A postal worker from Thamesville will be hanging up her uniform at the end of this week after spending more than five decades on the job.
Betsy March -- now 75 years old -- will work her final shift on Friday after 52 years with Canada Post.
She started the job in 1968 and says it began as a family affair.
"My mother had a mail route and then another mail route came up so I took that route and I've been there ever since," she said.
March has taken care of the rural route in Thamesville, where she also resides. During her time with Canada Post, she has come to grow very close with everyone on her route, which is the one thing she said she'll miss most.
"All the people. Just likely getting up in the morning and getting going and going up there," she said. "There's never been a Monday that I said 'oh jeez, I don't want to go to work.' I just get up and go and I love the job."
March said the biggest challenges of the job over the years were dealing with Mother Nature, including navigating muddy roads and snowdrifts. The last few weeks of employment have been unique for March as she works through the pandemic and still tries to connect with the people along her route, just from a further distance.
"I just drop [packages] off on their front porch and knock. They come out and every person says thank you," said March.
March added that one of the biggest changes in the industry has been the increase in parcels that go out for delivery due to the rise in online shopping.
Although it's hard for her to say goodbye to the people on her route that she has come to know, March said she's feeling a lot of love during her final week.
"[On Tuesday] I picked up a lot of cards but I haven't opened them yet and I picked up presents," she said. "Everybody's so good, it's just like Christmas all over again when you see a present in the mailbox. You think 'oh gee, I must have done a good job.' I got so many friends, they all know I'm Betsy out there on the route, I've had it for so long. I'm going to miss them all."
As for what she plans to do after her final route, March said she's looking forward to enjoying her trailer and taking long walks along Lake Erie.
Canada Post's president and CEO, Doug Ettinger, congratulated March on her milestone achievement.
"We cannot overstate our gratitude to Betsy for her lifetime of service to Canada Post," said Ettinger. "52 years is an incredible achievement of which she should be very proud. Thank you, Betsy, for everything you have done to serve your fellow Canadians. We wish you much health and happiness in your well-deserved retirement."