Schenectady Center's Heartfelt Send Off to Two Dedicated CNA's

(ABOVE PHOTO: Left to Right: Retiree Angie Wilkie, Director of Nursing, Margie Coats, Retiree Domenica De Pasquale)

by Jeff Jacomowitz

It's not often that you hear of someone retiring from a company after an outstanding 38 years of service or even 48 years of service. This is exactly what happened on Friday, May 11th at a plaque ceremony inside Schenectady Center on Altamont Avenue. This was the day when Angie Wilkie, a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) retired after 38 years and, on the same day, Dominica De Pasquale, also a CNA, decided to hang it up after her 48 years. Job well done!

Employed at Schenectady Center since the birth of the Rubik's Cube in 1980, Angie Wilkie was first employed by “Help Mates” for four years at Hallmark. The next 38 years, Angie became a permanent employee.

(DON Coats, left, with Angie Wilkie)

As a high school student in Schenectady, Angie was in BOCES to become a nurse, but a chance encounter one day changed all that. Riding in a elevator with her girlfriend, her life changed when a young orderly asked her if she was going up? Angie said yes.....but she really wasn’t. After getting off the elevator with her girlfriend, Angie turned to her friend and said that one day, she will marry that man. One year later to the day, she married James Wilkie. Angie never finished nursing school and she went on to have two children, a grandson and her dedicated career as a CNA. Since then, Angie's husband had passed away and she worked tirelessly dedicating her career to the care of residents.

As a life-long resident of Schenectady, she likes to shop, cook and care for her grandson in her leisure time.

When Dominica De Pasquale applied for employment in 1970, at the age of 16 she wrote, “anything” under the column "Work Desired". Then, a gallon of gas cost 36 cents during the height of the Vietnam War. During this time, Dominica began her lifelong career in health care, beginning at Hallmark, then later at Capital Living, which later became Centers Health Care. So at sixteen and in high school in Schenectady, Dominica worked part-time in the dietary department at Hallmark until she was able to become a certified nursing assistant at the age of 19.

(DON Coats, left, with Dominica De Pasquale)

So for 48 years, Dominica has worked tireless never calling-in or complaining, always dressed impeccable in her dress uniform. She has devoted her life as a CNA to the residents of Schenectady caring and nurturing them.

Although always single and never married as a Schenectady native, Dominica enjoys gardening, painting, sewing and drawing in her leisure time.

"In my 19 years here at Schenectady Center, I feel so blessed to have worked with two legends in our field," said Margie Coats, Director of Nursing at Schenectady Center. "We hope others here follow in their footsteps, the opportunities are here for all. So I wish Angie and Dominica well and an easy and enjoyable retirement."

[ALL PHOTOS: Courtesy of Schenectady Center & Centers Health Care]