Tribal employee retires after 28 years

Observer Staff

7/5/2005 12:00:00 AM

Saginaw Chippewa employee Jeanette Leaureaux couldn't contain her excitement during the final few hours of her employment before retiring at noon on May 11.

"Chowin'. The countdown has begun, " the longtime Tribal Operations receptionist/mail clerk said in anticipation of a potluck luncheon in her honor.

The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Elder notched 28 years of service on the Isabella Reservation. Jeanette also served as a District 1 representative on Tribal Council for several administrations.

She started working for the Tribe on May 23, 1977 as a part-time secretary for then-Health Director Audrey Falcon. The position eventually went full-time and Jeanette was saddled with extra duties including optical and medical billing.

"I kind of shifted all over the place, wherever I was needed," she stated. Jeanette said she's very proud of her work ethic-which began in 1964 while doing factory work in Grand Rapids.

"Forty one years is a long time to work," she explained. "I checked my social security records, you know that mailing you get once a year with your work record, and I have enough points to retire."

Jeanette said she's been thinking about the prospect of retiring for the past couple years.

"I want to do stuff while I can," she explained. "I feel pretty good and I have the time to do what I want to do."

Besides spending more time with her grandchildren, Jeanette said she'll now have more opportunities to play Soaring Eagle Bingo. She also said she'd miss her fellow employees the most.

"But then I can call them or just stop by and bug �em," she said with a big grin.