Office for the Aging honors outstanding senior volunteers in Orleans County

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Thaddeus Nauden receives congratulations from Melissa Blanar and a proclamation from Assemblyman Stephen Hawley after being selected by the OFA office staff as “Volunteer of the Year.”

KNOWLESVILLE – Seniors from across Orleans County filled the Trolley Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fair on Friday to celebrate the annual Senior Jubilee and recognize three outstanding volunteers.

The morning began with introduction of Orleans County Office for the Aging staff by director Melissa Blanar. They are Meghan Bevins, assistant director; Samantha Koons, Becky Karls, Kathleen Bates, Cierra Tiede, Jacklyn Taylor, Lisa Boyle and Eileen Ryan.

OFA Advisory Council members present were Diane Daum, David Gaudioso and Leanne Donovan. Also introduced were Kelly Anstey from the Arc GLOW Nutrition Program; Assemblyman Stephen Hawley, Skip Draper on behalf of Senator Rob Ortt; Legislator John Fitzak, who shared a proclamation for Older Americans Month; and the county’s chief administrative officer, Jack Welch.

Next, entertainment was presented by the Holley Junior-Senior Select Choir, directed by Kelly Marzano and accompanied by senior Jax Dyson. Soloist was Isla Schultz, a junior. Dyson was also featured with electric guitarist Aidan Kelley, a junior.

(Left) Melissa Blanar, director of the Orleans County Office for the Aging, smiles as Outstanding Older Adult of the Year nominee Annette Grillo-Finch gets a kiss from Assemblyman Stephen Hawley during the annual Senior Jubilee at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on Friday. (Right) Jean Wetherbee, center, of Medina is congratulated by Melissa Blanar and presented with a proclamation from Assemblyman Stephen Hawley as the OFA’s nomination for Outstanding Older Adult of the Year.

Each year the State Office for the Aging requests nominations for a representative for the Outstanding Older Adult Award to represent each county in Albany, said Orleans County Office for the Aging director Melissa Blanar.

Two individuals were nominated for the award – Jean Wetherbee of Medina and Annette Grillo-Finch of Albion.

Wetherbee was nominated by Jeanne Crane, who said Wetherbee has volunteered for 33 years at Medina Memorial Hospital, where she helps with filing. She volunteers at the Senior Center in Medina, where she is treasurer, helps run euchre games and assists with preparing meals for their monthly luncheon. She was a TWIG volunteer for many years and provides transportation to help individuals get to medical appointments. Married to husband David for 67 years and the mother of three children, she has traveled the world and enjoys playing euchre and Liverpool.

She is always the first to offer help in her community, Crane wrote. Wetherbee is dedicated to her church, supporting all its function. She said volunteering keeps her active.

“I was speechless when they called to tell me I had been nominated,” Wetherbee said. “It is a joy to help and assist other people.”

Jax Dyson played the keyboard, while Kelly Marzano, right, directed the Holley Junior-Senior Select Choir during the Senior Jubilee Friday at the Orleans County 4-H Fair’s Trolley Building.

Annette Grillo-Finch is the second nominee, who took the microphone and declared, “I am battling two kinds of cancer, but it will not stop me. I will continue to volunteer.”

Grillo-Finch retired as director of community services at Community Action of Orleans and Genesee after more than 40 years of service. During that time she was honored as The Salvation Army Volunteer of the Year, the Rosemary Fleming Memorial Award presented by the New York Community Action Association, Orleans Chamber of Commerce Award for Community Service, Local American Legion Award for Continued Service and the New York Senate’s “Woman of Distinction” in Albany in 2017.

Organizations which she has dedicated her time to for more than 50 years to the Village of Albion Recreation Committee also has served on the Albion Grievance Committee, Social Justice Committee, Hospice board, Albion Woman’s Prison board, treasurer of The Salvation Army for more than 40 years, the Bereavement committee for Holy Family Church, Job Corps and the Albion Hometown Christmas Parade.

“What I do is not for recognition or awards,” Grillo-Finch said. “I do it from my heart to better families, children and older adults and individuals with disabilities. You feel the satisfaction of helping others, by even doing the smallest act of kindness. The world can use some kindness, so do what you can, where you can and with what you have.”

Aidan Kelly on the electric guitar and Jax Dyson on keyboard play a special duet for seniors at the Senior Jubilee Friday.

One other senior was chosen by OFA office staff as their Volunteer of the Year. That was Thaddeus Nauden, who dedicates his time to the OFA Advisory Council. The council meets bi-monthly and advises on activities, planning, budgeting, outreach for seniors and services for older adults in Orleans County. Terms are for three years, with the ability to seek another three-year term.

Nauden has served the two terms, took a year off and recently completed another two terms, for a total of 12 years. He has served as vice chair and chair of the Council over the years. He has a passion for assisting older adults in the community, Blanar said.

Wetherbee and Grillo-Finch will travel to Albany later this month, where one senior will be announced as the NYS Adult Volunteer of the Year.

Friday’s celebration concluded with lunch by Nutrifair, under the leadership of Nutrition Program coordinator Vicki Havholm.