Odette "Dette" Marris (70) will work her last shift at the end of September, while Jeanette "Jac" Carlson (64) finished in late July.
Both were thanked for their years of service at a ceremony in the hospital on Wednesday afternoon that had people spilling out of the room and lining the corridor outside, straining to hear farewell speeches that provoked laughter and cheers from the audience of colleagues, friends and family.
Originally from Picton, Ms Marris said her favourite moment in her decades of nursing was the day she was accepted into the hospital training class.
For her, the low point was every time a patient died.
"No matter what you do, if you know it’s going to be the end result, it might not be that night or that week, but it comes."
Ms Marris said what she would most miss was her workmates.
Mrs Carlson, originally from Dunedin, said the highlight of her 40-year career at the hospital was when staff shifted patients, equipment and medicines from the old Oamaru hospital that once sat on the hill overlooking the town.
The most negative point — when the hospital lost its surgical services — was also a positive, as the town fought to keep the services and marched in protest.
"I do feel rural communities miss out on health services," she said.
Both women were looking forward to retirement.
Ms Marris said she would stay in Oamaru and continue her volunteer work; reading for the blind and working for the Cancer Society.
"I had a dear little lady who couldn’t see and one of her highlights was listening in to the Oamaru Mail."
Mrs Carlson said she was planning to do motorbike tours with her husband.
The couple are members of the Ulysses motorcycle club.
And just like the club’s motto, Mrs Carlson said they were planning on "growing old disgracefully".
Hospital manager Robert Gonzales called the duo’s years of service "incredible" and said their friendship and sense of humour would be missed by all staff.
"You’re going to be very well missed by everyone."
