BY SUE ELLEN ROSS – Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Ruby Clement has spent most of her life in a volunteer capacity.

As a young mother of five daughters, she invested time in PTO organizations, as well as the Band Boosters Club when the girls got older.

The Catholic Daughters of Joan of Arc and the St. John Homemakers Club also filled her hours.

When her daughters were grown, Clement transferred that giving nature to the Volunteer Department at the River Parishes Hospital, as well as the hospital’s Auxiliary.

The LaPlace resident works in the gift shop, a position she has held since coming on board 22 years ago. She wanted to continue to stay in touch with organizations and people in St. John Parish, and believes her current job fills that need.

“I knew that this hospital is a service to the community, what’s why I’m here,” she said.

In addition to volunteer work, Clement is associated with AARP and the Council on Aging.

Six months ago, Clement was on the other side of the hospital counter. She had knee replacement surgery and had to spend some time in the hospital as a patient.

“I kept in touch with the other volunteers while I was recuperating,” she said. “We are like a family.”

People in the community make many positive comments to Clement about the services and staff at River Parishes Hospital. They appreciate the location most of all, she added. “I’ve heard many people say ‘thank God the hospital is here.’ I am glad to be a part of that.”

No matter which activities fill her days, Clement always remembers to find time for her family and visits them often.

Three daughters reside in LaPlace: Linda Gaudin; Jane Allan Ollar; and Chesley Cashio. Daughter Sherran Frichter lives in Florida; and another daughter, Kitty Gomez, lives in California. The active volunteer also has nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

“Volunteering is a way of life for me,” she said. “I’m 83-years-old and not even thinking of quitting. I feel like I’m doing something worthwhile.”

For information on volunteer work at River Parishes Hospital, call Claudette Henry at 651-1482.