WOOD RIVER - A local assisted living community held a surprise retirement party for Ms. Connie, a pianist who has performed at the facility for almost 20 years.
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Connie started as a server at High Point Residence in Wood River in 2008. She began to play piano for the residents after she finished her shifts, especially during the holidays or for residents’ birthdays. Last week, staff members asked Connie to come in to play a few holiday songs and surprised her with a retirement party.
“It was awfully nice of them,” Connie said. “They really did get me. I’ve never had anything like that happen in my life.”
Kayla Wentler, the facility’s executive director, explained that Connie recently announced her retirement. While Wentler is excited for Connie to spend more time with her family, including her five great-grandchildren, she said it’s “bittersweet” to say goodbye to someone who has been such a staple for so long.
“Connie is just one of a kind. At her ripe young age, she is just dedicated to helping people,” Wentler said. “She remembers just about everything about everyone and the things they’re going through. She always wanted to be that shining light to make somebody’s difficult day or bad day a little bit better.”
When Connie called Wentler and told her she’d be retiring, the staff and residents decided they needed to do something to celebrate the pianist. They organized a party, complete with punch, cake and presents, to surprise Connie on a day when she was planning to play holiday music for the residents.
Connie laughed remembering that she thought Wentler was “being kind of bossy” when she gave Connie strict orders not to come to the facility earlier than the scheduled time. In reality, Wentler and her team were putting the finishing touches on the party.
Connie walked into a room full of residents and staff members, who were all eager to celebrate her.
“They really pulled one on me,” she said. “It was really nice. They sure didn’t have to do that. It’s a busy time of year and everything, so it was very nice.”
Connie began playing piano at church at age 12, and she often plays at assisted living facilities across the Riverbend. While she is retiring as a server from High Point, she still plans to come back every now and then to provide music for the residents.
Wentler shared that Connie is “like a member of our family” and will be very missed at High Point, but she looks forward to seeing her on occasion and hearing her play when possible. She noted that Connie’s retirement is well-deserved, as she has left a lasting impact on the facility.
“I think we’ve all learned so much from her about what it means to be a good person and a good human in this sometimes crazy, chaotic, sad world that we live in,” Wentler added. “I just want everybody to know that Connie is one of a kind, and we could all stand to be a little bit more Connie-like.”
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