“Do you really have to retire? Can’t you stay with us a little longer?”
There were repeated pleas for her to stay, hands holding hers tightly and refusing to let go, and tears that would not stop falling from the eyes of the seniors around her. What was meant to be a joyful retirement celebration became a deeply moving farewell filled with profound reluctance to say goodbye.
On July 9, Savant Senior Living Alhambra held a warm and emotional retirement farewell for Activities Director Alice Thomas, who is retiring after more than 30 years of serving seniors and preparing to begin a new chapter in her life.
Nearly 100 people—including members of the company’s management team, staff, residents’ family members and seniors from the community—gathered that day for one simple reason: to personally say “thank you” to a woman who had spent so many years accompanying and caring for countless seniors.
Yet when the moment of farewell finally arrived, many discovered that saying goodbye was far more difficult than they had imagined.
With tears in their eyes, residents held Alice’s hands and asked her again and again: “Are you really leaving?” “Can’t you postpone your retirement?” “Can you stay a little longer?”
Some cried.Alice cried, too.
In that moment, they were no longer simply an activities director and residents. More than four years of sharing daily life had made them family, bound together by relationships that were difficult to leave behind.
Alice said she had worked at Savant Senior Living Alhambra for more than four years. To her, the seniors there were never simply “residents” she served as part of her job.
“They are like family to me.”
She said that after residents recently learned of her plans to retire, many were heartbroken and reduced to tears.
“They kept begging me, ‘Can you postpone it? Can you work a little longer?’ Everyone was so sad to see me go.”
Alice acknowledged that she, too, had struggled with the decision for a long time.
She knew that at this stage of her life, it was time to slow down, and she had already made plans for retirement. But when the reality of leaving this familiar place—and the seniors she saw every day, laughed with and shared daily life with—finally set in, she realized just how difficult it was to let go.
“I really, really don’t want to leave this place.”
Those simple words revealed the depth of her reluctance to say goodbye.
For More Than 30 Years, She Devoted Her Best Years to Serving Seniors
Maddie, an administrator at Savant Senior Living Alhambra, said Alice had devoted more than 30 years of her life to serving seniors.
For more than three decades, she remained by their side, caring for them with sincerity, listening with patience, and using her passion and dedication to bring laughter and warmth into the lives of many seniors.
Four years ago, Alice brought that same love and commitment to the Alhambra community and gradually became an indispensable member of the Savant team.
Maddie said that, as Activities Director, Alice did far more than simply “plan activities.”
“Alice wasn’t just planning one event after another. She was creating moments worth remembering.”
She transformed ordinary days into occasions filled with anticipation; helped familiar songs bring back memories of residents’ younger years; filled simple gatherings with laughter; and, most importantly, made every resident feel seen, valued and cared for.
“She remembers everyone’s name. She remembers the stories they have shared. She remembers the songs they love, and she knows what will make them smile.”
Maddie said what touched her most was that Alice never regarded her work as merely a job.
“She treated every resident like family.”
For that reason, as Alice prepares to leave, she is leaving behind far more than a record of years worked. She is leaving behind a standard of care and warmth.
“She has touched and influenced more people than she may ever realize.”
“I Feel Like I Made the Chinese Community Proud”
Alice was moved to tears several times as she reflected on the large farewell celebration the company had organized in her honor.
Seeing so many people make a special effort to attend filled her not only with gratitude, but also with a sense of pride that was difficult to put into words.
“I feel like I finally made the Chinese community proud. I didn’t let our community down.”
Alice said the farewell celebration represented far more than a retirement ceremony. To her, it was also an acknowledgment by the company of the contributions she had made over the years.
Company leaders repeatedly urged her to reconsider her decision to retire and expressed hope that she might remain with the community.
“They kept asking me, ‘Would you reconsider? Could you please not retire yet?’”
Smiling, Alice said company leaders told her it would not be easy to find someone who could devote hers a title. Nor was it pride in applause.
It was the quiet pride of knowing that more than 30 years of time, devotion, and genuine care had found their truest answer on the day of her farewell—in every tear, every embrace, and every person who could not bear to see her go.
Nearly 100 People Came Just to Say “Thank You”
Alice said nearly 100 people attended the celebration, including residents’ family members, company management, colleagues, and seniors from the community.
What touched her even more was that many employees who were not scheduled to work that day gave up part of their time off and came especially to celebrate with her.
“They didn’t have to work today, but they still made a special trip to come. Seeing them here really touched me.”
Alice said that, to her knowledge, the company had never before held such a large farewell celebration for a retiring employee.
“I’m the first.” Her eyes filled with tears again as she spoke.
“That tells me how much everyone really hates to see me go.”
“She Is an Irreplaceable Pillar of This Community”
Yvoone, Marketing Director at Savant Senior Living, said everyone gathered that day with deeply mixed emotions.
On one hand, they were happy for Alice as she prepared to begin her retirement. On the other, the thought of her leaving filled everyone with an overwhelming sense of loss.
“Alice is an incredibly important member of our core team. The residents are going to miss her very much.”
Yvoone said Alice’s years of wholehearted service to seniors had made her one of the community’s essential pillars.
“So many people rely on her and trust her. We are endlessly grateful for everything she has given over the years, and we cherish her deeply.”
The company therefore invited Alice’s friends, colleagues, team members, residents, and their families to come together for a celebration filled with love and good wishes, a tribute to more than 30 years of her life devoted to serving seniors.
Dylan, Regional Activities Director at Savant Senior Living, also said it was a tremendous honor to be part of Alice’s retirement celebration.
“Alice has been an incredible member of the Savant team. She has served the Alhambra community for four years, but her career serving seniors spans more than 30 years.”
Dylan said Alice had always given her time selflessly and poured her heart into her work.
“We are really, really going to miss her.”
“But at the same time, we are truly happy for her. She is about to begin an entirely new chapter in her life.”
Alice Cut Her Retirement Cake, and Left Everyone With One Final Blessing
At the end of the celebration, Alice cut her retirement cake amid applause and warm wishes.
She personally shared slices of cake with the seniors, colleagues, and friends around her.
Some people still had tears in their eyes. Others held her in long, tight embraces, reluctant to let go.
For more than 30 years, Alice gave a long and meaningful part of her life to seniors who needed companionship and care.
Yet on the day of her retirement, she did not make a grand wish for herself.
Instead, just as she had on countless ordinary days before, she smiled and offered her blessing to everyone around her.
“I hope everyone stays healthy and lives a long life.”
Perhaps, for Alice, retirement means leaving a job.
But to the seniors whose names she remembered, whose stories she listened to, whom she accompanied and made laugh, she was never simply an “Activities Director.”
She was a friend. She was family. And she was a warm and cherished memory in their lives.
For so many years, she gave her time, patience, and love to others.
Now, at last, it is her turn to fully embrace the life that belongs to her.
