DESTREHAN — Sisters Janie Rome and Connie Hotard retired from Curler’s Corner beauty salon in Norco more than a decade ago, yet they still see the familiar faces of their old customers on a weekly basis.

Rome and Hotard are members of The Pink Ladies, a local volunteer group that has lovingly served the residents of Ormond Nursing and Care Center in Destrehan for more than 30 years. The Pink Ladies arrive around 7:30 a.m. each Thursday morning to shampoo, cut and blow-dry residents’ hair. They share stories and put smiles on 45 to 50 residents’ faces per week while helping them to feel their best.

The Pink Ladies consists of Janie Rome, Connie Hotard, Susie Melancon, Louise Hehmeyer, Barbara Dugas, Betty Jo Bourgeois, and Kerry Charlton, who is also a retired hairdresser. Rome’s husband, John Rome, is the eighth member of the group who assists in transporting residents, whether it is to the hairdressers, back to their rooms or to the cafeteria.

Three of the group members reside in St. John the Baptist Parish, and the rest live in St. Charles Parish.

Ormond Nursing and Care Center Administrator William Wright said The Pink Ladies make a difference in the lives of each resident they interact with.

“It’s their way of giving back,” Wright said. “They talk to the residents while they are doing their hair. It makes them feel good. They are glowing after they get their hair done.”

Staff members Tiffany White, Hailey Smith and Bertha Torbor also play a role in coordinating the weekly hairdressing sessions, according to The Pink Ladies.

Torbor said the work the Pink Ladies do is a heartwarming sight.

“It’s a blessing for those ladies who worked all those years and retired to come here out of the kindness and goodness of their hearts and help the people who can’t get this done,” Torbor said. “If they didn’t come, there are many people here who couldn’t get their hair cut.”

Maggie St. Pierre formed The Pink Ladies back in 1987. Over the past 32 years, many volunteers have flowed in and out of the group. Of the current membership, Betty Jo Bourgeois has been around the longest.

“My mother was a resident here, and I got familiar with the Pink Ladies,” Bourgeois said. Although she was never a hairdresser, she’s picked up more than a few styling skills over the years.

“I joined 17 years ago in 2002,” she said. “It’s rewarding seeing the ladies enjoy themselves. We enjoy it, too, just by giving back. You feel good knowing you made their day a little bit happier.”

Some of The Pink Ladies joined along with family members, and some found the volunteer group through outside sources. Kerry Charlton joined after seeing a story about The Pink Ladies in The Times-Picayune years ago.

Pat St. Amant was heading the group 11 years ago when Rome and Hotard joined.

Some of the residents of the home are decades-long customers, according to Rome. She has been styling resident Margaret Blakely’s hair for more than 40 years.

“I get a lot of satisfaction in doing their hair,” Rome said. “It makes you feel good to make them feel good. Some of them don’t even know we’re doing it, but it makes them look better for the families. It’s very gratifying for us.”

Hotard enjoys laughing along with residents who tell the best stories.

“I’m glad I came,” Hotard said. “When people say they don’t know what to do with themselves, I tell them all the time to go volunteer somewhere. It makes a big difference.”

The St. Charles Women’s Club subsidizes the Pink Ladies each year, allowing them to purchase hairdryers, curling irons and other supplies.

The Pink Ladies are always open for more volunteer hairdressers. Substitutes are welcomed if an individual is not able to volunteer from 7:30 to 11 a.m. every week. For more information, please call Rome at 504-343-4966.

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