Submitted Photo Kathryn Manning, left, Roseanne Mohney, right and Diane Graves, not pictured, have been with Brooks Memorial Hospital for 45 years.

Dedicated employees, compassionate care providers, and committed patient advocates were recognized for their significant tenure at a recent employee service recognition ceremony at the Clarion Hotel in Dunkirk.

More than 100 employees with five-year increments up to 45 years of service received awards. Among those recognized from both the Brooks and TLC campuses, a combined 2,135 years of service was tallied.

Long-term staff Kathryn Manning, Roseann Mohney and Diane Graves also received honors.

¯ It was April of 1973. “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” from Tony Orlando and Dawn was the number one radio hit when Manning started. A gallon of gas for your Chevy Vega or Volkswagen Beetle was 39 cents and Richard Nixon was the president of the United States — when Kathryn Manning (then, Kathryn Levy) was hired for a practical nursing position at Lake Shore Hospital. Forty-six years later, Kathi is celebrated for her longevity with the hospital.

She was promoted to a full-time position as senior LPN on ICU and MedSurg in 1985, and later transferred to the Emergency Department 1989. Through her tenure at Lake Shore, TLC, and now Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Inc., Kathi has been an integral part of the care provided in ICU, MedSurg, ER, Quality/Utilization Review, Long-term Care. Later, in 1995 Kathi became a Registered Nurse and continued her career in other units including Cardiac Services, Nursing Supervision, and Urgent Care. Her commitment to continuing education is demonstrated by her role in Staff Development as a trainer for CPR, ACLS, and PALS. Currently, she practices her nursing skills in Chemical Dependency as part of the new inpatient program.

In 2005, a letter was written to the President and CEO of TLC Health Network, Ronald Kraweic, commending Kathi and other members of her team in the Emergency Department and thanking them for saving a man’s life, twice. Her enormous file in Human Resources contains repeated phrases throughout….“great worker, eager to learn, learns quickly, excellent instructor, reliable, dependable, flexible, knowledgeable, and caring.”

¯ Fast forward a year later to 1974 when after the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon became the first US president forced to resign from office. The average home price was $10,990. A gallon of gas increased to $0.55, and the average cost of a new car was $3,750. What seems like a lifetime ago, another longtime employee, Roseanne Mohney would don a white nurse’s cap in April of that year to begin her career as an LPN.

Roseanne studied hard to become a licensed RN in 1995 and achieved her career aspiration as an Emergency Department nurse. Widely known – then and now – for always putting patients and families first, Roseanne’s compassionate and empathetic demeanor creates a sense of calm and peacefulness. At the same time, she is always looking for ways to improve, to be innovative, and to aspire to high standards of care and practice.

As a leader, Roseanne has held several officer positions in the Western NY Emergency Nurses Association and is currently president. She retired from TLC as a full time RN in 2016, but remains actively involved in educating staff and the community in BLS, ACLS and PALS through the American Heart Association. She is known to the EMS and first responder community throughout the Western New York and continues to be an inspiration to the nursing profession. Now, 45 years later, colleagues agree that Roseanne exemplifies all of the attributes of a registered professional nurse.

¯ In March 1973, Graves joined the nursing staff at Brooks Memorial Hospital. Around this time, a mere $1.75 would buy you a ticket to see new movie releases, “The Sting,” “The Exorcist” or “American Graffiti.” Average income per year $13,900 and the average cost of new house was $32,500.

Today, a Diane is an RN in the BMH surgery department where she is highly regarded as a mentor by colleagues. Terms used to describe Diane are conscientious, dedicated service, cares for her patients, dependable, empathetic, great patient advocate, multi-tasker, supportive and would give the shirt off her back in the winter.