ST. FRANCIS VOLUNTEER NAMED MISSOURI'S AUXILIAN OF THE YEAR

Dorothy Ressel, a volunteer and auxiliary member at St. Francis Medical Center since the early 1980s, has been named Auxilian of the Year by the Missouri Association of Hospital Auxiliaries.

The announcement was made during a luncheon Friday at the Missouri Hospital Association's annual convention held at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Ressel was one of more than a dozen finalists nominated for Auxilian of the Year recognition by hospitals throughout the state.

She joined the St. Francis Auxiliary in 1981 and since that time has volunteered more than 9,000 hours of service to St. Francis Medical Center. During 1992, she logged 980 hours of volunteer time. She can often be found transporting patients, delivering mail and flowers, staffing the information desk or working in the medical center's gift shop.

She has served as a member of the St. Francis Auxiliary Board of Directors for eight years and has served as manager of the gift shop for four years.

During her two terms as auxiliary vice president, Ressel has been responsible for several fund-raising projects such as the auxiliary's Christmas Tree Gala, the Phantom Ball, the Santa's Calling program and numerous craft and bake sales.

Ressel is also a regular volunteer at Red Cross blood drives and at St. Vincent's Church, where she takes communion to and visits with 13 homebound senior citizens at Chateau Girardeau each Sunday morning.

"Dorothy lost her husband during her years on the auxiliary board, but rather than turning away in her grief, she chose to work through it by volunteering," said St. Francis Foundation Executive Director Edythe M. Davis, who also serves as auxiliary adviser. "Her kindness, confidence and efficiency has been reassuring to the patients she deals with and to those who work with her."