This is part of a series that highlights the work of those who stepped up to help others during the difficult days of 2020. To read other articles in the series, go to www.theday.com/brightlights2020.

Mystic — Kathy Rathbun remembers being "kind of numb" when the realization hit that the coronavirus was a serious threat and lives would be endangered by doing ordinary things.

Like grocery shopping.

Rathbun, 66, has worked at McQuade's Marketplace in Mystic for 25 years, since the independent, family-run grocery store first opened in that location. When the severity of the virus was publicly realized last March, she momentarily considered cutting back her hours.

"It was never an option for me to just not work, financially I need to work," she said.

Instead, Rathbun has continued her 40-hour work weeks throughout the pandemic, adjusting to all the COVID-19-related changes, like sneeze barriers, mandatory masking, limits on sought-after commodities, and one-way grocery aisles.

"At first I think we all thought, 'Well, it will never come over here.' You think the U.S. is not really that vulnerable," Rathbun said, "But then when you really think about it, we are all sitting ducks."

Covering her mouth and nose with a mask for hours at a time while on the job was a difficult adjustment for Rathbun, but it's commonplace now.

"For me, it was hard to get used to wearing a mask all day long," she said. But she was never afraid to come to work and said she leaned on her patience and her faith to deal with the scary and stressful times, especially early on in the pandemic.

"In the beginning, it was panic," Rathbun said. "And if you recall, customers were all rushing into the store to get their toilet paper and stock their freezers and refrigerators with food."

"And it was just the uncertainty of it all — what's going to really happen? — and then learning that I am an essential worker, at a grocery store, I'm an essential worker."

She still takes pause when she says that.

"I did not think of myself as an essential worker beforehand at all. It's not like I had to go to college or anything like that," Rathbun said. "We (grocery workers) are all replaceable. But yes, I did realize at that time that I was needed."

By and large, she said, customers were kind and appreciative, many taking the time to thank her and her associates for continuing to work and putting themselves at risk.

"But it was a difficult time, and some people were testy," she said. "But the majority of people were kind, so kind, like a lady this morning who gave me a tip. She gave me $10 and I said, 'Oh no, that's not necessary,' and she said, 'No, you come into work every day, you are here for us, and I appreciate that and I want to give you a tip.'"

Just 'doing our jobs'

Michael McQuade, owner of the McQuade's Marketplace store in Mystic, as well as two in Rhode Island in Westerly and Jamestown, said nearly all of his 500 employees have continued to work throughout the pandemic, some even picking up additional hours. Over the past 10 months, only two of his workers have tested positive for COVID-19, he said.

"The virus brought out the best and the worst in customers, as well as the best and worst in associates," he said. "For some it was too difficult to come to work, a few didn't come to work, but others rolled up their sleeves and came in and did their jobs."

He called those who stayed on the job heroes.

"I think everybody working in retail is a hero," said McQuade, whose father started the grocery store in 1959. "It is a really demanding job and a lot of times not appreciated by society in general. But I think what happened in March ... for the first time, people saw the actual value of what their job is."

"I'm very proud of the job they've done and believe they are all heroes," he added.

Since the pandemic arrived, Rathbun said her employer has included regular gift cards with her check and just awarded employees a holiday bonus.

"They have been very good to us and very generous," she said. "They have provided us everything we need."

But she shakes her head when she's told some people describe employees like her as heroes.

"Heroes are the doctors and nurses who are treating all these sick people, they are the people who take on jobs knowingly who know they are putting their own lives at risk," she said. "They are the firemen who rush into a burning building to save someone or to rescue a little boy's dog, or a policeman."

"But us, I just don't see it, we are just coming to work and doing our jobs," she said.

Whatever will happen is going to happen, Rathbun said.

"I trust God basically for all the circumstances in my life, for all the details, and I don't think you could get a better life insurance than that," she said. "That's a big reason why I'm not frightened — I know I'll be OK no matter what."