For the past 10 years, June Ferreira’s office has been a small white building on the left side of the entrance to the Oak Bluffs Transfer Station. From there she has held court — greeting customers, selling dump stickers, sorting garbage and recycling — and in the process became everyone’s favorite landfill attendant.

But that all came to an end this week when Ms. Ferreira announced her retirement.

On Wednesday, her last day, Ms. Ferreira sat in her familiar spot wearing her familiar headband, glasses and neon yellow T-shirt. She discreetly wiped a tear away, saying that she has always tried to create warm relationships with the many people who visit the station.

“They enjoy coming here because it’s a comfortable place,” she said.

Customers stopped by to say thank you and give her flowers on her last day.

Jeanna Shepard

Customers stopped by to say thank you and give her flowers on her last day.

Jeanna Shepard

Though Ms. Ferreira’s job is a busy one, especially during the summer, she said she has always tried to find time to make people laugh.

“Some people come in and they’re so serious and if they are one of those ones, I’ll go at ‘em until I get a smile,” she said.

One time a man with a particularly tough shell came in and told her he did not like to smile. Ms. Ferreira took that on as a challenge. She told him: “Oh, gee I’m sorry you never smile. Do we need a feather?”

“He actually laughed,” Ms. Ferreira remembered. “He said I was the first one in a long time that made him laugh.”

Ms. Ferreira has lived on and off the Island since she was a little girl. She and her six siblings grew up in Oak Bluffs. Two of her sisters live on the Vineyard — one of whom is Gail Landers who was in charge of maintaining the Oak Bluffs Cemetery for 43 years. Another sister lives in Yarmouth Port and Ms. Ferreira will move off-Island soon with her fourth sister, to a destination she refuses to disclose.

“I have people saying ‘Oh, June, give me your cellphone number!’ I say, no, sorry.”

Though she will miss her customers, she is looking forward to a change of scenery, and a break from her boss.

“I’ve had enough,” she said. “Ten years I’ve worked here and he came in this morning and never said one word to me.”

Her customers have certainly been appreciative, though. In just a half an hour, three people stopped by to say goodbye and tell her thank you. One man hugged her and said, “Enjoy the rest of your life!” To which she replied, “I intend to!”

Local swim instructor Michael Wooley was particularly sad.

“We love June,” he said. “She will be deeply missed.”

Before leaving, he gave her a huge hug, exclaiming that he should have brought her a present. “I can’t believe it’s been 10 years I’ve been bringing you my sh--,” he paused. “My stuff!”

Not long after Mr. Wooley left, Maurice Goodman came into the office. He does not live on the Island but he has known Ms. Ferreira for many years through his job picking up Red Cross bins at the station. Though he has not been to the transfer station for two months, he came to say goodbye to Ms. Ferreira when he heard she was leaving. He said her office has always been welcoming.

“Every time I come here she’s got something homemade that she cooks.”

As the day progressed more and more customers pulled up to say goodbye.

“When you’re nice to people, they have respect for you,” Mr. Ferreira said, explaining her secret to finding happiness in her job, and, it would seem, in life.