Name:   Michele McElroy How long have you been a volunteer? I have been volunteering with Angela Hospice for the past 6 years. What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? I am currently making weekly companionship visits to hospice patients with dementia in local nursing and memory care facilities.  I also help with mailings as needed, and I have volunteered in the Care Center and with the grief support meetings. What made you decide to become a volunteer? I have a background in social work and have always been interested in helping others.  Working part time and having older children has given me the chance to use my time for volunteer opportunities. Why Angela Hospice? Angela Hospice is such a special place to me.  Not only do they provide an in-depth training for their volunteers, they continue to provide their volunteers with training and support throughout the year. My family has also used Angela Hospice for home care wit...

Name: Loraine Stear How long have you been a volunteer? 10 years What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? The primary area where I work is in the bereavement department by visiting patient families at funeral homes, but I have also helped with mailings, memorial services, the adult holiday workshop, and Tree of Life. Loraine regularly makes visits to families of Angela  Hospice  patients on behalf of the bereavement  department. What made you decide to become a volunteer? I worked as a psychiatric social worker for about 30 years before two hospital mental health units and an emergency crisis center closed due to budget cuts. When the crisis center where I last worked closed, I decided to find other areas where I could use my skills and continue to help others. Volunteering had been on the back burner until retirement but became a way of life due to other circumstances! Why Angela Hospice? I relocated from downtown to Liv...

Name:  John Robertson How long have you been a volunteer?   I became a volunteer in Fall 2017 What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer?  I visit weekly with an elderly man who resides in a memory care facility. We spend almost two hours together enjoying each other's company. I also speak with his wife after we visit. I serve as a co-facilitator with an Angela Hospice staff member in leading the Men's Bereavement Support Group. What made you decide to become a volunteer? Volunteering has been an important part of my life since entering college. It has helped me to grow as a person in meeting new people and enjoying new experiences. John Robertson prepares to facilitate the Men's Bereavement Support Group with social worker David Barrett. Why Angela Hospice? Serving in the community has helped me understand from other people that Angela Hospice is the best! I appreciate that Angela Hospice serves from a Christian perspecti...

Name:   Lin Fantino How long have you been a volunteer?   I became a volunteer in Fall 2017. What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? I work primarily in the Care Center, providing support for patients and staff.   I completed a little additional training to allow me to support the Care Center staff with direct care to patients.   This direct care adds a little more depth to the volunteer skill set and it is something I really enjoy.    As volunteers, we are also invited to respond to the requests for volunteer assistance from other Angela departments.   Marketing mailings, special events preparation and participation, and special assignment opportunities are some of the options for volunteers.   I enjoy this variety. What made you decide to become a volunteer? Volunteering has always been something I was drawn to.  M y children are grown and doing well and I had just retired,  so I wante...

Name:   Judy Green How long have you been a volunteer?  Since 1996 What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? At first, I worked in the Care Center and did mailings, hospitality, or whatever I was asked to do. One of my long time tasks was providing meals for families in the My Nest is Best program. After my husband's illness and death, I found that patient contact was too difficult. I don't do as much as I did since I've moved away from Livonia to Commerce Township. I still provide desserts for caregiver dinners and help with mailings and fundraising when I can. What made you decide to become a volunteer? I was looking for worthwhile volunteer work after retirement. Angela Hospice is well known and seemed like a good place to volunteer. Why Angela Hospice? It was close to home at the time and a Catholic-based organization that fulfilled a great need. Judy bakes desserts for caregivers suppers for patients and the...

Name: Margaret Cotruvo How long have you been a volunteer?   I’ve been a volunteer about a year and a half. What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? The areas where I work include representing the Spiritual Care Department by visiting patients in care facilities, and offering Healing Touch treatments in the Care Center. I’ve also helped with several mailings, and helped with events like the Tree of Life, Laughter Lifts You Up, and the Golf Outing. What made you decide to become a volunteer? I recently retired and wanted to find a rewarding volunteer experience.   Why Angela Hospice? I've known about the good work hospice does and I know a couple of volunteers so I contacted the volunteer department nearly two years ago. What is your favorite part about volunteering? I volunteer in the Spiritual Care D epartment and visit patients in senior housing facilities. I'm finding this to be very rewarding. D...

Name: Ingrid Lasley How long have you been a volunteer? I started volunteering about 2 ½ years ago. What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? I cover the receptionist desk for lunch hours, which includes telephone calls. I have covered Tree of Life shifts for the past 2 years and plan to volunteer again this season. I also have been involved in numerous mailings and last year’s Walk of Remembrance. What made you decide to become a volunteer? I stopped working a few years ago and decided I could use my spare time best by volunteering. I am enjoying every minute! Why Angela Hospice? Ingrid with fellow volunteer Geri Orlowski My mother passed away in 2012 in Buffalo, NY, and after witnessing the treatment my mother received at a hospice facility there, I knew I wanted to be part of such a kind and caring group. What is your favorite part about volunteering? I have enjoyed meeting so many people who have demonstrated so many ways one can g...

Name:  Marilyn Ling How long have you been a volunteer? Over 10 years What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? I sing in the choir. We meet the second and fourth Wednesday of every month. We try to sing patriotic songs, and uplifting music for the patients and their friends and family that come to visit. I also spend time helping out with the mailings. In the past, I’ve helped out with the desserts at the volunteer dinner. I did that for a couple years. What made you decide to become a volunteer? Both my parents were in hospice care, and I just wanted to give back. My mom was in hospice around 25 years ago. Back then the whole concept of hospice was a little new, but our family really embraced it. I wanted to get involved and volunteer, and that lead me to Angela Hospice. Why Angela Hospice? I chose Angela Hospice because I am a resident of Livonia. Marilyn Ling and fellow volunteer Kathryn Trudeau singing in the Care Cent...

Even when you’ve been volunteering your whole adult life, you never quite know what will come next. Just ask Harvey Fox, who’s been an Angela Hospice volunteer since 2014, and has volunteered at other organizations for years as well. He went through Angela Hospice’s volunteer training thinking he would help by visiting with patients, or maybe working in maintenance or hospitality – but he ended up assisting in Information Technology. Perhaps it’s not too surprising, considering Harv spent 28 years as a software developer, then another 16 years teaching computer classes. But he hadn’t imagined all the ways his I.T. skills would benefit Angela Hospice. “I only work four or so hours a week in the office, but I see that my time has really helped in many concrete ways,” said Harv. Harv has helped in multiple departments, developing user-friendly tools to help staff work more efficiently. And as much as the employees he helps are eager to express their gratitude to him, Harvey says i...

Name: Mary Ann Desjarlais How long have you been a volunteer? I have been a volunteer for 12 years What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? I help with fundraisers, make deliveries to patients’ homes, work on mailings, and do home visits and respite care. What made you decide to become a volunteer? I became a volunteer when I retired. I wanted to do something worthwhile with my time. Why Angela Hospice? I became familiar with Angela Hospice when my dad was there. I was inspired after seeing the level of care he received. What is your favorite part about volunteering? I love meeting the people I come in contact with. The patients and families are so grateful. Mary Ann sells raffle tickets at many of  Angela   Hospice's  events. What is one of your favorite stories or memories from volunteering? I was doing respite care with a patient that had Alzheimer's. She never showed any recognition toward her husband. One...

Deborah Diehr at Balanced Life Massage Studio in Westland, Michigan. “Whenever someone talks about hospice, I always mention that I am a volunteer for Angela,” said Deborah Diehr, a four year Angela Hospice volunteer. When Debbie isn’t working full time for a durable medical equipment company, she is busy owning and managing her own massage business at Balanced Life Massage Studio in Westland, Michigan. Her background in massage therapy has made her a treasured volunteer here at Angela Hospice. Debbie volunteers in the Care Center, but spends most of her time visiting patients’ homes to give massages. For Debbie, knowing she is making a difference in someone's final journey, and being able to give them comfort and peace, is what she cherishes most about volunteering. As for the most challenging part? “Not being able to get to every patient Lora sends to me.” With working a full time job and running her own business, Debbie has many demands on her time...

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...

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...

Name: Elaine Kokko 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? Bereavement, memorials, the Holiday Children’s Workshop, makes salads for weekly Caregiver Suppers, development, mailings, and annual events. What made you decide to become a volunteer? One of my good friends is a nurse on B-wing in the Care Center and I wanted to give back. What is your favorite part about volunteering? The people that I work with, that I volunteer with. The social workers in the Bereavement Department are really wonderful. When you walk into Angela Hospice it’s just a wonderful place to be. Elaine (center) at last year's Volunteer Appreciation dinner. What is one of your favorite stories or memories from volunteering? Oh gosh, they are all favorite moments. (laughs) There isn’t really a favorite moment…just the fact that I’m so honored to be able to wear the badge. 

Char (center) has been an Angela Hospice volunteer for almost five years. For volunteer Char Kramer the idea of becoming a volunteer at Angela Hospice happened through the power of suggestion. Char had recently retired and was looking for somewhere to volunteer when her friend, and fellow Angela Hospice volunteer, Holly Hodgson mentioned that she was going to sign up to volunteer at Angela Hospice. Char jumped at the chance to volunteer for hospice. “She told me she was going to sign up for hospice and I thought, ‘What a great idea!’” said Char, whose mother was a hospice patient in Minnesota in 2007. Char, who has now been a volunteer for almost five years, may not have known a whole lot about Angela Hospice, but she did have firsthand experience of how wonderful hospice care can be. Char said thanks to hospice her mom was able to receive expert care during the last chapter of her life. “I don’t think anything can beat that,” she said. So in the fall of 2011 s...

Name: Pat Millen How long have you been a volunteer? Two years in April. What areas do you work in/what sort of tasks do you do as a volunteer? Development, events, mailings, salads for Caregiver Suppers, and ice cream socials. What made you decide to become a volunteer? I am in a place in my life that’s really very good and I’ve gotten more free time. My grandchildren don’t need me anymore, they’re all in school now; I used to be there for them in case the parents had to go do something. Now I don’t have to do that and I’m in good health. I just decided that I need to give back and thought, “Where could I do this? How could I volunteer?” Pat (left) working at Burgers, Brews & Bros. I was thinking about food pantries and serving meals, but I’ve lived in this community for 45 years, and I only live three miles away. I’ve been associated with the Felicians since school -- I went to school for 12 years with them in Hamtramck…And I thought, “You know, this is clos...

Going to a stranger’s home for the first time and knocking on their door is almost always a little nerve-wracking; just ask home care volunteer George Weber. “Sure, I had a few butterflies ringing my first doorbell!” he said. “However, I knew that I was entering a home that wanted me there… I was accepted as just another part of the Angela Hospice team.” George volunteers in home care each week. As a home care volunteer George definitely feels the love from both patients and their families, who are incredibly appreciative he’s there, even if only for a few hours each week. “A lot of times you’re just a sounding board,” George laughed. “A little bit of a psychologist sometimes too.” To patients and families, George and all the other home care volunteers who visit are much more than “just a sounding board.” They can give the patient some companionship and comfort. They can give the loved ones a moment to do something for themselves, even if it’s as small as going to ...