GREENVILLE — Late in the afternoon on Nov. 3, 2023, Jona Liette will leave Brethren Retirement Community for the final time as an active employee, as she will retire after providing compassionate, reliable care to thousands of residents over her 44-year career.

Liette began her career on April 21, 1979 as an 18-year-old Nursing Assistant. She earned her LPN certification in February 1980 and embarked on a career spanning six different decades. During that time, she has held numerous other positions within the BRC organization, including working as a LPN Charge Nurse, providing education to new nurses as an STNA Trainer and Inservice Educator, and serving as an Infection Control Nurse.

Liette also continued her own education, attaining a bachelor’s degree and becoming a Registered Nurse in 2006, enabling her to move into leadership positions within BRC like RN Nurse Manager and Director of Nursing, as well as her most recent role of MDS Coordinator. She proved time and again that she is always up for new challenges and eager to contribute to BRC’s mission of providing exceptional service to all those entrusted in their care in any way she can.

She has always been a dedicated, committed caregiver. When other nurses need advice, ideas, instructions, or an extra set of hands, Liette is always willing to provide it. When winter storms are forecast and the rest of us are making plans to hunker down at home, she was packing a bag and anticipating the need to stay overnight at BRC to ensure the residents there could receive as little interruption to their care as possible.

When asked what accomplishment she is most proud of from her long career at BRC, Liette said she is most proud of “making a difference in the lives of so many Elders and their families (some of which I’ve cared for as many as three generations!) while working with a wonderful team of coworkers to meet the needs of our residents. BRC afforded me many opportunities to grow as an individual and as a caregiver. I’m forever grateful for the relationships we’ve forged over the years.”

To us, however, her most impressive accomplishment was achieving all of the above while raising two children with her husband, Ted. She never missed a performance or sports event, and is always there for her family to provide the same genuine care, kindness, and patient leadership she has shown in her professional life.

Liette has always provided a stalwart example of dedication, hard work, kindness, compassion, and patience that undoubtedly has inspired many of the residents, their families, and her fellow caregivers at BRC over the years, potentially even as much as her example continues to inspire her children and grandchildren.

Now, as a retiree, she will have much more time with Ted to spend with their family, including her parents Frank and Sarah Baker, mother-in-law Rebecca Liette, her sons Adam (and his wife Melinda) and John (and his wife Megan), as well as her grandchildren Rose and Teddy.

Her family is hosting an open house celebration of her well earned retirement on Sunday, Nov. 5, from 2-4 p.m. in the Brick Room at Brethren Retirement Community.

Anyone wishing to celebrate with them is welcome to attend.