Barbara Arndt

FLINT - Barbara Arndt still jokes that she fell in love with her husband, Glen, at the wrong time.

She was an aspiring nursing student at Hurley Hospital when she met her future husband and was forced to leave the program.

Even so, Arndt never lost her passion for serving patients and their families.

Arndt has, for 40 years, been a volunteer with the Auxiliary at Hurley in the surgical lounge. The 80-year-old Burton resident acts as a liaison between hospital faculty and families of surgical patients.

"It's a very busy service," said Arndt, whose hospitality helps families persevere through difficult situations.

Arndt says that she's confident her work at Hurley has made a difference in the lives of an untold number of people who have been blessed by the service.

"I love doing what I do there," said Arndt, a member of First Presbyterian Church of Flint for 55 years. "I love helping people. It's just a wonderful place to work...a very good service."

Arndt, who lost her husband three years ago after 58 years of marriage, hasn't waned in her desire to continue making her mark on the community.

A recently-recruited usher at FPCF, Arndt also serves hundreds in the community on Sunday mornings at the neighborhood breakfast.

"There's so much satisfaction in service," she said. "There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think I've given something of myself. It's just something I've always loved to do."

Arndt gives a lot of credit to her church for her lifestyle of service and the opportunities it has afforded her.

"I've always felt that First Presbyterian has been a very giving and loving church...they have always done so much, helping anywhere there's a need."

Currently, there is a great need for help at Hurley and Arndt is actively recruiting volunteers.

Serving Hurley since 1956, Auxiliary members like Arndt annually contribute over 35,000 hours of service. They are primarily a service-based organization, but also raise funds for yearly scholarship awards, special projects and major equipment purchases for Hurley.

Anyone who wishes to get involved can call Debi Peters, Volunteer Services Coordinator, at (810) 257-9152.