Jennifer Lake at age 23, just a few years before her first seizure. You could say Jennifer Lake was a Trekkie since birth. She grew up watching Star Trek and knew all the episodes, all the characters. “She loved science fiction,” said her mother, Marilyn Spence, who took Jennifer to see her first sci-fi movie as a child. “Books, movies…that’s how she got started.” So in August 2015, when Jennifer booked two tickets for a Star Trek cruise that would set sail from Miami in March 2017 – she had a lot of time to build up excitement. Only things didn’t really go as planned. Jennifer had a brain tumor. In fact, she had been fighting tumors, undergoing surgery after surgery, radiation, and chemo, in a frustrating loop for 19 years. What started with a seizure when she was 26 years old, eventually evolved into a glioblastoma multiforme grade 4, the worst kind of brain tumor. But Jennifer was determined. She may have had a wound on her skull and enough medications to cover the dining ...

Name:  Christine Henzi How long have you been a volunteer? I have been a volunteer since August of 2012. What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? For the past 5 years I have been a home care volunteer. I have assisted patients and their families in many different ways including visiting with patients, sitting with patients while family goes out, helping with light housekeeping, even walking dogs. It really varies with each patient and their needs. Additionally, for the past year, I have been helping in the Spiritual Care Center as clerical support. What made you decide to become a volunteer? Like so many of our volunteers, I had a family member who was a patient. I was so impressed with the care and compassion shown that I knew I wanted to be a part of Angela Hospice. I also have a background in medicine as a Physician Assistant and felt like my knowledge and experience would be valuable. As a home care volunteer, Christine wo...

Marlis Brady has a beautiful accent. There’s something quite elegant in the way she pronounces her consonants; and the rhythm of her voice, as it subtly rises and falls, produces an enchanting, peaceful effect – even as she describes the trials she’s faced in her 88 years. Marlis in one of her favorite spots, the back sun porch. Marlis grew up in the Rhine Main Valley in Germany during World War II, where hardship was not uncommon. “You couldn’t get anything new. We grew up always saving things, repairing things,” Marlis explained. “I remember one winter I froze my toes because we didn’t have regular shoes… I was standing in line for milk too long.” Food was scarce for families like hers, who didn’t have a farm of their own. But she and her brother helped at other farms during the potato harvest. It meant a sandwich each day for lunch, and an extra sack of potatoes at the end of the year. It was a way to help their family, before Marlis started to work for the occupying Ameri...

Name:  Lawrence (Larry) Janowski How long have you been a volunteer? Five years What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? I work in the patient care facility and assist in fundraising for Angela hospice. Every other Saturday during the summer, I barbecue for patients and their families. On Sunday mornings, I volunteer with the snack cart and visit with families and patients if they are up to it. During the year, I help with various fundraisers, such as: the Tree of Life, golf outings, Walk of Remembrance, and help as needed setting up other fundraisers. What made you decide to become a volunteer? I had a spiritual encounter. Angela Hospice helped my wife’s family with my mother-in-law’s passing. The nurses from home care helped our family as needed keeping the family together and making sure my mother-in-law did not suffer and could spend her remaining time sharing family memories.While driving home from work, I passed Angela H...

Sharon working the hospitality cart in our Care Center. Name:  Sharon K. McDougald How long have you been a volunteer?  I've been volunteering for over 16 years. What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer?  I volunteer for the hospitality cart, flowers, mailings, and selling raffle tickets at the stores. I also help out with the Golf Outing, Light Up a Life event, Laughter Lifts You Up women's event, Easter Brunch, and Mother's Day Brunch. Sharon with fellow volunteers Donna Beamish, Maureen Hassien, and Georgia Scappaticci. What made you decide to become a volunteer?  After retirement, I felt I needed to find a way to fill my time and give back to society and my community.  Why Angela Hospice?  I picked Angela Hospice because it was close to my home and I believe in the hospice mission. What is your favorite part about volunteering?  I love everything about volunteering! I have found out that I...