Directors of the senior center working to build a “house far from home” – Orange county register

The time devoted to Florence Sylvester Senior Center in Laguna Hills led two former volunteers to management positions.

Pat Kenefick, director of activities and programs, came to her new functions as an outgrowth of the time spent at the reception of the center. Ellen Dupuy, the new director of community relations, became a volunteer after having come to the center to deposit leaflets for a gem and mineralogy company.

Kenefick started with a meal route on wheels, then worked at the reception of the center for the elderly, becoming its coordinator.

When the former director of the Aimee Roberts center left last June, Kenefick entered the violation. He was offered the position of Director of Activities and Programs as a permanent part -time position.

His appreciation and his care for the elderly, however, are part of his life for much longer.

“My grandmother and my great-grandmother were influential women while I grew up, and my mother taught me to always do something good for others and the world,” said Kenefick.

During her years of adolescence and as a young adult, she volunteered in communities of life for the elderly, visiting older adults and helping them to participate in activities.

Kenefick considers himself a member of the “generation of sandwich”, who took care of his sick mother while working and raising his daughter.

“I was a caregiver for my mother for almost 10 years,” she said. “My mother came to live with me when I was pregnant with her first and only little child, when she recovered from lung cancer.”

The three spent several days together to negotiate meetings with doctors as well as physiotherapy, pulmonary therapy and cardiac rehabilitation sessions.

“I knew it was important to spend as much time doing funny things with mom as you take time,” said Kenefick.

They attended history readings for her daughter, events at the Viejo Senior Center mission, art lessons, dances and many musical theater shows in addition to tea outings.

“These activities were so important to help mom physically and mentally that even the doctors said that they extended my mother’s life,” she said. “It was then that I knew that I wanted to work with our senior community.”

Volunteering for wheels on wheels in Florence Sylvester was entering the center.

“When I had the opportunity to become an employee and work with our previous director, I took it and I learned a lot,” she said.

Then came the progress to the director of activities and programs.

“I want to do things that, hopefully, affect someone daily, bringing them joy, company, health and objective, which is so important that we all have in our lives,” she said.

Filling the other half of the new leadership in the East Dupuy center.

“My career in Texas helped help non-profit organizations in their marketing, their public relations and their fundraising,” she said.

Later, she worked to highlight the art and cultural events of her city.

Serving as a communications director for colleges has sharpened his skills by disseminating information to the public. A consulting work in Santa Monica in 1996 led to a love story with California and the decision to move permanently.

“I emigrated to San Jose, where I worked for two different non -profit organizations, and an organization that has helped non -profit organizations to save money on unemployment costs,” said Dupuy. “This is where I met the founder of Age Well, Marilyn Ditty, in the early 2000s.” Age Well Senior Services has and operates the Florence Sylvester Senior Center as well as other senior centers in South Orange County.

After his retirement in 2015 to help her aging parents, who lived in Florida, Dupuy moved to Aliso Viejo to be near her daughter and grandchildren. She volunteered as a docent at the Bowers museum and was president of the South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society.

“I entered Florence Sylvester Senior Center in early September 2024 to verify other volunteer opportunities and meet Pat Kenefick,” she said.

After a short period of time, Kenefick asked if Dupuy was interested in working part -time as manager of community relations.

Dupuy estimated that his history and his interests corresponded to his new job at the center for the elderly. In previous years, she volunteered in another center for the elderly and maintained her meal program on wheels and an Alzheimer’s establishment without appointment.

“Since I myself became a senior, I have taken up more accounts of some of the challenges and opportunities faced by the elderly,” she said. “What I like about Florence Sylvester Senior Center is the daily interaction that our elderly people receive one from each other and staff.”

In her new job, she manages networking with Laguna Woods clubs as well as the coordination of speakers and fundraising for the senior center.

The two new directors have many irons in the fire while they accelerate the services and offers of the lively center.

A start-up will be a reading club at 1 p.m. on Monday.

“We are working with the Orange County public library to lend books and provide discussion issues,” Kenefick said.

Among the continuous courses or the new ones in the goal are the manufacture of cards, laughter yoga, zentangles, guided autobiography writing, game sessions, bingo Tuesdays, tai chi and yoga for parkinson. Knitting and crochet on Tuesday will teach the technique and will offer help with projects.

Links with Laguna Woods are numerous, the directors said. The center serves many people in the retirement community with meals on wheels, which can be used on a temporary basis for people who recover from surgery or illness or permanent.

The directors consider the center as “an alternative and an improvement for” the community.

For example, the Laguna Woods Village Foundation offers transport and free lunch in the center for 30 days to its residents, said Dupuy. Buses are heading towards and from the village all day so that residents can enjoy the central programs.

Low -cost lunches are provided daily in the center, often accompanied by entertainment. Local singing and dance groups regularly appear in the dining room.

Technological aid is available as well as legal aid and low-cost transport to medical meetings.

Former worker in the technology sector, Kenefick helped with the recovery services after disaster in old jobs.

“Working as a project manager gave me the skills necessary to make the planning that is necessary here,” she said.

“I love my work because of helpful employees and customers,” she said. “They are all so welcoming.”

Directors are always looking for volunteers to lead lessons or activities.

“Direct contact is so fulfilling,” said Kenefick, remembering what it meant to give him meals directly to those who needed them. “You can directly affect someone’s life.”

“The center is such a busy place,” said Dupuy. “It looks like a club, with a coffee klatch enjoying donuts and free drinks in the morning.”

She particularly likes to communicate with groups of various nationalities that come together in the early hours of the day.

“It’s a house far from your home, where you can be comfortable and meet people,” added Dupuy.

“Consider us,” said Kenefick.

The Florence Sylvester Senior Center is at 23721 Moulton Pkwy. in Laguna Hills. For more information, call the center at 949-380-0155 or visit Agewellseniorservices.org.

Originally published: March 30, 2025 at 10:22 a.m.