Lourdes Hospice Volume XII Issue 4 May 2014

VOLUNTEER NEWS

Hospice Volunteers

To all of the wonderful volunteers, I have just attended the luncheon at the Binghamton Country Club to honor you and all you do, and I'd like to add to what was said. You give so much...who you are, what you are...as you share yourselves with others. You are loving, caring, compassionate, and sensitive to the needs of those you care for and about. You offer them purpose and possibility. You are marvelous examples of how we all should relate to those around us. What you offer to others shines with a bright and inviting light to all you serve. Thank you. There are not enough words to begin to convey how much we appreciate all you do for Hospice and all those who Hospice serves. A simple "thank you" will have to do, but please know it comes from our hearts and with our deepest sincerity. With my utmost gratitude to you all, Rev. Judy Kessler, Chair of the Hospice Advisory Board

2 May 2014 Page Lourdes Hospice

Dear Volunteers,

This has been a busy month…Easter Bags, Recognition Luncheon, welcoming new staff to Hospice, saying “see you later” to others. Sue Roessner who has been with Hospice for 12 years has retired. I am so pleased for Sue. But, will be missed greatly. Sue always assisted with the volunteer training and has not only made nurse visits when needed but was our main admission nurse. Well-deserved time for herself and husband but also her first grandchild due this Fall! Congratulations, Sue. Barb Ryder has also retired. Barb was one of our weekend nurses! And, is onto a new journey! We welcome new nurses, Deb Smith and Denise Telfer. They are enjoying their new roles in Hospice. Welcome! And, Congratulations to Mary Cosentino who was awarded the Aide of the Year! Our patients are Blessed. Mary started as a volunteer visiting patients mostly on the weekend as she was working full time at the time. We are so lucky to have her in her current position. Congratulations to All.

We will be taking a little break from the newsletters for the summer! A big thank you to Gail Goldberg who coordinates your newsletter.

I wish all of you a summer full of sun, fun, ice cream, family time, time for you and joy! Recharge your battery! Enjoy!

Bettye Canestaro

Volunteer Happenings

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As a relatively new Hospice Volunteer, I am humbled by the preciousness of the gift we are able to give others, and amazed at the gifts we receive in return. My last client and I had an unusual connection, which made this experience even richer for me. A mutual friend asked me if I would be willing to visit “Ann” once a week to teach her how to meditate after she was diagnosed with cancer. Ann had two friends that also wanted to learn, so we formed a small group in early December. We met for one hour almost every week for several months in her home. Ann first learned to connect to her breath and the stillness of her body as a way to stay calm in stressful situations, like waiting in the oncologist’s office. Gradually, she embraced the opportunity meditation gave her to be open to things over which she had no control, and to experience well-being in a body that was very ill. She began to let go of relying on the mind that wants to plan and make sense of a situation that really cannot be planned and makes no sense.

In mid-March, we had what would be our last group meditation session. When we finished the hour, Ann smiled and said she realized how much her anxiety had contributed to her pain, and that she had never felt so peaceful.

The next week, she entered Hospice. She was too weak to participate in our group, but I was able to continue seeing her as her hospice volunteer. Her daughter asked me to continue meditating with her mom on my hospice visits. I was able to visit Ann five times in the next two weeks, as her health declined. Meditating quietly at her bedside became a beautiful way to be present, to open to her as she became less and less responsive. It was also a comfort to her daughter, who joined us; I taught her a simple breathing practice

3 May 2014 Page Lourdes Hospice

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100 Hours

Caroline Bloodgood Duncan Finlayson Adriana Rollo Donna Russell Lisa Sokol Tricia Titman 200 Hours Gail Abbott Rita Braman Peg Hubbert Catherine McEvilly Kathy Yarborough 300 Hours

Lee Bonner Diane Koch Kathy Morgan Deb Rombach Rita Talkiewicz

Volunteer Luncheon – 2014 Another beautiful day for the Volunteer Recognition luncheon! I was pleased to see some of the “new” volunteers that came to enjoy the day. Local florists donated centerpieces for the tables and with the delicious luncheon provided by the Country Club, it was a beautiful and a delicious way to honor the volunteers. Once again, it was a joy to honor all of you and some special milestone hours. I want to thank you for all that you do for our patients and their families Hopefully, you enjoyed the day and those of you who could not attend, we will see you next year! Melissa Collins accompanied the luncheon with her marvelous talent on the harp. David Patak, CEO and President, spoke and added his ‘thank you.’

Here are those volunteers with Milestone Hours:

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500 Hours Joan Tefft 1000 Hours

Judy Doherty Deacon Michael Donovan Virginia Freedman Dawnmarie Kelleher Dan Murphy Bill Schneider 5000 Hours Shirlenn O’Brien

8000 Hours June Wootton

“Thank you again for all that you do for our patients and their families. And, with such caring, compassion and generous hearts, we are so Blessed to have each of you.”

4 May 2014 Page Lourdes Hospice

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Garry Flagg was led to volunteer at hospice after the death of his wife. They had been married for six years; a period he refers to as the best time of his life. Diane’s death occurred in 2005, and he was at her side all through her illness and her time in hospice. “We went to a gate together,” he says. “She went through, and I stayed back.” He wears a beautiful cross made from her wedding ring, the engraving on that ring skillfully preserved. He waited for the required year after her death to take the training class, and then another year after his son died. “Hospice teaches you what’s important” Garry believes. He has seen his share of patients since that class – the man at a nursing home, who on Garry’s first visit stated that he had to get ready for friends, told Garry to leave, and died later that day; the many Yankee games

Volunteer Profile: Garry Flagg

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he watched with one patient even though he is a Dodgers fan; a very old man, the father of a former classmate, who after a hard country life waited for his family reunion before letting go; the alcoholic abandoned by his family who enjoyed Garry’s gifts of donuts. In addition to visiting patients Garry also delivers prescriptions. A salesman, he has often been on the road when Bettye calls… in or near Syracuse for a delivery and has said, “Sure, I’ll be back before the pharmacy closes…no problem!” He has almost always managed to return and deliver those drugs in a timely manner. The exception was when the call found him in Key West. Garry attended school in Windsor and graduated from North High in Binghamton. He has been a firefighter in West Colesville and past president of a fire company board. He is a past Master

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Free Mason and now a chaplain, and he draws on the fundamental principles of Free Masonry in his volunteer work. The men who volunteer bring a different aspect to the program, especially for the male patients who feel much more comfortable having another man to talk with. And Garry’s dedication, generosity and warmth give so much to all the patients and families he visits. “Garry not only has visited patients in their home or hospitals, but he is one of our main delivery persons for medications… Garry’s recent patient was admitted with brain cancer and had difficulty finding his words and enjoyed music on his computer. When this was difficult to manage, Garry downloaded some music for him and they enjoyed this project together. Thank you, Garry, for your inspiration and dedication to our patients and their families.”

This was written by one of our volunteers, Florence Frisbie, as a tribute to her patient. I wanted to share it with you.  

When I was looking for kindness, you were there, When I was looking for a smile, you were there, When I needed uplifting, you were there, When my heart was opened to you, you were there, When I needed to see patience, you were there. When I needed to see the love of our Heavenly Father You were there with His love on your face. I will miss you, but I had a wonderful journey with you. Love, Florence

5 May 2014 Page Lourdes Hospice

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continued from page 2 as a support for her mother and for herself. I adjusted the meditation to accommodate Ann’s changing condition. Recognizing that hearing can be acute as one is dying, I continued using the words Ann had become familiar with. Often, Ann’s daughter and I simply sat and breathed with her. The night of my last visit, I had a dream that Ann had died, and in the morning the email arrived confirming this.

To simply be present, calm and unafraid, in the face of death is a new experience for me. I am so grateful that my personal journey of meditation has prepared me for this. And I extend my gratitude to Bettye for her beautiful support and guidance as I continue to learn what it means to be a Hospice Volunteer.

Renée Daily P.S. I have asked Renee to present an in-service in the Fall (date to be determined with Renee’s schedule) to the volunteers. I think it would be valuable to you as you continue your ministry with our patients.

Easter Bags The dedicated Easter “crew” was busy with 93 Easter bags this year. They were finished in record time this year! I think they have it down to a “science”. Then, came the challenge of getting them delivered…or, at least, I thought! Surprise! in one day, they were delivered to our office in the West to be taken to our patients and then magically volunteers appeared to deliver almost all the others. A big thanks to the team: Bill and Jean Schneider, Linda Bush, Doris Roth, Judy Doherty. Judy even brought donuts to keep up their strength. I have received many thanks from our patients either by phone calls or messages from our staff. It seems like such a small gift but means so much to our patients. Also, Marge Harold, an indirect volunteer, brought many items that were donated by her church. And, NYSEG also donated items to our Easter baskets. “Many hands make light work”. Thank you to all that made our patients life a little brighter.

6 May 2014 Page Lourdes Hospice  

Val Kelly has been published in “Secret Places” a daily devotional website. And, the following was posted on January 11 on their website.

“Stepping off the elevator on the hospice unit of our hospital, I was greeted by the “Brahms Lullaby” playing over the loudspeaker. Many hospitals use this song to announce the birth or a baby. As a hospice volunteer, I was going to sit with a person who would soon be finishing life on earth while just a floor away another person was just beginning life. As I thought about these two lives in transition, I was overcome by the reality that God is present and involved in the life process from birth to is completion. Never once along this journey does God withdraw His love for a person. In our lives as Christ’s followers, there is not one second when God looks the other way or leaves us alone to tough it out. Even when, in our humanity, we don’t feel the presence of God, the truth is, God never leaves us dangling. Let it be an encouragement to us that no matter where we are along the continuum or what we are going through, nothing can separate us from God’s present or great love.” Valerie Kelly

What did the Hospice Volunteers do in December 2013 – February 2014? Task Hours

Admission Packets 55 Baskets of Love (incl. Christmas Stockings) 22 Bereavement Calls 68 Bereavement Group 33 Bereavement Newsletter 13 Bereavement Office 28 Delivery of Medications 128 Funerals 30 Main Office 299 Misc. (mtg, angel sales & stockings, etc) 20 Sewing Gowns/Knitting Lap robes) 68 Spiritual Care 49 Support to Home Care Patients 309 Support to Hospital Patients 36 Support to Nursing Home Patients 157 Volunteer Office 134 Total: 1 ,449 hours Mileage: 9 ,692 miles AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!

Thank you again for all that you do for our patients and their families, and, with such caring, compassion and generous hearts. We are so Blessed to have each of you.

7 May 2014 Page Lourdes Hospice

May Birthdays

Garry Flagg 5/4 Janet Denman 5/5 Denise Banko 5/10 Pat Moses 5/11 Florence Frisbie 5/13 Linda Bush 5/17 Joan Tefft 5/18 Sue Schapiro 5/20 Judy Doherty 5/23 Rita Talkiewicz 5/26 Peg Hubbert 5/31

June Birthdays

Adriana Rollo 6/3 Doris Roth 6/11 Kit Hartman 6/20 Dan Murphy 6/20 Nicole Newborn 6/28 Rev. Tim Dodd 6/29

July Birthdays Sue Vellenga 7/3 Jan Fiore 7/13 Laville Williams 7/17 Sr. Mary Catherine Cooney 7/19 Delores Sinchak 7/23 Margit Roder-Walters 7/25 Mary Olshefski 7/26 Jean Schneider 7/27 Gail Abbott 7/31

8 May 2014 Page Lourdes Hospice

Lourdes Hospice Volunteer Office 4102 Old Vestal Road Vestal, NY 13850

Phone: 607-584-9159 Fax: 607-798-5345

Email: Bcanestaro@lourdes.com

Volunteer News Volunteer News

A monthly publication by and for Lourdes Hospice Volunteers

Newsletter Committee

Gail Goldberg Bettye Canestaro Maureen Darling

Bill Schneider, photographs

The next newsletter will be published in August.

Please submit all articles and items of interest

By July 15.