A beloved leader recently retired after nearly 20 years of service at Clark County Adventist Community Services. Eleanor Hetke served as a nurse and a missionary for decades before joining CCACS as a volunteer around 2008.
In 2015, Hetke took on the responsibility of executive director and led the team until her retirement this year — just before turning 90 years old!
“Hetke is just so sweet,” said Karen Young, CCACS volunteer. “She’s always there for anybody. If you had to call in and say you couldn’t make it, she’d say, ‘You need to take care of what you need to do! Don’t worry about it here.’ You couldn’t ask for a better place to work than the center. Everybody pitches in and helps get everything done. Hetke has always been so upbeat, funny and cheerful — just a joy to be around!”
Hetke’s retirement was celebrated by colleagues, friends and family earlier this summer as part of CCACS’s awards banquet. When the team asked her what she’d like the theme to be, she said, “Stones!”
“I had to think on that one!” said Young, who worked on the event. “Five of us got together and painted rocks. We decided to make the Flintstones part of the theme, and she thought that was so funny. More than 100 people showed up. We had to pull out more tables because everybody wanted to be there.”
David Rodriguez and Gayle Perry, colleagues, shared words of encouragement and appreciation. Hetke’s granddaughter sang a song for her. Hetke and her husband even sat in a specially made Flintstones car as the community recognized the love and care she has poured into CCACS.
Rodriguez shared the following tribute:
“Today, we honor Eleanor, a woman who has become a living, breathing testament to the truth of Eph. 6:10. She is not a warrior of flesh and blood, but a warrior of the Spirit. Her strength has never been defined by a loud voice or a dominating presence, but by a quiet, unshakable reliance on the Almighty.
In moments where it would have been easier to crumble, to fear or to surrender to cynicism, Hetke chose to stand. She has taught us that true power is not found in controlling our circumstances, but in surrendering them to the One who controls the universe.
She is strong in the Lord: When her own strength failed — as it does for us all — she didn't turn away. Instead, she leaned harder into God’s grace, proving that His power is made perfect in weakness.
She stands in the power of His might: We have watched her put on the full armor of God — fastening the belt of truth, raising the shield of faith against the flaming darts of doubt and allowing the peace of the gospel to guide her feet.
She is a woman of prayer: She understands that the battle is spiritual, and she has fought, and continues to fight, on her knees. Her prayers have been a protective shield over her family, her friends and her community.
Eleanor, your life is a beacon that shines light into the darkness. You have shown us that a virtuous woman is not merely gentle, but also fierce in her love for God and unwavering in her devotion to truth. You have not just read about spiritual warfare; you have modeled how to stand firm after doing all. Thank you for demonstrating that when we are weak, He is strong. Thank you for being our example of a woman strong in the Lord. We call you blessed.”
