The banquet site is moved to accommodate the growing list of volunteers.

LEWISTON – Volunteers at Sisters of Charity Health System donated more than 47,000 hours this past year and celebrated their achievements at a recognition and awards program held recently at Bates College. This was the first year the annual recognition event had to be held off site due to a growing roster of 280 active volunteers.

The theme for the evening dinner program was a Hawaiian luau with a special island dinner menu prepared by Bates College Dining Services. Colorful decorations, lei flowers for everyone, Hawaiian music, door prizes and a few daring volunteers doing a hula dance rounded out the evening.

Sally Brochu, director of pastoral care at St. Mary’s, opened the evening with a reflection and leading a special prayer of remembrance for volunteers who died during the year: Laura Fortin, Elizabeth Gentile, Carmen Lagasse, Marilyn Landry, Yvette Marin, Gert Perron, Tillie Mickalide, Carmen Ouellette, Pat Sherman and Thom White.

“You bring a commitment to Sisters of Charity Health System that is remarkable,” said Jim Cassidy, president and CEO of Sisters of Charity Health System, who was present to thank all the volunteers for their ongoing dedication and outstanding efforts.

Also present was Winfield Brown, executive director for the Sisters of Charity Foundation, who spoke about the strengths and opportunities resulting from integrating all volunteers services for the system into one program.

Joyce Paradis, director of volunteer services, reflected on 2002 as a “Year of Volunteer Dedication and Program Growth” with the volunteer roll growing from 155 to 280 volunteers and encompassing d’Youville Pavilion, the Good Shepherd Food Pantry, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and Grieving Children and Teens, a joint program shared by St. Mary’s and Androscoggin Home Health and Hospice.

“Volunteer numbers and hours only tell part of the story,” said Paradis. “Numbers alone cannot begin to tell how meaningful your many kindnesses have meant to our patients and residents, the families and their loved ones whose lives you have touched, and, of course, our employees who you support. You help us carry out and live our mission.”

Newly designed Sisters of Health System recognition pins were presented to 109 volunteers and everyone received a special gift of appreciation. Among those receiving pin awards were the following volunteers who logged varying levels of achievement as of Dec. 31, 2002:

21,000 hours: Pamela Bourgoin, Auburn.

13,000 hours: Dorothy Doyle, Lewiston.

7,000 hours: Eveline Michaud, Lewiston.

6,000 hours:- Sue Renaud, Lewiston.

5,000 hours: David Turcotte, Auburn; Anita Turgeon, Lewiston; Murielle Turmenne, Lewiston.

3,000 hours: Cleo Cortes, Auburn; Onile Francoeur, Lewiston.

2,000 hours: Emile Caron, Lewiston; Adolph and Gisele Gagnon, Auburn; Gerald Jordan, Buckfield; Helen Langelier, Lewiston; Theresa Latulippe, Lewiston; Louise Morgan, Greene; Edith Roberge, Lisbon Falls; Peter St. Onge, Lisbon.

1,000 hours: Amy Audet, Turner; Lori Brown, Canton; Aline Cosgrove, Lewiston; Marlene Crawford, Mechanic Falls; Tina Denis, Lewiston; Amy Dulac, Greene; Nancy Gagnon, Turner; Helene Lepage, Auburn; Gertrude Matthews, Auburn; Millie Roy, Lewiston; Irene St. Pierre, Lewiston; Aline Strout, Lisbon Falls; Jim Sullivan, Auburn; Rita Tremblay, Lewiston; Anita Wohlrab, Auburn.

500 hours: Donna Allen, Lewiston; Julie Bannister, Auburn; Pauline Beaudet, Lewiston; Glenda Bergeron, Harpswell; Anita Boulay, Auburn; Roland Brochu, Auburn; John Clark, Lewiston; Aliette Couturier, Lewiston; Julie Doyon, Turner; Pauline Grenier, Lewiston; Judith Iler, Auburn; Stephanie Jones-Negron, Minot; Susan Lawlor, Auburn; Jackie McLellan, Lewiston; Jena Miller, North Yarmouth; Donna Palmer, Oxford; Connie Pleau, Auburn; Michael Tatosian, Lewiston.

100 hours: Muriel Adams, Auburn; Anita Baribault, Lewiston; Pauline Beaudoin, Lewiston; Rita Beaulieu, Lewiston; Rose Bergeron, Lisbon; Ed Boutennot, Turner; Cecile Brodeur, Lisbon; Anita Chamberlain, Lewiston; Roy Clark, Auburn; Cathy Collins, Auburn; Beth and John Convey, Canton; Silke Cormier, Clinton; Dot Davenport, Greene; Laurette Doyon, Lewiston; Roger Dutil, Lewiston; Cecile Gelinas, Lewiston; Rejane Gosselin, Auburn; Ed Groleau, Livermore; Bea Guimond, Lewiston; Eileen Hangley, Lewiston; Lucille Hobbs, Auburn; Nancy Holler, Auburn; Amanda Katula, Lisbon Falls; Donna King, Lewiston; Jeannette Lacasse, Sabattus; Lionel Landry, Lewiston; Jeannine Laplume, Lisbon Falls; Sr. Rita Lariviere, Lewiston; Jeanne Laurendeau, Lewiston; Charlie Lebrasseur, Lewiston; Bea Lenhert, Turner; Carol Levesque, Durham; Jennifer Marcotte, Auburn; Margaret Marcotte, Lewiston; Rose McCloskey, Lewiston; Kathleen Meehl, Lewiston; Lionel Morency, Lewiston; Guy Nadeau, Lewiston; Jeanne O’Connell, Lewiston; Lorraine Ouellette, Greene; Connie Pelletier, Lewiston; Sr. Rita Pelletier, Lewiston; Wanda Poland, Turner; Fern Pontbriand, Auburn; Herb Robertson, East Livermore; George Rousseau, Lewiston; Joyce and Roger St. Pierre, Auburn; Jan Sites, Lewiston; Frank Steele, Rumford; Sheila Sylvester, Lewiston; Pauline Tardif, Sabattus; Michelle Thibeault, Durham; Joanne Tiner, Leeds; Jon Turner, Greene; Muriel Vachon, Lewiston; Jeannette Vachon, Lewiston; James Wahlrab, Auburn.