Jim Culhane, Lake Sunapee Region VNA and Hospice president and CEO stands with Pat Dazet, of New London, after she received Joanne Hughes Volunteer Excellence Award at the nonprofit organization's annual meeting. (Courtesy of Lake Sunapee Region VNA and Hospice)
Jim Culhane, Lake Sunapee Region VNA and Hospice president and CEO stands with Pat Dazet, of New London, after she received Joanne Hughes Volunteer Excellence Award at the nonprofit organization's annual meeting. (Courtesy of Lake Sunapee Region VNA and Hospice) Credit: Courtesy of Lake Sunapee Region VNA and Hospice

Newport — These days, working at the same company for twenty years is considered unusual. But Pat Dazet, of New London, has been showing up for the same job at Lake Sunapee VNA and Hospice for the past two decades, even though she doesn’t get a paycheck.

“I was looking for something to do and this fit wonderfully,” said Dazet, who first started volunteering with the organization around 1992.

She took a few years off to care for her ailing husband, who was receiving hospice care from Lake Sunapee VNA and Hospice, but returned in 1999 and has volunteered weekly since then.

On March 6, Dazet, 88, was received the Joanne Hughes Volunteer Excellence Award at the VNA’s annual meeting. Administrators recognized Dazet’s reliability and dedication over the past two decades.

These days, Dazet goes into the Lake Sunapee VNA Office and Hospice once a week to spend a few hours doing administrative tasks. She says that some people might find the work boring, but that it genuinely interests her.

“I enjoy organizing and fixing things,” she said.

Kelly Felch, recruiter and volunteer coordinator for Lake Sunapee VNA and Hospice, said that administrative volunteers like Dazet take on a range of tasks from filling to mailing that are instrumental to the organization.

“Volunteers like Pat really help us to keep the office workflow running smoothly and efficiently,” she said.

In addition to her volunteer work for the VNA, Dazet also volunteers at the desk and as a driver for the Council on Aging in New London. She says that keeping busy through volunteer work is good for her, and her encourages other seniors to do the same.

“I think it’s good for people to get into something that interests them,” she said. “I think it’s good for people to get involved with something they enjoy.”