Concordia salutes 40-year employee for service
JEFFERSON TWP — President and CEO Keith Frndak proclaimed the week of Sept. 2 as Marysue Hitchens Week at Concordia in recognition of her 40 years of service.
Hitchens of Saxonburg turned 19 on Sept. 3, 1978, and began her work at Concordia at Cabot — a career that has lasted 40 years.
And it's not over yet according to the nursing assistant turned housekeeping supervisor in the Lund Care Center Skilled Nursing floor.
“She continues to serve at Concordia with dedication and makes our organization better by her presence,” said Frndak.
Living right up the road, she chose Concordia after graduating from Knoch High School.
“I love my residents and do all I can to make their life a little easier,” she said. “My advice to my team — if a resident needs an extra five minutes, stay with them because they might not be here tomorrow.”
Hitchens was drawn to Concordia because she wanted to work with the elderly and has established countless relationships with residents over the four decades she has devoted to the organization.
One of seven children (her sister also works at Concordia) she has been a member of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company for 40 years as well. She first volunteered as an EMT and now she and her husband, Herb, serve as fire police.
Marysue lost her first husband of five years to rheumatic fever.
She remembers how Concordia Chaplain Jack Hartman sat with her that day and credits the family atmosphere with her long tenure.
“This is an excellent place to work,” she told the staff at Lund as they gathered around her when she was presented with a piece of glass etched with her name and her years of service. Laughter rippled through the crowd when she recommended they “strive for 40!”
When she's not at work or at the fire hall, she and Herb and their two Shelties, Suzie and Buddy, enjoy camping in Slippery Rock or Benezette in Elk County. They have a travel trailer and a motor home so when the children and grandchildren are along there's plenty of room.
Marysue plans to work for at least three more years and said “I come every day and do my best.”
