After 45 faithful years of service, the Catasauqua Area School District regretfully said farewell to longtime secretary Dolores Superka during the June school board meeting.

Superka, a 1966 graduate of Catasauqua High School, began working in the district part time after graduation for then-Catasauqua High School Principal Ralph C. Brown.

"I enjoyed going to school in the district and I wanted to give something back to the district," she said. "I would not have dreamed of working anywhere else. The district was my second home and family."

During her tenure, Superka held many positions, including secretary to the business manager and director of transportation, payroll clerk and supervisor of payroll and human resources.

During the meeting, school district Superintendent Robert Spengler said Superka was the "classiest woman" he knows.

Spengler and Superka go back many years, Superka said.

"I was on the superintendent search committee that recommended Mr. Spengler for his job," she said. "The funny thing is, Mr. Spengler was born the year I graduated from high school. He never lets me forget that, in a nice way."

As for what makes Spengler unique among his peers, Superka said it's the concern he shows for others.

"He truly cares," she said.

While Superka said she will miss the daily interactions with the students, administrators, teachers and staff, she has already embraced retirement. So far, she and her husband Tom, a retired CASD math teacher, have taken a few trips and intend to travel more in the fall and winter.

"I have learned a lot over the years and enjoyed every minute I have worked for the district," she said.