Volunteer Finds Her Happy Place

Linda Haddon loves volunteering at the Sun Health Resale Shop in Sun City West, especially any opportunity to evoke a smile or laughter from the shoppers she meets. People even stop by the Shop to see her because of her warm, cheerful personality.

“I like to joke around with shoppers and get them to smile,” she says. “It might be a spark of something they don’t get any place else. Making them happy makes me happy.” Her 38-year career in funeral services has given Linda perspective on her own happiness as she helped others during their darkest days of grief and dealt with her own. When she was just 33, she lost her husband to cancer after being married only three-and-a-half years. Linda was devastated.

“One day I realized I’ve got to move forward, but it took time and sheer determination. Later on, my experience with pain actually helped me better relate to those who were feeling pain. I was able to support people through that time. “Helping them turn their lives around made me happy.”

Throughout her career, Linda served the needs of families in a variety of ways, including helping with prearrangements at funeral homes and a casket company. She founded three widow grief support groups and she served as counselor. Linda also became a certified Life Celebrant delivering celebratory eulogies.

“Dealing with sadness and with people who are really in pain takes everything inside yourself,” she says. “You walk beside them and hold their hand and sometimes you don’t say anything; you’re just sharing their burden.”

After her retirement, people have continued to seek her out as a celebrant because of the special way she tailors the “experience-based” services with a “wow” factor.

For Linda, happiness comes through her professional and personal experiences. “Everyone has a choice every day. You can be happy, or you can be miserable,” she says. “It’s a choice you have to make.” Linda chooses happy and volunteering adds to her Happiness Factor. She not only loves helping shoppers find what they want, she feels good knowing purchases are actually helping them and others long after they leave the Shop.

Proceeds from sales go directly to benefiting healthcare services at Banner Boswell and Banner Del E. Webb medical centers — services that Linda and her husband have experienced firsthand.

“My husband, Jim, had a heart attack last December and was treated at Banner Del E. Webb in Sun City West. Another time he underwent kidney surgery at Banner Boswell in Sun City. Both times his experience was unbelievable; he received the best care in the world,” Linda says.

Today, Jim is doing well, and they continue doing what they love to do together, including motorcycling.

“Before moving to Arizona from out of state, we had never experienced such wonderful healthcare as we do here in the West Valley. To watch people come in to this Shop and know they have access to this superior quality — it’s mindboggling,” Linda says.

Linda Haddon and a customer

Linda and Jim Haddon enjoying a motorcycle excursion

Something else she loves about volunteering — the atmosphere of volunteers and staff: “We’re like sisters and brothers, and we support one another.”

“You can’t go through life without caring about others,” Linda says. “Being a volunteer is the perfect opportunity to do just that. I’ve seen a lot of sad stuff in my life. If I can volunteer at the Sun Health Resale Shop and bring happiness to someone, I’m going to do it.”

Sun Health Resale Shops

Up your Happiness Factor by going shopping.

Saving time and money adds to the great feeling of shopping resale. Now more than ever, it’s a great way to fight inflation. Plus, all purchases are sales-tax free. Shoppers also are happy knowing their dollars stay local and make an impact right here in this community through the Generosity for Generations Campaign.

Each boutique shop offers a remarkable selection of vintage, collectables, and specialty items — some unique and one-ofa-kind. It’s an exciting shopping experience, with something new every day.

Happy shopping!

Visit us!

Sun Health Resale Boutique, 9843 W. Bell Road, in Sun City Sun Health Resale Shop, 14445 R.H. Johnson Blvd., Sun City West (Hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday) The Sun Health Resale Shop is operated in partnership with the Sun City West Foundation.

Join the family!

To inquire about volunteering opportunities, call the Sun Health Resale Shop at (623) 584-3869 or the Sun Health Resale Boutique at (623) 974-2000.