PENNEY FARMS — As Penney Retirement Community celebrates its centennial year, it’s important to highlight everything that makes the humble, purposeful community what it is …
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PENNEY FARMS — As Penney Retirement Community celebrates its centennial year, it’s important to highlight everything that makes the humble, purposeful community what it is today.
Two of Penney’s long-serving employees, Helen Tobler and Pam McMullen, are still faithfully dedicated to Penney after more than 48 years.
As not only employees, but sisters, they’ve kept it in the family. And it’s the warm faces, experiences and stability that keeps them coming back.
McMullen began working at Penney as a certified nursing assistant in 1972. Her mother had been working there for 48 years already.
Currently, McMullen is the lead CNA. When she first took the title in 2009, she said it was a foreign concept at the time. Her supervisor pushed her to take on the new role after hearing about it at a seminar.
Tobler works in the maintenance department. Six years after McMullen began, Tobler was approached by a former supervisor, Rev. John Heyman, who asked her to come work for him.
“He taught me a lot of stuff to do and I learned that. I used to sometimes have to drive the residents to town to some of the doctor’s appointments, and I did take them shopping sometimes. And it was a good learning experience.”
She was given the endearing name “Miss Helen.”
Due to their workload, the two sisters said they rarely see each other on campus. Each day, you can find Tobler answering phone calls and carrying out work orders. Meanwhile, McMullen oversees more than 30 CNAs daily at Penney’s Pavilion for Health Care. The facility earned its 12th consecutive Governor’s Gold Seal Award for Excellence in Long-Term Care on April 8.
‘It’s been a great experience.”
Throughout the years, both said they’ve witnessed the campus’ evolutions. From new buildings and expansions to technology upgrades.
When they first began, everything was written by hand. Later, they were introduced to the magic of computers.
“I didn’t know anything about typing or computing. Nothing. I had one resident here…she taught me typing. She came over to the maintenance and taught me some typing,” Tobler said. “And I used to go to her apartment on Saturdays and do some typing.”
For each of them, Penney is a special place. One where people understand each other like no other. They said they’re thankful to both be where they are. Together.
