MONTEGO BAY, St James — After decades of dedicated service at Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH), Richard Lawrence and Sharon McLean are stepping into retirement, leaving behind a legacy of commitment and resilience. The duo, along with 31 other retirees from various regions, were honored at a luncheon hosted by the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) on Thursday. Lawrence, who served as a senior security supervisor for 42 years, expressed his bittersweet feelings about retiring before the hospital’s ongoing rehabilitation project is completed. ‘It was my dream to see the hospital open while I was working,’ he shared. ‘But I know when the time comes, they might invite me to see the progress.’ Lawrence, who spent over 25 years as a senior supervisor, reflected on his career with pride, emphasizing how his work enabled him to support his family and nurture his children’s successful careers. ‘All this came through the work at Cornwall Regional Hospital,’ he said. ‘I don’t have any regrets.’ His colleague, Sharon McLean, a chief medical technologist with 40 years of service, also shared her mixed emotions. McLean, who endured health challenges due to the hospital’s mold-infested environment, expressed relief that future staff will not face the same hardships. ‘I was there suffering for a long time,’ she recalled. ‘But I am happy that people will not experience what we had experienced.’ McLean, whose motto is ‘By our skills, we save lives,’ takes pride in her contributions to saving lives through her laboratory work. Both retirees are now looking forward to new chapters in their lives, with Lawrence expressing gratitude for his family’s support and McLean planning to channel her energy into new endeavors. The luncheon concluded with the presentation of plaques and heartfelt appreciation from WRHA Manager Simone Douglas-Cluney, who praised the retirees for their unwavering dedication and service.