TEXARKANA — This year Janet Daddato is celebrating 25 years of work for St. Edward Church — first as church secretary and now as office manager.
She’s still going strong and considers her work more than just a job.
“I feel like I am working for the Church,” she said. “It is more like a ministry. I have a variety of duties and look forward to coming to work every day.”
Five years ago on her 20th anniversary, priests she had worked for and others paid tribute to her with warm letters of appreciation. In his letter, then-Bishop J. Peter Sartain said that parish secretaries are the unsung heroes of the Church. He especially singled out Daddato as one who performs her duties “with kindness and love.”
In 1969, Daddato and her family moved to Texarkana from the Bronx, New York, where she grew up. She is still sometimes teased about her accent. Blessed with a lively sense of humor, she doesn’t mind the teasing.
When she moved to Texarkana she worked as an office manager of a large jewelry store. One day Daddato heard then-pastor Father Robert Dienert say he was very busy and needed full-time help. She left the jewelry store to work for Father Dienert. She furthered her education with management courses at Texarkana College.
Father Paul Worm, her present boss, said of Daddato, “Janet is a joy to work with; she’s organized and efficient. I tell her one of her greatest strengths is her flexibility in being able to work for so many different pastors. She tells me that all priests are different and you have just got to be willing to do what this one wants. She calls me Number Eleven.”
While thinking about all 11 of her bosses, Daddato laughingly said, “I go with the flow, With each new priest you start all over again. I am never bored. I loved all the priests I’ve worked for. They are like my sons.”
Daddato’s position as office manager is diverse.
“My main job is being responsible for and monitoring all the financial accounts, paying bills, bookkeeping and so forth,” she said. “Also overseeing, coordinating and directing personnel. In addition, I help the parishioners with whatever they need, keep the membership records up-to-date and produce brochures, ballots and other materials when needed.”
St. Edward owns Calvary Cemetery, and Daddato handles all the business connected with it, including selling gravesites and keeping up with financial records and cemetery records.
“When someone dies I have to make a map where they will be put so they can dig the grave, if they own cemetery plots,” she said. “I also make arrangements for the funeral Mass, making sure to have an organist and choir as well as a meal following the Mass. Sometimes I meet with the family, too.”
When Daddato started her work in 1986, everything was done manually.
“When I first started I had to do the bulletin on this old machine and then roll it through a big copier,” she recalled. “The bookkeeping was done on a big ledger sheet.” Shortly after she arrived, Daddato transferred everything to a computer.
As much as she loves her work, she almost quit several years ago when her husband John was very ill. He had a heart transplant and later had to have kidney dialysis. Her boss at that time was priest number nine — Father Phillip Reaves. She said she will always be grateful that he allowed her to do her church work at odd times, giving her the flexibility to take care of her husband.
She did not neglect her work.
“Sometimes I would stay up all night to do the bulletin,” she said.
When her husband died in 2004, she was especially thankful Father Reaves had not let her quit her job; going to work every day was an aid in coping with her grief.
Father Reaves was also priest at St. Edward when Daddato celebrated 20 years of employment there. He was the one who put together a book for her, filled with praises from those who had worked with her.
Father Reaves’ own tribute included, ” … I believe your love for God is an example to us all. Twenty years ago you not only took on a new job, you answered a call … ”
