All too often we hear stories about elderly people wandering off from their home, not knowing who they are or where they are going. And too many times these stories end with very unfortunate results.

That was not the case this week when an elderly Suffolk woman was reported missing from her home, and her family had no idea where she was.

But thanks to a compassionate city worker, the woman is now safely back at home and under the watchful eye of her loving family.

The woman, Mamie Morris, was discovered missing between 2 and 3 a.m. Wednesday.

The family immediately called the police department, providing them with a good description of the woman and the clothing she was wearing.

Everybody in the police department was given that information, and they all kept an eye out for Morris. That included police dispatcher Sandy Jackson, on duty when the missing-person report was issued.

When Jackson left her job later that morning, she thought she might drive around the are of Morris’ home and see if she could help find her.

Thank goodness she did. Just before 7 a.m., after wandering around who-knows-where for nearly five hours, Morris was found. Jackson located her walking along Pinner Street.

She ascertained who she was and immediately drove her home.

We can only imagine how excited her family members were to see her. And we can only imagine how frightened they were for her safety during those hours she was gone.

Jackson could have done what so many of us do each and every day — leave the job at the end of the shift and go right home.

But she didn’t. She was worried about this woman, and she took action. And perhaps only because of that action is Morris safely back home today.

We salute Jackson for going well above and beyond the duties of her job and are proud to have people like her living among us.