Wissahickon Middle School Plans a Special Farewell to 91 Year Old Food Services Employee

According to the Wissahickon School District, Wissahickon Middle School 6th graders and administrators surprised 91-year old Food Services staff member, Carmela Ferro, with 30 balloons and 30 Godiva chocolate bars in recognition of her last day of work today, and 30 years of service with the district. Surrounded by her family, co-workers and WMS students, Mrs. Ferro was thanked by Superintendent, Dr. James Crisfield, and Principal Beth Bauer. The School District website describes Carmela Ferro’s background:

In 1952, Carmela Ferro emigrated from Italy and worked as a welder at a company in Fort Washington where she welded transistors for radios of emergency vehicles, ships and planes. When she retired at the age of 62, she said she had nothing to do so her daughter suggested working in the school cafeteria at Wissahickon School District where Mrs. Ferro’s children had graduated from and her grandchildren attended.

That was the beginning of Mrs. Ferro’s second career that lasted just as long as the first!

For another 30 years, Mrs. Ferro has worked in Wissahickon’s Food Services Department, first at the high school; then the middle school, Mattison Avenue Elementary, then back to the middle school.

“She loves the teachers and seeing the kids every day,” said Anna Schoppe, Mrs. Ferro’s daughter. Over the years, she has served lunch to tens of thousands of students, including her own grandchildren. She was thinking of retiring a year ago, but her grandson, Carmen, said she had to be there when he started middle school, so she stayed.

“My sons think it’s so great to have Nonna there. They throw away the lunches that I make for them so they can buy lunch from her,”Mrs. Schoppe said.

Photos from the Wissahickon School District Facebook Page