Devoting time to the Florence Sylvester Senior Center in Laguna Hills has led two former volunteers to positions of leadership.
Pat Kenefick, director of activities and programs, came to her new duties as an outgrowth of time spent at the center’s front desk. Ellen Dupuy, the new community relations manager, became a volunteer after coming into the center to drop off flyers for a gem and mineralogy society.
Kenefick began with a Meals on Wheels route, then worked at the front desk of the senior center, becoming its coordinator.
When former center director Aimee Roberts left last June, Kenefick stepped into the breach. She was offered the job as director of activities and programs as a permanent part-time position.
Her appreciation and care for seniors, however, have been part of her life for much longer.
“My grandmother and great-grandmother were influential women while I was growing up, and my mother taught me to always do something good for others and the world,” Kenefick said.
During her teen years and as a young adult, she volunteered at senior living communities, visiting older adults and helping them participate in activities.
Kenefick sees herself as a member of the “sandwich generation,” one who was taking care of her ailing mother while working and raising her 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 grandchild, while she was recovering from lung cancer.”
The three spent many days together negotiating doctors’ appointments along with physical therapy, pulmonary therapy and cardiac rehab sessions.
“I knew it was important to spend as much time doing fun things with Mom as she was on borrowed time,” Kenefick said.
They attended story readings for her daughter, events at the Mission Viejo senior center, art classes, dances and many musical theater shows in addition to tea house outings.
“These activities were so important to help Mom physically and mentally that even the doctors said they extended my mom’s life,” she said. “This is when I knew I wanted to work with our senior community.”
Volunteering for Meals on Wheels at Florence Sylvester was her entry into the center.
“When I had the opportunity to become an employee and to work with our previous director, I took it and learned a lot,” she said.
Then came her advancement to director of activities and programs.
“I want to do things that hopefully affect someone daily, bringing them joy, companionship, health and purpose, which is so important for all of us to have in our lives,” she said.
Filling in the other half of the center’s new leadership is Dupuy.
“My career in Texas was helping nonprofits with their marketing, public relations and fundraising,” she said.
She later worked to put a spotlight on the art and cultural events in her city.
Serving as communications director for colleges sharpened her skills at disseminating information to the public. A consulting job in Santa Monica in 1996 led to a love affair with California and the decision to relocate permanently.
“I migrated to San Jose, where I worked for two different nonprofits, and an organization that helped nonprofits save money on unemployment costs,” Dupuy said. “That’s where I met the founder of Age Well, Marilyn Ditty, in the early 2000s.” Age Well Senior Services owns and operates the Florence Sylvester Senior Center as well as other senior centers throughout South Orange County.
After retiring 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 served as president of the South Orange County Gem and Mineral Society.
“I walked into Florence Sylvester Senior Center in early September 2024 to check on other volunteer opportunities and met Pat Kenefick,” she said.
After a short time, Kenefick asked if Dupuy was interested in working part-time as the community relations manager.
Dupuy felt that her background and interests matched her new job at the senior center. In earlier years, she volunteered at another senior center and serviced its Meals on Wheels program and a drop-in Alzheimer’s facility.
“Since becoming a senior myself, I’ve grown more aware of some of the challenges and opportunities that face older people,” she said. “What I love about the Florence Sylvester Senior Center is the daily interaction our seniors receive from each other and from the staff.”
In her new job, she handles networking with Laguna Woods clubs as well as coordinating speakers and raising funds for the senior center.
The two new directors have many irons in the fire as they ramp up the services and offerings of the busy center.
One start-up will be a book club at 1 p.m. on Mondays.
“We are working with the Orange County Public Library to lend books and provide discussion questions,” Kenefick said.
Among continuing classes or new ones in the offing are card-making, laughter yoga, Zentangles, guided autobiography writing, game sessions, Bingo Tuesdays, tai chi and yoga for Parkinson’s. Knit and Crochet on Tuesdays will teach technique and offer help with projects.
Tie-ins with Laguna Woods are many, 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 recovering from surgery or illness or in a permanent capacity.
The directors see the center as “an alternative to and enhancement for” the community.
For example, the Foundation of Laguna Woods Village offers transportation and free lunch at the center for 30 days to its residents, Dupuy said. Buses run to and from the Village all day so that residents can take advantage of center programs.
Low-cost lunches are provided daily at the center, often accompanied by entertainment. Local singing and dance groups make lunch-time appearances in the dining room on a regular basis.
Technology help is available along with legal aid appointments and low-cost transportation to medical appointments.
A former worker in the technology sector, Kenefick helped with disaster recovery services in former jobs.
“Working as a project manager gave me the skills to do the planning that’s needed here,” she said.
“I love my job because of the helpful employees and customers,” she said. “They are all so welcoming.”
The directors are always looking for volunteers to lead classes or activities.
“Direct contact is so fulfilling,” Kenefick said, remembering how much it meant to her to hand meals directly to those who needed them. “You can directly affect someone’s life.”
“The center is such a busy place,” said Dupuy. “It feels like a club, with a coffee klatch enjoying free doughnuts and beverages in the morning.”
She especially enjoys communing with groups of various nationalities that congregate in the early hours of the day.
“It’s a home away from home, where you can be comfortable and meet people,” Dupuy added.
“Just come and check us out,” Kenefick urged.
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.