Lorrie LaDuke, Oasis Volunteer

Hi! My name is Lorrie LaDuke. I grew up in Elmira, went to Geneseo State and moved to Syracuse in 1974. I was married to my husband, David, for 35 years and have been widowed for 6 years. I was a business manager for a food broker for 41 years, retiring in 2015. In my spare time I volunteer for my church, taking communions to shut-ins, and I like to exercise, travel, read and have dinner with friends.

I joined Oasis in 2016 and began volunteering in 2017. My favorite thing about Oasis is the variety of classes they offer as well as the quality of instructors. Oasis is a wonderful program for older adults; it is so diverse with something for everyone. I started volunteering because I needed something to do after retirement, and since Oasis is so well run, especially with the support of volunteers, it seemed like a good fit for me. I volunteer at the front desk and often help Sandy with filing. Volunteering at Oasis is a great way to meet people with similar interests and is a very friendly, family-like environment. Learning all the aspects of the front desk keeps the mind active.

Aside from Oasis, I enjoy day trips with friends around CNY to hike or explore museums and other points of interest. The CNY area has such a variety of places to go and things to discover. I’m not a cold weather fan, so in the winter I like to read and do jigsaw puzzles. My favorite food is salad and I enjoy making different salad meals.