Feature
Ann Thibodaux retires after 25 years of service
Story by Janet Marcel ~ Photo by Lawrence Chatagnier Ann Thibodaux, who has been serving as administrator of St. Joseph Manor, an assisted living retirement community in Thibodaux, for the past 25 years, and Cardinal Place, a 55+ independent living residential community in Thibodaux, since its inception in April 2016, retired August 31. St. Joseph Manor, a private, non-profit corporation licensed by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, operates independently under the umbrella of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Thibodaux’s original plan was to retire on March 31 of this year, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, she felt called to continue her ministry at the Manor for a while longer. 32 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • October 2020
“I was scheduled to retire on March 31, but after going into lockdown because of COVID-19 pandemic on March 12, I decided to postpone my retirement. Personally, I could not leave the residents and staff during such an unprecedented and challenging time. It is a decision I have not regretted and am so grateful I made,” says Thibodaux, who worked full time through Aug. 10, then reduced her hours until her Aug. 31 retirement date. Of her decision to retire at the end of August, Thibodaux says, “It appears this may be the ‘new normal’ we will be living in for a while. After having a ‘revelation’ during Mass one Sunday, I decided to officially retire on Aug. 31.
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