WESTBOROUGH – After four decades at the helm of the Westborough Senior Center, Alma DeManche has seen many chapters open and close – hundreds of programs, the big move to their home on Rogers Road, her son growing up around the center and plans for the center to move into the new community center.
Now, DeManche’s own chapter at the senior center is coming to a close as she is retiring.
Her last “official” day will be Dec. 31, but her final day in the building will be Nov. 8.
“I have had so much support over the years from some amazing people,” said DeManche.
“The COA Board is a real working board and they got things done. I have fond memories of so many who helped and encouraged me and that goes for my own family as well.”
A time for reflection
When looking back on her career path, Demanche says she ended up in senior services almost by chance. In college, she originally wanted to work in early childhood education but due to availability she ended up teaching an art class to seniors – turns out she loved it.
On a recent October morning, DeManche sat in her office, four decades’ worth of memories adorning the walls and shelves around her.
“I’m trying to divest my stuff,” she said.
She said the hardest items to pack will be the photos on her walls. Many of these photos feature her son, Jack.
“I can remember when Jack was born, I took him to the annual Senior’s Holiday Party at the VFW,” she said. “One of the guests took him from my hands when I walked through the door, and I didn’t get him back until I left. They loved meeting him and taking turns holding him.”
DeManche will also have a hard time packing away four decades’ worth of memories – the parties, the summer programs, the annual clambake in Maine. She recalled the “big move” to the newly constructed senior center at 4 Rogers Road. Just outside the main entrance of the center, there’s a magnolia tree planted in 1989 in honor of her father.
For five years, she ran the center out of the Forbes Community House, and there was much anticipation when the move to their current home at 4 Rogers Road came on Nov. 1, 1989.
“It was a wonderful time… there was so much participation from the seniors…they made donations and helped out greatly because it was a place of their very own,” said DeManche.
Unfortunately, move-in day coincided with a huge rainstorm, and it didn’t take long to realize that the block walls were left unsealed during construction and the water just poured in. But, as always, DeManche figured it out and moved on.
Move to Union Street
One project that has engulfed her over the last several months is the plan to relocate the senior center to the new community center building in Baystate Commons.
“It’s a mixed bag … it’s comfortable [the current center], but we need more space. We have outgrown this place and sometimes it’s a struggle figuring out how we can accommodate certain activities,” she said.
When she started in 1983, there were just over 1,900 seniors in town. Today, there are about 5,000.
DeManche said it’s been a challenge to maintain a balance between those who are very active, and those who prefer less strenuous activities.
Beyond the fitness activities, she counted off the vast selection of programs offered at the senior center including fuel assistance, yoga, cribbage, bridge, pool, transportation, housing assistance, shredding day, weekly lunches, movies and trips.
Over the years, DeManche has built a deep appreciation for those who have made the center part of their lives.
She recalled some of those people – Bob Daniel (“He’s one of the awesome people who served on the [COA] board.”); Charlie Fay (“He would say ‘I hired that girl’.”); Ann Johnson (“She’d come in dressed to the nines.”); Doris Mead (“Top shelf of volunteers” for whom the “volunteer of the year” award is named).
DeManche’s message to seniors, whether they come to the center or not – “The senior center is always here to help them.”
However, that commitment was put to the test during the Covid-19 pandemic. For nearly two years, the center dealt with closures and restrictions, with the rules often changing.
“During Covid, that was tough,” said DeManche. “Things changed all the time. We did our best to continue reaching out to people.”
She helped set up immunization clinics, and there someone was in the office every day to field phone calls, volunteers to pick up groceries for those unable to leave home and a bus on the road daily.
It took a while for the senior center to re-open, but once it did, “The people came back,” she said.
DeManche said, “We lost a few people” to the pandemic. “I wrote a lot of cards.”
What’s next
Not coincidentally, this is the day of the annual veterans’ luncheon, one of her most beloved events.
“I love the Veterans’ luncheon. My dad was a veteran, and this is a very special event to me,” she said. “We have such a great time honoring those who served and also remembering those who are no longer with us”.
Although knee replacement surgery is coming soon, DeManche says she has no immediate plans for her retirement, aside from “not having to wake up at 6 a.m.”
The Uxbridge resident may volunteer. She may take a yoga class or two, or she might just go to the beach on a Tuesday.
With winter approaching she jokes that she will not miss the commute.
“I may look out the window on a snowy day, a warm cup in hand, and smile because I don’t have to shovel out the driveway to head to work,” she said.
There will be a reception to celebrate DeManche’s retirement on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 1 p.m. at the senior center.
