While many people start looking at Angela Hospice for a loved one after hearing about it through a friend or relative, it was an Angela Hospice radio ad that caught Sue Baumberger’s attention. “That really is what initially started me looking at Angela Hospice,” said Sue, a Woodhaven resident. Sue with a photo of her dad, Robert, who was in Angela Hospice care. Sue and her sister knew that they would have to put their dad, Richard, on hospice care eventually. He had kidney failure and congested heart failure. So with the help of her sister’s friend, who used to work in hospice, their search was on. “There were a couple that we had narrowed it down to,” Sue said. “We choose Angela Hospice based on her recommendation as well as what I was able to find online.” And all those radio ads. Even though Sue had no prior hospice experience, she had only heard good things about using it. Her sister had first-hand experience after using hospice for her mother-in...

Name: Charlotte Neary How long have you been a volunteer? Three-and-a-half years. What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? Patient care in the Care Center, gardening, errands, and Tree of Life. What made you decide to become a volunteer? Once I retired I felt like I needed to give back. Why Angela Hospice? As us older nurses start maturing we start realizing that there’s a need for it. I have a sister-in-law who is a nurse, and she works in cardiac care. Just in some of our talks it really got me thinking that maybe hospice would be a good place to volunteer and give back. When I walked in here, I found this place is blessed. It is holy. There is no other way to describe it. What is your favorite part about volunteering? I get to be the nurse that I learned to be 50 years ago. As the years have gone by nurses do more and more paper work…I think here they do more patient and hands-on care than they do in the hospitals. ...

Name: Elizabeth McGill How long have you been a volunteer? Two years. What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? Patient care in the Care Center, events, the We Honor Veterans program, and My Nest is Best program. What made you decide to become a volunteer? Going up and down Newburgh Road to church and that…I kept wanting to volunteer, but I never ventured out until Father Jim over at St. Edith’s was looking for volunteers for the church, and he said, ”What are you waiting for?“ All I could remember was, “What are you waiting for?” It gave me the push. My friend Debbie, from St. Edith’s, she’s a volunteer [at Angela Hospice] so I said, “Do you think you could get an application?” She said, “Sure.” So that’s where it started. I took the classes and then I started with being a feeder. Elizabeth volunteers in the Care Center, where she helps feed patients. What is your favorite part about volunteering? I would say everyth...

Most people know about Black Friday and Cyber Monday but do you know about #GivingTuesday? The global day of giving will take place on Tuesday, December 1, and Angela Hospice is one of over 30,000 partners in 68 countries participating. Founded in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y #GivingTuesday was inspired by the core Jewish value of tikkun olam, which means, “repairing the world.” #GivingTuesday is all about doing just that: giving; and there are a variety of ways to do that. Give your time. Give some money to your favorite charity ( Donate to Angela Hospice  here. ). Write a wonderful review online about the work one of the #GivingTuesday organizations is doing. It doesn’t matter how or what exactly you do, all that matters is that you give.  Another way to participate in #GivingTuesday is by taking an #UNselfie. ( Download the flyer  here.) Take a photo of yourself and put why you are supporting Angela Hospice on #GivingTuesday. Be sure to tag us on Faceboo...

Mary (far right) with her three sisters and her dad, Norman. For Mary Jardine having her dad’s hospice care set up in the living room made life a little easier, and a little funnier. “It was just funny because it was like a drive-through,” she laughed. “It’s a family joke. That’s how we (the family) get through a lot of things; we have to have a sense of humor.” Laughter is after all the best medicine, and one that’s helped Mary and her family after the passing of her dad, Norman. Norman was an Angela Hospice patient for about a month-and-a-half before dying in August, a day before his 88 th birthday. While Norman, who had diabetes and dementia, lived with Mary, it was her other sister, a nurse, who often took him to his doctor appointments and noticed how rapidly he was losing weight. Mary said that her sister talked to the doctor about hospice and then took the necessary steps to see if Norman qualified, which he did. Angela Hospice started coming to the house...

Name:   Geri Orlowski How long have you been a volunteer? Four years. What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? Patient care in the Care Center, receptionist, mailing s , and events. What made you decide to become a volunteer? I took an early retirement. It was like, “What am I going to do?” I also work at the Felician nuns’ down the road. They were part of my childhood growing up, but I live across the street, and I was like, “This is too good to be true.” I mean, here’s Angela Hospice, here are the Felician nuns, and I perused each one. I had to pursue them. That’s where I wanted to work, at Angela [Hospice]. What is your favorite part about volunteering? Probably that little bit you’re able to do for someone else that doesn’t come with big recognition; you just kind of feel good walking away. Geri often works the phones in the Care Center.

This week one of our volunteers, Bernadette O’Neill, was recognized as a Distinguished Volunteer at the Association of Fundraising Professionals Annual Philanthropy Day Dinner! Bernadette is being honored for her work with the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph, where she works in the development department. Bernadette also volunteers in the development department at Angela Hospice, and has been a volunteer here for over a decade. “Bernadette has been so generous to Angela Hospice; sharing not only her time, but her formidable skills and wisdom with our team in the development department,” said Robert Alexander, Angela Hospice Director of Development. “She is one of those rare volunteers who knows her way very well around a computer and is able to multiply our efforts acknowledging and thanking donors for their heartfelt financial support for our hospice work. “We are so proud of Bernadette’s spirit of volunteerism and congratulate her wholeheartedly!” he cont...

(Left to right): Darlene Bublin, U.S. Air Force; Margot Parr, U.S. Army; and Marian Ross, U.S. Navy . Today we recognize all veterans as part of Veterans Day. As proud  Level 2  members of the nationwide We Honor Veterans program, we are honored to serve our veterans all year. We would also like to say a special thank you to all our Angela Hospice staff and volunteers who served in the armed forces, including: Darlene Bublin Jan Eskin John Michalski Margot Parr Marian Ross John Stern Thank you to all who have served our country! “It Is The Veteran” It is the Veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion. Is it the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It is the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us the freedom to assemble. It is the Veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair...

By: Kate McNamara, Angela Hospice Volunteer Anyone who has been on the Angela Hospice grounds in the warmer months can’t help but notice the beautiful flowers. Eugene Gorczyca is one of the volunteers contributing his time and talent to that remarkable view.   Eugene tends to the Angela Hospice flowers. He has his routine starting with the roses at the main entrance. He follows along the contours of the Care Center taking special care of the roses. He waters all the flowers, clipping and weeding as he makes his way around the building. Next, he goes inside the Care Center to care for the flowers in the interior courtyards. Finally, he goes back outside to the front grounds from the Holy Family statue to the Pergola. He completes this flower circuit two to three times a week. During the hot July days, he does this every other day. At the idea he makes the place beautiful, he quickly responded: “There’s no me in this, it takes a village.” Eugene’s wife Dolores was an...

Sofia and Elliana Poulos Grief is tough at any age. And the holidays can complicate those feelings. That’s why Angela Hospice has developed a series of events for those processing a loss during the holiday season. On Sunday, November 8, the team will hold a free presentation for adults entitled Getting Through the Holidays, from 2:30-4 p.m., at Angela Hospice. This lecture will provide helpful ideas on how to make the holidays easier while dealing with a loss. For children there is a holiday workshop that will provide a special way to remember a loved one during the holidays. “Children often feel alone in their grief,” said Bereavement Social Worker Sally Loughrin, who specializes in working with grieving children. “Participating in grief support groups provides an avenue for them to be with others who have had similar losses.” Loughrin will host Angela Hospice’s Children’s Holiday Workshop for ages 5-12 on Sunday, December 13, from 2-4 p.m. Participants will have the op...