By Mak Krivka–
Mrs. Debra Onufrychuk has been the student health coordinator since starting the role in 2011. Mrs. Onufrychuk, or more commonly known as Mrs. O, has been at Gonzaga for 10 years and has decided this will be her last year on Eye Street.
Mrs. Onufrychuk has worked in the office of student services during her tenure at Gonzaga; Mrs. Onufrychuk has worked around the clock in her job as Student Health Coordinator and school nurse, but this year brought an entirely different level of challenges.
Due to the COVID-19 virus, health and safety have become prime factors in everyday life on Eye Street. At the beginning of the summer, to help with the workload, Gonzaga hired another nurse, Ms. Amy Harper. Ms. Harper has taken the job of being the “Covid nurse” while Mrs. Onufrychuk continues to work as the primary school nurse.
Mrs. Onufrychuk has served as a smiling face for all who interact with her, and if you are lucky, she will even give you a mint and clementine on your way to your next class. Every conversation and hello Mrs. O has with students is out of kindness and genuine care for each of them. Mrs. Onufrychuk explained why she decided to end her tenure.
“To have flexibility and spend time with my grandchildren,” Mrs. Onufrychuk said.
She’s already trying to soak up as moments as she can with her grandchildren. Mrs. Onufrychuk went on to share she had been to a First Communion for one of her grandkids and has been able to watch her grandkids’ soccer games, also. Next year she hopes to spend even more time with them.
Mrs. Onufrychuk has cited that with this new, flexible time off she will help in health clinics, help in the Gonzaga library and spend some much needed time with her grandkids, who call her GoGo.
“You don’t walk away from Gonzaga; you carry it with you… you carry it in your heart,” Mrs. Onufrychuk said.
Leslie • May 12, 2021 at 11:58 am
Lovely article! Thanks for highlighting all of Mrs. O’s hard work over the years.
Carol Corgan • May 12, 2021 at 9:28 am
Nice tribute for one of the nicest people I know!