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Messages
from Hospice Families
"I would like to thank Hospice & Palliative Care of Westchester for the unequaled care and comfort given my husband during his final days. Thank you to all the lovely caring nurses, staff, and volunteers, who gave us your utmost support and love when most needed. A special thanks to volunteer, Teresa Kiso, who was like a daughter. She not only comforted us, lifting our spirits, but accompanied us as an interpreter and letter writer to help bring our daughter from Cuba. She was like an angel in our difficult road ahead.
And what can we say about the nurses? You are all wonderful. My husband was particularly fond of Jennifer Watts. Even in his grave condition, when we said, "Here is Jennifer," he would open his eyes, so glad to see her.
For everyone of you, from the bottom of our hearts, we would like to say 'Thank you.' In you we found the assistance and love which is so important. We will be eternally grateful for all your care and love shown to him. May God bless you all!!"
5/01, Port Chester, NY
. . . The Class of 2001 at Fox Lane High School collected $125 last year to benefit your organization. This fund raiser was important to me because just last year my grandmother passed away and because of hospice, her last months of life were much easier for her and her family and friends. As an active member of our student government, I organized a bake sale and hope that you will make use of the money we earned. Thank you
Member of the Class of 2001 at Fox Lane High School
. . . Linda Fraser was an absolute dream and the social worker assigned was another God-send. They did much to de-mystify the process, told us what to expect and supported our desire to make this as much a joyful send off for Mom as we could hope for. I believe we gave her a wonderful last day of life here on earth thanks to suggestions from Linda as to reminding her of the great life that was hers, that this part of it was indeed just that - a small part of an otherwise wonderful life - and to create an environment of story telling and music she loved. She smiled and had tears in the corners of eyes throughout the day, and by the time she went that evening, we all felt a sense of completion. We got to tell her everything we wanted, and that's a great gift. I feel nothing but positive about the experience I had with both Linda in particular and hospice in general. Thank you for a job so well done.
Tuckahoe, NY
. . . I wish to thank you for thinking about me on the first anniversary of the death of my loved one. On the 23rd of September 1999 (which was the day he passed) I drove to Massachusetts and scattered his ashes in the Nantucket Sound off Cape Cod where he would spend time in the summer. He would go deep sea fishing there and that was his wish. I have sold my home in White Plains and moved upstate. I want you and your staff to know I deeply appreciate all your support and kindness in my time of sorrow. You are a wonderful group. May God bless all of you in everything you undertake. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. May God bless. . .
White Plains,
NY
In
Loving Memory
Voice,
p5, Winter 2000
On Thursday, August 5, 1999, Georgianna Parker, dear friend to all who knew her, died peacefully at home, while a patient on our Hospice Program.
Georgianna became a Hospice volunteer in 1991, a year after her husband Peter died, also on our Hospice Program. Georgianna wished to give back saying "Having had personal experience of Hospice"s invaluable help to patient and family, I wish to offer, in return, some of my time to other patients and/or families.
As a patient/family volunteer, Georgianna offered many hours. For eight years she was never without a patient, or two, or three. She had a multitude of interests ranging from gardening to reading to baseball, travel, films, scrabble and bridge. With so many interests - many of them passions - Georgianna seemed always to relate well with everyone she met. But Georgianna related well to everyone mainly because of who she was. She was charming and humorous and intelligent and patient and honest and always kind.
I would like to mention just a few jobs Georgianna has done for Hospice. For some reason our volunteer ranks do not include many baseball fans. There have been times when Georgianna was the only volunteer with knowledge of and interest in the sport. Because of this, she was asked many times to go to the far reaches of the country, forget her allegiance to the Yankees, and watch and talk National League baseball with patients who were avid Mets fans. Thanks to Georgianna, I recently became a Yankee fan and never have and never will hear or watch a Yankee game without thinking of her.
Georgianna understood that playing bridge is a wonderful respite for a caregiver who loves the game. And she provided many hours of such respite. Georgianna represented Hospice at volunteer fairs and helped with volunteer recruitment. She was a speaker and panelist member for volunteer preparation classes. As she eagerly attended volunteer meetings and always provided excellent support to other volunteers.
A few years ago when Hospice ran a book group, Georgianna was one of several volunteers to participate. These book discussions were an excellent format for learning and sharing individual insights, ides and opinions. Georgianna volunteered to choose the reading (a John Updike story) for a session where she served as discussion leader. In this, as in all her hospice work, she brought her intuition and sensitivity to other people and their needs.
At Georgianna's Memorial Service on August 9, 1999 her son Peter mentioned a poem that had been hanging on Georgianna's refrigerator for a long time. It is fitting that the poem is Emily Dickinsons:
|
If I can stop
one heart from breaking, If I can ease
one life the aching, Or help one
fainting robin I shall not live in vain. by
Emily Dickinson |
Betsy Emerson
