When Sister Marie Andrew Budinski learned that Frank Brown’s dying wish was to see the chapel of the Felician Sisters, she quickly began making preparations for his visit. Angela Hospice’s director of spiritual care Diane McDonald accompanied Frank along with his wife Ann, son Bob, and volunteer Kari, to a warm welcome by the Sisters. Sister Mary Serra Szalaszewicz shared with them the history of the design and décor of the chapel. Afterward Sister Mary Madeleine Dolan accompanied on organ as the other Sisters sang the blessing of St. Francis to Mr. Brown. The group witnessed a most touching moment during the visit when Frank, with the aid of his son, stood up from his wheelchair on his bare and swollen feet in order to kneel at the altar railing. "Only God knew his prayer, but those present perceived his deep faith," Sister Andrew reflected. After the visit, the Sisters escorted their grateful visitors down the sunlit corridor on their way back to Angela Hospice....

George’s Livonia Gardens and the Michigan Native Butterfly Farm will host monarch butterfly releases on Saturday and Sunday, September 14 and 15, at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. both days. Your $15 ticket, purchased in advance, grants you access to: Feed the butterflies and help prepare them for their long journey to their over-wintering sites in Mexico  Learn about their migration route, over-wintering behavior, and return journey Receive your own Monarch butterfly to release with a tag number, tracking information, and websites with information about their incredible journey Cider and donuts Participating children 13 and under will also receive complimentary face painting and a seed ball activity. Additional butterflies can be purchased in store or over the phone for $10 with proceeds going to Angela Hospice. Support Angela Hospice and release a butterfly in a loved one's memory! Angela Hospice staff will be attending the Sunday, September 15, 2:30 p.m. session as well. Fo...

It’s usually young children who measure their age in half birthdays, but if you’ve turned 70 ½ years,  your half birthday can be a big deal too. Starting at 70 ½, owners of traditional IRAs must take a required minimum distribution (RMD). But what if you don’t want that distribution added to your taxable income? Some IRA owners choose to take their RMD as a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) instead. That means instead of taking the required distribution as personal income, they are making all (or a portion of) that distribution to the qualified charity of their choice directly from their IRA account. This strategy maximizes the impact of that money on the charity because it is not taxed, so the full distribution can be utilized by the charity for their good work. The donor doesn’t pay taxes on the money either since it is distributed right from the IRA to the charity. “We’re seeing more and more savvy donors take advantage of the qualified charitable distribu...

Paula was in nursing school at Madonna University when she and her chemistry lab partner, Sister Mary Catherine, were working with combustible chemicals. As the two of them began mixing things, Paula teased, “Be careful, Sister. You’re going to get me killed and I’m afraid of dying.” “Why are you afraid of dying?” Sister Mary Catherine asked. “You need to go over to see Sister Giovanni and start working for her at the Care Center. Put in an application.” Paula thought about it and ended up applying for a position as a contingent nursing assistant. She was hired almost immediately. She continued working at Angela Hospice until she finished her nursing degree and took a full-time position at a nearby hospital. But she held onto her intention of being a hospice nurse. When a position opened up three years later, she applied right away, and has been working in the Care Center now almost 20 years. “Why I stay is because it’s an honor and I love the challenge of symptom co...