Tonya Bassett Honored with Wayne N. Ladouceur Award

Tonya Bassett, an LPN with United Helpers for more than 15 years was honored with this year’s Wayne N. Ladouceur Award. The award is presented annually to an employee who exemplifies traits exhibited by Mr. Ladouceur, including, giving generously of one’s self, the ability to see beyond one’s own needs, a strong personal drive to provide the utmost in care, the ability to feel and express empathy, and exuding a love for life. From left, Jason and Grayson Ladouceur, Mrs. Bassett, Cheryl Ladouceuer, and Cristen (Ladouceur) Halladay.

OGDENSBURG – A LPN known for her “Always Caring” nature both in and out of the facility has been recognized as the winner of this year’s Wayne N. Ladoucuer Award.

Tonya Bassett, of Canton, has been an LPN with the organization for more than 15 years.

A colleague of Mrs. Bassett’s, Amber Curtis, a RN who works with Mrs. Bassett at Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton nominated her for the award. A letter of support was provided by Pam Sherburne, whose husband is a resident who receives care from both Mrs. Bassett and Mrs. Curtis.

The Ladouceur family chose the criteria for the award, picking traits exhibited by Mr. Ladouceur and things he was known for, not just in the United Helpers family, but also across the entire city of Ogdensburg. That criteria includes giving generously of one’s self, the ability to see beyond one’s own needs, a strong personal drive to provide the utmost in care, the ability to feel and express empathy, and exuding a love for life.

Those are all areas where Mrs. Bassett excels, both at work and at home.

Giving a specific example, Mrs. Curtis wrote about how Mrs. Bassett temporarily took on care of some children from a family member in need.

 “Tonya went above and beyond caring for those kids as if they were her own,” Mrs. Curtis wrote. “She bought their school clothes and supplies, took them to doctors and dentist appointments, threw big birthday parties for them and even went to their parent teacher conferences. She did all of this without even batting an eye.”

Mrs. Sherburne highlighted several examples of Mrs. Bassett’s dedication to the residents, including coming in on “days off,” staying late on shifts when they’re short staffed, or even providing assistance to families after hours.

“After working an overnight shift she volunteered to help me take my husband to have a test done at the hospital. Anyone else would have taken their exhausted body home to get some sleep,” Mrs. Sherburne wrote. “Since the very first day my spouse moved into United Helpers, Tonya has provided me with the confidence that he would be in good hands and well cared for.”

The Wayne N. Ladouceur Award was created in memory of and in honor of Mr. Ladouceur, a longtime United Helpers volunteer, board member and former board president. The award is funded through an endowment with the Northern New York Community Foundation created by Mrs. Ladouceur and more than 80 of the Ladouceurs’ friends and family.

Each year at the award’s presentation Cheryl Ladouceur, who was married to Wayne for more than 50 years, talks about the relationship Mr. Ladouceuer had with United Helpers and its residents.”

“From what I can tell, Mrs. Bassett is very much like my husband in the way that she often puts those in need ahead of themselves,” she said. “If Wayne ever had the opportunity to meet her, I’m sure he would have liked her very much.”

Mrs. Bassett was chosen for this year’s award from a group of nominees that also included Housing Specialist Diana Dancause and ACT Program Assistant Nora Hance.

“I know for a fact that this year we had three very strong candidates for this award,” said COO Stacey Cannizzo. “Being nominated for this award is an honor in and of itself.”

Among this year’s nominees for the Wayne N. Ladouceur Award was United Helpers Housing Specialist Diana Dancause, of Russell. She was nominated for the honor by Housing Manager Tara Beckstead and Admissions Coordinator Macaula Drake. From left, Ms. Beckstead, Housing Director Beth Snyder, Mrs. Dancause, and Ms. Drake.

This year’s nominees for the Wayne N. Ladouceur Award included ACT Program Assistant Nora Hance, of Ogdensburg. She was nominated for the award by ACT Team Leader Amy Chisolm and Director of Behavioral Health Services David Nelson. Front row, Mrs. Hance; back row, from left, Ms. Chisolm, Assistant Director of Behavioral Health Services Breanne Snyder, and Mr. Nelson. 

Sharpe Honored with Ladouceur Award

OGDENSBURG – One of United Helpers’ longest tenured employees was also recognized recently as one of its best, with the presentation of the annual Wayne N. Ladouceur Award to Sheri L. Sharpe.

Mrs. Sharpe, of Richville, has been an LPN with the organization for 43 years, earning a reputation, not only as one of United Helpers’ best nurses, but as one of the best nurses in the area.

United Helpers Management Company Board of Directors member Nancy Rehse submitted the nomination, which also contained a letter of support from Program Leader Paul A. Linden, written on behalf of the staff at the Rensselaer Falls IRA.

Ms. Rehse knows firsthand the impact Mrs. Sharpe has on the lives of program members and their families. Her son, Jason resides at the Pleasant Valley IRA.

“Sheri stays at the hospital with us long past her work hours. She has given me her phone number and assures she is always available to talk, and she always has been. She has never failed to answer a call or text, even in the evening or on weekends when she is not on duty.” Ms. Rehse said. “She certainly does all of this on her own. She seems to be everywhere, helping everyone. She is a Godsend.”

The Ladouceur family chose the criteria for the award, picking traits exhibited by Mr. Ladouceur and things he was known for, not just in the United Helpers family, but also across the entire city of Ogdensburg. That criteria includes giving generously of oneself, the ability to see beyond one’s own needs, a strong personal drive to provide the utmost in care, the ability to feel and express empathy, and exuding a love for life.

Those are all areas where Mrs. Sharpe excels.

Citing a specific example, Mr. Linden recalled an evening from two years ago when Mrs. Sharpe was on vacation.

“I received a phone call at 2 a.m. while covering a midnight shift. The call was from another IRA letting me know they were sending a program member to the hospital. Already short staffed, I placed a dreaded middle of the night phone call to Sheri,” he said. “I wasn’t dreading it, because I was afraid of waking her up, nor was I worried about bothering her while she was on vacation. I was worried because I knew if I called her, she would get up and proceed directly to the hospital, which is exactly what she did. She went to help that night because that’s who she is and that’s what she does.”

The Wayne N. Ladouceur Award was created in memory of and in honor of Mr. Ladouceur, a longtime United Helpers volunteer, board member and former board president. The award is funded through an endowment with the Northern New York Community Foundation created by Mrs. Ladouceur and more than 80 of the Ladouceurs’ friends and family.

Sheri L. Sharpe, a 43-year United Helpers employee was honored with this year’s Wayne N. Ladouceur Award. The award is presented annually to an employee who exemplifies traits exhibited by Mr. Ladouceur, including, giving generously of one’s self, the ability to see beyond one’s own needs, a strong personal drive to provide the utmost in care, the ability to feel and express empathy, and exuding a love for life. From left, Vice President of Human Resources Michelle Matthews, Program Leader Paul Linden, Mrs. Sharpe, Director of Residential Services Kim George, Chief Operations Officer Stacey Cannizzo, and Management Company Board of Directors member Nancy Rehse.

Leonard Honored with Ladouceur Award

 OGDENSBURG – During the course of his more than three decades of volunteer service to United Helpers, Wayne N. Ladouceur acquired many knick-knacks that came as gifts from residents who wanted to say, “thank you,” for all that he had done for them.

 One of those gifts was a small plaque with the words, “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, for all the people you can, for as long as you ever can.” on it. 

That quote from British theologian John Wesley will now hang on the wall in Robin Leonard’s office at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton for the remainder of her career. Ms. Leonard currently works as a staff development assistant, after beginning her career at United Helpers as a CNA 27 years ago. She has worked in staff development for the past 17 years.

That plaque, along with another announcing her as the winner of the 2022 Wayne N. Ladouceur Award, were recently presented to Ms. Leonard at a ceremony held on what would have been Mr. Ladouceur’s 79^th birthday.

Mr. Ladouceur’s wife of 53 years, Cheryl, made the presentation before an audience that included the couple’s three adult children, friends of the Ladouceurs, and friends and co-workers of Ms. Leonard.

Criteria for the award include giving generously of one’s self, the ability to see beyond one’s own needs, a strong personal drive to provide the utmost in care, the ability to feel and express empathy, and exuding a love for life.

These are all areas where those who know Ms. Leonard say she excels.

“It never seems like Robin is concerned about her own needs. It is always about what is best for the residents and other staff,” wrote United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton Vice President of Operations Timothy Parsons in his nomination. “She is the role model that everyone strives to emulate or look to for guidance. She is unwavering in her support of United Helpers and the residents we care for. She has taught me far more than I could ever teach her.”

The Ladouceur family chose the criteria for the award, picking traits exhibited by Mr. Ladouceur and things he was known for, not just in the United Helpers family, but also across the entire city of Ogdensburg.

Each nomination must also include an additional letter of support from someone other than the nominator. Ms. Leonard’s nomination was so supported amongst her coworkers, that her nomination packet included three such letters.

“The definition of teamwork is Robin Leonard,” wrote Brenda Jones, who once worked under Ms. Leonard as a task aide, but retired in 2021 as the secretary to the administrator. “I have seen her helping in every department from the extra hours she put in working in laundry, housekeeping, dietary, shoveling the snow, salting the sidewalks, and of course helping the nursing staff. Words cannot describe her dedication and commitment. She would just say, ‘It’s all in a day’s work.’”

Other letters of support also came from Medical Records Office Technician Patricia David and Activities Director Dawn Kimble.

The Wayne N. Ladouceur Award was created in memory of and in honor of Mr. Ladouceur, a longtime United Helpers volunteer, board member and former board president. The award is funded through an endowment with the Northern New York Community Foundation created by Mrs. Ladouceur and more than 80 of the Ladouceurs’ friends and family.

Merrifield Honored with Wayne N. Ladouceur Award

OGDENSBURG – One of the highest compliments any nurse or caregiver can receive is, “you’re the kind of person I would want caring for my parents.”

That’s a compliment received by this year’s Wayne N. Ladouceur Award winner, Robert “Bob” Merrifield, a long-time LPN at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Ogdensburg.

At the close of this year’s presentation, which was held in front of a small audience made up of Mr. Merrifield’s family and co-workers, United Helpers Vice President of Development Christa Carroll shared the sentiment which was passed to her by a member of the nominations review committee.

Mr. Merrifield received two nominations for the award, one from Director of Nursing Brittany Thornton, and another from his nurse supervisor Marie Woods. 

CEO Stephen Knight, Robert Merrifield, & Cheryl Ladouceur

Criteria for the award includes giving generously of one’s self, the ability to see beyond one’s own needs, a strong personal drive to provide the utmost in care, the ability to feel and express empathy, and exuding a love for life.

These are all areas where those who know Mr. Merrifield say he excels.

“One of Bob’s greatest qualities is his generosity,” wrote Mrs. Thornton in her nomination. “I have worked with Bob since 2013 and have witnessed this on many occasions.”

When a co-worker was studying for her GED exam, Mr. Merrifield tutored her, on his own time, to help ensure she would pass the test. When another co-worker’s home was lost in a fire, he was the first person to suggest, and establish a fundraiser to assist her and her family.

Another time, several employees shaved their heads in support of a co-worker with cancer. Mr. Merrifeld was one of the first to participate.

More recently, employees of the facility were fit-tested for N-95 respirators to allow them to work with resident whom had COVID-19. Mr. Merrfield typically sports a “chinstrap,” however, his facial hair was interfering with the mask’s ability to provide a proper seal on his face.

“Bob was unable to secure the seal the first few times, so I told him we would try again later. A short time later, he returned to my office after going into the bathroom and shaving his facial hair. He said, ‘I’m ready now,’” Mrs. Thornton recalled. “While many people were scared about the possibility of being exposed to the virus, Bob was determined to be there for his residents.”

Mr. Merrifield has been a nurse in the United Helpers family for 30-plus years. He resides in Heuvelton with his wife. He has two grown daughters.

Mr. Ladouceur’s wife, Cheryl, chose the criteria for the award picking traits exhibited by her husband and things he was known for, not just in the United Helpers family, but also across the entire city of Ogdensburg.

Each nomination must also include an additional letter of support from someone other than the nominator. 

In her letter, Bobbi Jo Holmes noted that Mr. Merrifield works in the building’s dementia unit, something that requires patience, caring, and a special set of skills.

“He is one of the most caring and generous people I have ever known. He is always there for his co-workers, and his residents. He is very deserving of this honor,” she wrote.

The Wayne N. Ladouceur Award was created in memory of and in honor of Mr. Ladouceur, a longtime United Helpers volunteer, board member and former board president. The award is funded through an endowment created by Mrs. Ladouceur and more than 80 other friends and family members.

Video of the presentation may be viewed at, https://youtu.be/9aSRqDTdin4.