Staff photo by Connor Cummiskey Volunteer Coordinator Vicky Hoffmann, right, leads a shocked Monica Mueller, center, into a surprise announcement from NUMC President Toby Freier, left, that she is receiving the New Ulm Medical Center Legend Award.

NEW ULM — Staff at the New Ulm Medical Center (NUMC) ambushed the recipient of this year’s Legends Award Wednesday morning.

Monica Mueller learned of the award in a surprise announcement outside the entrance of the Virginia Piper Cancer Institute where she volunteers.

“During her time with Union, Loretto, Sioux Valley and New Ulm Medical Center, she was known as an exceptional, hard-working nurse who was described in her nomination as ‘living life joyfully, she doesn’t leave home without putting on her best smile and a positive attitude,'” President Toby Freier said.

Mueller started her work at the Union Hospital in 1965. She also worked at the Loretto Hospital and then the Sioux Valley Hospital when the former two merged.

She retired from NUMC in 2011, but has continued to volunteer in the cancer institute.

“I want to thank everybody, this is a total surprise,” Mueller said. “I love, I really love my work here. I just told someone this morning if I would not have been getting older I would still be here.”

Freier’s presentation speech was interrupted occasionally by laughter and jokes from the staff who clearly knew Mueller.

He was also interrupted by Mueller as he complimented her baking — particularly her zucchini bars — when she mentioned she could now make gluten free ones.

“If her long and dedicated career of nursing wasn’t enough, Monica started volunteering at NUMC to give even more of herself to others through our Virginia Piper cancer center and our Hospice programs,” Freier said. “And this isn’t to mention all the other ways she gives of herself to others — Turner Hall, church, family and friends. Monica on behalf of the thousands of lives you’ve touched and changed — thank you.”

Mueller will be recognized at the NUMC Recognition Dinner Dec. 1.