04/26/2026
It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that Pam Gaudette, my Chiropractic Assistant of 42 years and my sister-in-law for 39 years, peacefully passed away last night surrounded by her family. Your love and prayers have been felt through the week.
The office will be open tomorrow (Mon), Wed. and next Mon. (depending on funeral arrangements). I leave for vacation 5/6 for 2 weeks and want everyone taken care of before I go. Taking care of you helps take care of me. Together we will celebrate and remember our very special Pam.
I want to share with you some thoughts I’ve had this week about Pam’s journey with me.
42 years as a chiropractic assistant - unheard of in our profession. She dedicated her life to this practice and our patients, her license plate reading ‘PJG-CA’ so all would know. Hers was the smile that greeted you first and sent you on your way to ‘make it a great day’. She would schedule your next appointment, make sure you had everything you needed, offer you a hug to support you, drop off the vitamins you left at the front desk, pick you up to bring you to your appointment because your car broke down, call the taxi cab for you, make your hair appointment, set you up on a date. She would tend to your children with a toy, a piece of paper or a book. This memory came from a former patient: “I have so many fond memories when I was younger coming in for appointments and hanging out with her at the front desk! I would sit on her lap and help her check people in/out, little me had the time of my life helping her. I loved it”.! She would listen to your woes and do all she could to fix them. She was a peace keeper and problem solver. She once told new employees ‘there is nothing that can’t be fixed’. She wanted everyone to be happy.
Early on Pam dove in deep in Chiropractic. She had a personal healing that changed her life and she wanted to help change others as well. She wasn’t sure it would be the right fit so she offered to volunteer in the office after working at her job at Corning Components. After 2 weeks she sold me and my other C.A. and she was hired. She was president of the Maine Chiropractic Assistant’s Association, known and respected by every Chiropractor and C.A. in the state. She was in the first graduating class of the Maine Clinical Chiropractic Assistant Program, wearing the C.C.A. after her name proudly.
Pam held every C.A. position possible in the practice. Thankfully she left the adjusting to me! Back in the day, she applied physiotherapy modalities and if you were lucky a back or a neck rub; she did insurance billing including follow-up and phone calls; she typed all my correspondence (back on an old IBM selectric); she journeyed into the world of computers with me; she scheduled new patients and managed inventory; her biggest and most important job was ‘steering the ship’ at the front desk - she would simultaneously answer the phone, schedule your next appointment, sign for a UPS package, keep a child entertained and patiently answer questions about a Medicare form from one of our older patients. We traveled to many seminars and workshops together - learning and having fun.
She trained all the new staff over the years, her first tip, ‘remember to smile before you answer the phone’. She was a mentor to so many. Shannon, Cheryl, Nikki and Ruth have all been touched by her leadership and care, helping them to become the best C.A.s possible and not only part of our chiropractic family but members of our personal family as well.
She was a ‘party planner’ and helped create all the special days we’ve had in the practice over the years: ‘Kid’s Day America’, our annual ‘Free Service Day’, a ‘Day in the Tropics’ and many others. She helped me spearhead the creation of a Chiropractic Float to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Chiropractic. She was our ‘Santa’ for our annual Christmas Family collection drive, making sure that every family not only had what was on their wishlist for their children but extras for the parents and children alike. She was a perfectionist and loved to see and do everything ‘just right’.
In our family each and every person feels we were Pam’s favorite. We know many of you feel that way too. Because of this Pam has become your favorite. She was a one-of-a-kind angel here on earth. We are all so blessed to have walked in her shadow and experienced her love and care.
Rest in Peace Pam. 🙏🙏🙏
With Love, Light and Gratitude,
Dr. Ellie ❤️✨🙏
