PITTSTON — After 23 years at the helm of Greater Pittston’s Meals on Wheels program, Louise Smith decided to accept one final donation, hand out one final meal and retire.
Even though she is six months away from her 89th birthday, Smith wasn’t necessarily ready to throw in the towel. In the last year, she has faced vision issues, forcing her to stop driving and eventually move from her longtime residence in West Pittston to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Jill Ann and Mark Space in Forty Fort.
When Smith took the head job at Meals on Wheels, she said early on she would retire at the age of 85.
“I always thought I would try and hit 85. I figured once I got to be 85, that would be enough and give someone else a chance,” Smith said. “But come 85, I was feeling pretty chipper so I figured I’d give it another week.”
Smith succeeded Margaret Sothern who retired at the age of 80. Smith said she wanted to work 10 years past Sothern’s tenure, nearly reaching her goal.
“I never dreamed of being here for 23 years but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Smith said at her recent retirement party held May 5 at Meal on Wheel headquarters at Main Street. “It was such a fulfilling experience.”
The party was thrown by her coworkers in the dining room, sometimes storage room, at the organization’s headquarters.
Lois McHugh, 66, of Hughestown, has been filling in for Smith during the last two months of her medical absence, stating, “It’s been a learning experience and she did a lot of work. She’s a wonderful lady and has been very easy to work with and she’s not afraid to tackle anything. I’ll miss her.”
McHugh, who has been working side-by-side with Smith for her entire tenure, is expected to be approved by the board to take over, bringing with her 25 years experience.
Smith has been no stranger to service being a longtime member of the West Pittston’s Women’s Club and the West Pittston Library. The room where her retirement was held was adorned by hats, which Smith, a member of the Red Hat Society, loves to wear.
In her retirement speech, she thanked all those who made the journey, including her three children, Jackie (Columbus, Ohio), Jill Ann Space (Forty Fort) and Jamey (Deltona, Florida). Also present besides friends and coworkers were many of her grandchildren and other relatives.
“This has been a big part of her life and it’s been very good to her and it’s kept her young,” Jamey Smith said. “We’re going to try to keep her active and bring her down to Florida for a little while. It’s time and she’s mentally ready (to retire).”
Along with being greeted by many well-wishers throughout the afternoon reception, Smith was given proclamations by PA State Reps. Michael Carroll and Aaron Kaufer, which were read by Tony Grieco.
“I am blown away by it,” Smith said of her retirement party. “These girls (Meals on Wheels coworkers Paula Connors, Linda Falzone, Lois McHugh) worked so hard to put this together; this place look like wedding reception.
