"To all our valued customers, it's been a true pleasure serving the surrounding communities and after 45 years, with a heart full of gratitude for the experiences and friendships through the years, we truly appreciate you," Debra Rusinoski, Co-Owner of Chet's Plumbing and Heating said through teary eyes.

Chet's Plumbing and Heating, located in Marion is owned by Wareham residents Debra and Chet Rusinoski. The family business has been serving the South Coast and beyond for 45 years and it will officially close up shop on May 31 of this year.

"When do you retire when you can walk on the beach or when you're being pushed around in a wheelchair," Chet said. "It's not a pretty story but considering where we're at right now, this is about as good as it's going to end."

The business began from humble beginnings. Chet grew up working for his brother-in-law's plumbing business in the late 1960s and just over a decade later, he opened up his own shop in the basement of his Wareham home with his wife.

"I told him we only have $600 in the bank and I'm pregnant but here we are," Debra said.

It wasn't until 1989 that the couple moved their family operation to Marion which was no easy feat considering they had recently become parents to a baby boy and girl.

Both Chet and Debra put an emphasis on family. Throughout the many decades of operation, Chet and Debra said they were able to make strong connections with many people in the community. Often times Chet said he would double as a baby sitter while working in someone's home.

"There were times I was changing diapers on the job," he said.

Debra added that she has always felt "a strong bond with all of [their] customers."

Chet said his son Chad grew up on the shop floor and followed in his fathers footsteps, getting his plumbing license and then his master plumbers license, the highest level of plumbing expertise one can achieve.

The two worked side by side for a number of years and as time went on, Chet and Debra knew when it came time to retire, they would leave the company in Chad's hands.

"My son was such a perfectionist," Chet said. "His room was always neat as pin, his truck was neat as a pin and he always had his paperwork done."

However, this plan never came to fruition because Chad died in an accident six years ago at the age of 38. At the time, he and his wife had two young children with a third on the way.

Despite facing the tragedy, Chet said he had to continue working at risk of losing his customers.

"You don't get to cry," Chet said. "My son would've told me 'what dad you can't keep up,' I can hear him lecturing me now."

Debra added that to this day, the support they felt from their customers is something they will always cherish.

"We have a customer who would always send little notes with her bill saying 'I hope the grandchildren are doing fine and different little condolences," Debra said.

To honor his son, Chet redid the sign of his building to match his grandkids favorite colors of purple, red and orange.

"It was truly a labor of love," Debra said.