Mount St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center recognizes volunteers for contributing more than 50,000 hours of service

More than 200 volunteers from Mount St. Mary's Hospital and the Mount St. Mary's Child Care Center will be honored at the annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon Thursday, April 21, at the Niagara Falls Country Club.

During 2015, volunteers throughout the organization gave more than 50,000 hours of service. Volunteers represent the American Red Cross, Mount St. Mary's Hospital, "VanGo" drivers, St. Francis Guild, board of associates and the senior companion program.

The fifth annual Outstanding Volunteer Award in Honor of Ruth Woolery will be presented to Margaret "Marge" Mirabelli of the St. Francis Guild. The hospital is also saluting eight individuals as "Special Seniors" who are in their 90s or turning 90 this year. They include Mary Lou Brennan, Lou Campanaro, Ralph Kullmann, Steve LaBarber, Joseph Marra, Barbara McDermott, Lucille Rice and Ceil Ryan.

Individuals recognized for more than 500 hours of service include: Dolores Borowski, Child Care Center foster grandparent; Nancy Christodoulides, surgery hostess; Marilyn Keenan, Child Care Center foster grandparent; Angie Kujawa, gift shop/info. desk; Stephen LaBarber, info. desk; Milton Lindsay, mail cart; Donna Montie, coffee cart/north lobby; Doug Reading, VanGo/EmStar; Lucille Rice, Mount St. Mary's/HANCI senior companion; Jean Rosenberg, SFG gift shop/info. desk/Eucharistic minister; Roland Rosati, north lobby/Eucharistic minister; Dolores Scarfone, EmStar; Joyce Switzer, SFG gift shop; Mary Rose Thomas, gift shop/info. desk; Greta Thompson, SFG gift shop; and Jim Udy, VanGo.

Individuals recognized also included those who have served 20 or more years from Mount St. Mary's are: Kathy Banks (23 years), Dorothy Cicero (22 years), Rosemary Dann (28 years), Margaret Destino
(31 years), Phyllis Eisenman, (22 years), Peter Fatouros (25 years), Jessica Freeman (22 years), Janet Furlong (28 years), Ann Gallagher (21 years), Dennis Horvath (28 years), Milt Lindsay (30 years), Marilyn Lojek (26 years), Arline Loughrey (27 years), Joe Marra (21 years), Elizabeth McGhee, (22 years), Marge Mirabelli (24 years), Sarah Jean Pasek (23 years), Cecilia Ryan (34 years), Barbara Scozzafava (22 years); Phyllis Ibaugh-Specyal (23 years), Joyce Switzer (27 years), Greta Thompson (21 years), Audrey Tower (23 years), Agnes Wakeman (26 years) and Eleanor Zelinski (27 years).

Individuals who reached 20 years of service this year are: Mary Lou Curry and Phyllis Gross.

"Our dedicated volunteers give so much to our patients and their families," said Gary C. Tucker, Mount St. Mary's president and CEO. "From greeting visitors at the main lobby, to escort and delivery and everything in between, they all touch the lives of our patients, staff and physicians. They are very special people."

Volunteers work in many areas of the hospital and also operate the VanGo patient transportation system.

The program also welcomed new volunteers to the organization and said goodbye to volunteers who passed away in 2015.

New volunteers in 2015: Mary Lou Andrews, Claire Cieslewicz, Andrea DiNieri, Edna Dowling, Margaret Ewing, John Gatas, Dorothy Gatto, Rose Harvey, Shirley O'Donnell, Sr. Mary Kay Stahl and Nancy Wojtowicz Retiring volunteers: Mary Lou Brennan, Philo Brooks, Barbara McDermott and Marianne Rampado

For more information on volunteering, call the Mount St. Mary's Hospital volunteer office at 716-298-2144.