|
On August 31, 2007, Fran Smeets walked out of the home office door for the last time as an HFS employee and stepped into a new stage of her life: Retirement. Fran was a long-time employee of the Holy Family Society for 23 years. She began working in the Society’s life department in 1984 after deciding to return to work full-time. Four years later she became the supervisor of the life department and held that title for the following 19 years. During her time with the Holy Family Society, Fran experienced some significant changes in the organization. She witnessed the closing of HFS Health and Accident Insurance, but saw the beginning of the Legacy Life Insurance which the company now offers to those between the ages of 0-39. However, Fran felt the biggest change was the modernization she saw firsthand in the office. She witnessed the Society’s progress into the 21st century. When asked what she would miss the most about working with the Society, Fran responded, “the unique family atmosphere.” She saw fellow employees come and go, but everyone was always there for each other. She said she will miss the fun memories they shared in the break room and the Christmas parties when everyone would enjoy being together. As for what she wants to do now that she is retired, Fran’s plan is simple, “to do whatever I want to do when I want to do it.” She hopes to take it easy for the first six months and then plans on volunteering and traveling to visit family. Fran hopes to spend much more time doing what she enjoys the most: spending time with her husband, mother, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Fran had one last thing to say before she retired. She once heard that “in order to retire you must be either rich or old. I have decided that I am both. I am getting old in years, but not in spirit, and I am rich with the memories of the past 23 years at the Holy Family Society.” 
|
