Lifelong Shelton resident Katie Zielinski has been a friendly face while working at local post offices over the last 37 years.

“I started in Ansonia, [then] went to Stevenson. Within a year of my career, I transferred to Sandy Hook, where I stayed,” Zielinski recalled.

At the start of her career, she worked as a retail clerk doing a variety of tasks that had her interacting directly with the public.

At that time, the Sandy Hook Post Office was located at 4 Washington Avenue, which is now occupied by Sabrina Style.

Zielinski estimates that around 1993 to 1994, the Sandy Hook location merged with the Newtown branch at 5 Commerce Road.

“I am the last original Sandy Hook employee,” she noted. “Everyone else retired. Chris Krischlunas, aka ‘the tie guy,’ retired last year. There were approximately 12 of us.”

Despite the end of an era, she enjoyed her time at the Newtown location and continued to hone her skills.

“In 2013 I became Bulk Mail Tech, where I went from working with residential customers on a day-to-day basis, getting to [see] many families, to working with business customers and getting to know a totally different group,” Zielinski said.

She built strong relationships with many residents and became an integral part of people’s lives for nearly four decades in town.

“I have been invited to a number of weddings, picnics, birthday parties, and christenings. I always felt like a part of the community,” Zielinski said.

Her last day of work will be the unique date of July 22, 2022, at 2 pm. She will then take a brief vacation before her official retirement begins.

Zielinski says that she is looking forward to spending more time with her family and focusing on her other career as a real estate agent.

Looking back at her time working at the Sandy Hook and Newtown post offices, she will remember it fondly.

“I love my job very much and I consider myself very lucky to have found such wonderful co-workers and a community that made me always feel special,” Zielinski said.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.