Saint Mary's Volunteers

FROM THE RUSSELLVILLE COURIER: MAY 10, 2015

Making an impact through 40 years of volunteering

For nearly 40 years, a familiar face has greeted patients with flowers, read get well cards and offered assistance to those entering Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

It’s a sense of helping another that keeps Delphine Zydzik volunteering at the hospital. It’s a role she filled for nearly 6,000 hours.

Although not a native of Russellville, Zydzik said she feels at home at Saint Mary’s. She began volunteering at the hospital in November 1975, when a nurse asked if she would like to help during her spare time.

Almost 40 years later, Zydzik has served as the past president of the auxiliary group and the nominating, scrapbook and media, phone and tray favors committees, in addition to implementing the sunshine committee, which sends cards to those in the group.

“I figure if I do a favor for one person a day, it makes me happy,” Zydzik said. “My favorite part of volunteering is making someone else happy.”

Zydzik and her husband, James, moved to the Arkansas River Valley from Milwaukee in June 1975 to aid in the construction of the Hackney Ladish facility. Now with two married sons, two grandsons and a great-granddaughter, Zydzik said she finds joy in helping those in her adoptive community.

“I kept meeting different people. I would open mail, read cards, stop by to say hello,” Zydzik said. “I’ve made a lot of good friends at the hospital.”

Among all the roles she filled during volunteering, Zydzik said she has most enjoyed watching newborn babies. She was called one day to watch a young girl whose mother was at work and whose father was active in military service. She spent eight hours with the patient and made a personal connection. That connection is one Zydzik said she will continue to foster as long as she can.

“I will continue to do this as long as I can,” Zydzik said. “Saint Mary’s has been good to me.”

Zydzik’s compassion for her role as a volunteer is evident in those she works with. Although new to volunteering at Saint Mary’s, Linda Jones said she has already made a friend in Zydzik.

“She always has a smile and has been very nice to me and those we help,” Jones said. “She’s a very pleasant person to work with.”

Volunteer Coordinator Diana Herrera said Zydzik’s volunteer effort is second to none.

“She has always strived to be actively involved with the volunteer duties since becoming a volunteer in 1975. You can ‘set your watch’ by her schedule. If she’s scheduled to work, you can bet she’s here,” Herrera said. “To say she is dependable is an understatement. We are very fortunate to have Delphine and all her knowledge here at Saint Mary’s as one of our wonderful volunteers.”