween Parade. Jeanette says, “It was so much fun to get together with co-workers from different areas and some of their family members.” “Plus, we won a lot of trophies for our hard work!” says Janice.
Janice retired at the end of August and Jeanette followed in September. It’s fitting their retirement dates were close together because working side-by-side they became lifelong friends. To the point where when talking about the years they spent at Grace, they ended up talking about the amount of traveling they have done together over the years since they met in Grace Dietary. Janice and Jeanette have vacationed together in Jamaica, Hawaii, and even took a road trip out west where to bide the time on their journey, they made up a game of listing all the residents at Wesbury and what their room numbers were. Proving no matter where they went, Wesbury went with them.
“The residents are the real highlight to working at Wesbury, their smiles make all the work worth it.” says Jeanette. Janice adds, “There are so many special residents, and I will miss them.” Wesbury is really going to miss Jeanette and Janice too.
When asked about their future plans, they say a little rest and relaxation is on the horizon, and they are looking forward to more travel adventures. They added that this won’t be the last Wesbury sees of them as they are going together with the Wesbury Travelers to New York City in December.
We cannot begin to express our gratitude to these dedicated and compassionate individuals who gave Wesbury and the residents so many years of care and service. They take with them a wealth of knowledge, memories and a shared history that most at Wesbury will never experience. Wesbury has grown and evolved immensely over the past 50 years, and they were there through it all. We wish them health and every happiness in the years ahead!
