U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recently recognized Mary Lawler of Jaffrey as January’s Granite Stater of the Month.

For 12 years, Lawler has volunteered at Monadnock Community Hospital, helping the human resources department and new employees. She began her 50-year nursing career at the hospital in the operating room, and she continues volunteering at the age of 86.

Hassan launched the Granite Stater of the Month initiative in 2017 to recognize New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger.

Hassan’s statement for the Congressional Record is as follows:

“I am honored to recognize Mary Lawler as January’s Granite Stater of the Month. After retiring from a 50-year nursing career, Mary has continued to volunteer at Monadnock Community Hospital (MCH) for the past 12 years, helping to welcome new employees and set them up for success.

Mary has always had a close connection to the hospital, which is where her mother worked as a nurse and where Mary herself started her career, working in the operating room. MCH is also where Mary gave birth to her children. She says that the hospital staff is very close-knit, with everyone making an effort to be friendly and make people feel comfortable. The hospital’s focus on taking excellent care of patients and building such a strong community is a big part of what draws her to continue volunteering even at age 86.

Mary hopes to keep volunteering as long as possible. Her medical experience lends itself to many different potential roles at the hospital, but she most often volunteers in the human resources department because that is where they need her help the most. Mary is driven by the example that her mother set when she worked at the hospital; Mary was inspired to become a nurse in part after seeing her mother’s career, and she has always admired her mother’s compassion for others.

Mary’s work ethic, generosity, and kindness is emblematic of the Granite State spirit of rolling up our sleeves and pitching in to help out, recognizing that regardless of our stage in life, we can always make a difference. I am proud to recognize Mary’s dedication to supporting the staff and the patients of Monadnock Community Hospital.”

To nominate someone as Granite Stater of the Month, go to hassan.senate.gov/about/granite-stater-of-the-month.