Volunteer Spotlight: Paul Esser
How long have you
been a volunteer?
A year-and-a-half.
What areas do you
work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer?
Bereavement, spiritual care, mailings, and events. Hopes to
get more involved with the We Honor Veterans program and direct patient care.
What made you decide
to become a volunteer?
Well, for one thing, I’m retired. I truly appreciate the
work of hospice; I’m all for what they do here, you know, helping people to
pass with as much comfort as possible, helping the families. That’s something
our society doesn’t do very well, so it’s nice to have a place like a hospice
here.
Why Angela Hospice?
I’ve heard so much about it. I guess you could say my father
was among the first people when they were starting hospice. They were still
over in the hospital area and he was sort of being treated as an outpatient.
That was the first year they were trying to get it started. So he died in my
sister’s home but he would get his medicine from [Angela Hospice]. And they did
send somebody to visit with him. So that was my first experience with Angela
Hospice.
So I thought, you know, volunteering, this would be a place
I would certainly like to put my effort [towards].
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| One of the areas Paul (right) volunteers in is at our annual events, like Arbor Day. |
Well, it’s probably two things. One is I believe in my soul,
my spirit, that I can be a helpful presence, either listening or if I’m asked
something, I think I can give hopefully wise answers…So there’s that spiritual
connection.
The other part of that is more selfish. It gives me a real
sense of satisfaction to do something to me that’s so meaningful. Being present
for people, the family members that are going through this…I know first-hand
what that’s like. I’ve lost both my children, and of course a lot of other
family and friends. I have first-hand experience with what that’s like and I
think I can be at least empathetic, but also just being present to people at a
time of spiritual crossroads. People are going through such a profound, painful
experience and just the idea of being able to be some sort of help, some sort
of comfort at that point, is very, I
guess, satisfying to me.
What is one of your
favorite stories or memories from volunteering?
My favorite moments are when I’m with other volunteers
hearing some of their stories – not always specific things about Angela
Hospice, but just listening and recognizing that I’m among people who are
caring and giving and really do, not just talk about it, but really do something for other people. It’s just
pleasant to be amongst such people.
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