Hospice

Lutheran Home Care and Hospice is seeking committed and caring individuals interested in becoming hospice volunteers for clients and their families in Franklin County, Pa. Upcoming training dates are from 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays, today, Oct. 17 and 24, in Chambersburg, Pa. or from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 13, 20 and 27, in Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. For more information, contact Tammy Hawbaker at 717-217-3520 or volunteers@lutheranhomecare.org ...

February is the month for love, and Hospice of Washington County is showing some love to its donors. All donors will receive a thank-you letter and discount card for the new Treasured Memories Gift Shop, which is in the lobby of Hospice of Washington County. Donors who gave $1,000 or more in 2011 will each receive a heart-shaped box filled with goodies, and donors who gave $5,000 or more in 2011 will each receive chocolates and a dozen roses. All hospice employees who have donated will receive a Hospice of Washington County ice scraper for their car. Board members who have a 100 percent giving participation rate also will each receive a gift at their next board meeting, which will be on Valentine's Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14. “Thanks to the generosity of our donors and their confidence in our mission, we are able to provide quality end-of-life care to all of our friends and neighbors in Washington County who are in need of this service,” Cheryl Brown, development director for hospice, said in a news release.

At first, Blaine was reluctant to allow his wife, Jenny, to call for hospice care. He was uncomfortable thinking about strangers being in his home when he was ill. "Knowing that I needed help with his care, he finally agreed to try hospice," Jenny said. "Not long after the team members began to arrive, he began to look forward to their time with him. He became more relaxed than I had seen him at any time during his illness. The support they gave us both was immeasurable and extraordinarily comforting.

“What is wrong with me? Am I going crazy? I just wish I were the same person I used to be; maybe I’m just getting old,” asked Bill.   Nothing seemed to hold his interest lately, and interacting with his friends and family seemed more burdensome than fun.   Bill knew that he had suffered some personal losses over the last few years with the death of his best friend and the serious illness of his wife. But Bill was a great caregiver — everyone said so. So what was going on?

Britt Reed Law Offices was successful in its challenge to the community to raise $25,000 for Hospice of the Panhandle's Building the Dream campaign - so successful, in fact, that hospice was able to raise $66,160 through the match, and reach its 2012 year-end goal of $3.5 million. Terry Britt, of Britt Reed Law Offices, announced in late November that the firm would match, dollar for dollar, up to $25,000. In mid-November, Hospice's donors exceeded the challenge, and Britt Reed agreed to increase and match donors' contributions up to $30,000, according to a news release.

A spring craft show held at Hager Hall on April 24 and 25 sponsored by the Kris Kringle Holiday Craft and Gift Show raised $10,600.18 for Hospice of Washington County. Proceeds from the vendors at the show will go to Holly Place. The annual Kris Kringle show will be Nov. 20 and 21 at the ARCC at Hagerstown Community College.

In a breakfast ceremony at Hospice of Washington County on July 17, with their families present, three local young women were awarded the Frederic H. Kass III, M.D., Scholarship. Each student received a $1,000 scholarship.  “I'm honored to have the scholarship at Hospice of Washington County named for me and I'm delighted to be assisting those pursuing careers in health care,” Kass said in addressing the group. Those receiving the scholarships were Katy Yeary, who is attending Kettering College of Medical Arts, Ohio; Sarah Stayer, who is attending St. Mary's College of Maryland; and Damara McDonough, who is attending Towson University.

During March, employees at Hospice of Washington County Inc. collected canned and boxed soups to donate to Food Resources Inc. Judy Meador, human resource director of Hospice, recently presented 157 pounds of soup products to Ruth Anne Callaham, executive director of Food Resources. "When we heard of the soup shortage at Food Resources, we wanted to do something to help," Meador said. "We encourage other businesses and organization to do the same. Food Resources supplies food for the 19 food banks in Washington County.

Knights of Columbus, Pangborn Council 1365, recently held a St. Patrick's gala to raise funds for Hospice of Washington County. About 250 people attended the event and $2,000 was raised. Pictured presenting a $2,000 check to Hospice of Washington County are, from left, Lou Scally of WJEJ-AM, program chair; Melanie Clifford, a registered nurse with Hospice of Washington County; and David Moats, deputy grand knight of Knights of Columbus, Pangborn Council 1365.

Special to The Herald-Mail In 2004, my perfectly normal life was suddenly in a tailspin when my husband was diagnosed with a terminal blood disorder. The disease progressed too quickly to do anything more than treat the symptoms. As his health rapidly declined, he decided that he wanted to die at home with minimal discomfort. He felt that because I was a nurse I could handle this.  I, on the other hand, was fearful because I am a nurse and because this was my husband.

Galyen Wayne Keesecker, 48, of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Tuesday, May 14, 2013, at his home while under the care of Hospice. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at South Berkeley Chapel in Inwood, W.Va. The service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with Pastor Vernon Bray officiating. Burial will be in Rosedale Cemetery.

Lucille Buxton Messinger, 84, formerly of Bridgeport, Conn., died peacefully Monday, April 22, 2013, at her Smithsburg, Md., home surrounded by family. Born July 12, 1928, she was the daughter of the late William and Margaret Buxton. The late Harry Buxton and Celia Dobson were her siblings. Lucille attended Bassick High School in Connecticut and obtained a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in library science. She worked as a secretary at Hagerstown Junior College and later at Woodland Way School as a teacher.

Zion Baptist Church on Bethel Street in Hagerstown will host Hospice of Washington County as it presents Hospice Care in Hagerstown on Saturday, April 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The program will feature welcoming remarks by Hospice CEO Eric Klimes and Pastor Ricky A. Smith Sr., presentations from Dr. Bernice Harper and Dr. Gwendolyn London and panel discussions featuring staff from Hospice.  Breakfast and lunch will be served. Those interested in attending the event should call Hospice to reserve a seat.

Elizabeth "Susie" M. (Sterling) Myers, 73, died Friday, April 5, 2013, in Hagerstown, Md., under the compassionate care of Hospice of Washington County and her beloved daughter and family. Born May 4, 1939, on Coffman Avenue in Halfway, Md., she was the daughter of the late Wilbur Lee Sterling Sr. of Williamsport, Md., and Carrie Elizabeth (Smith) Sterling of Funkstown, Md. She was a 1957 graduate of South Hagerstown High School. She was a Baptist. Susie is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Lisa S. Myers and Max A. Cacas of Arlington, Va.; sisters, Carolyn (Bill)

Florence Lillian Schell, 90, of Hedgesville, W.Va., died Sunday, March 31, 2013, at her residence while under the care of Hospice. The family will receive friends Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, Martinsburg, W.Va. The service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home with Pastor Eric Kersten officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant View Memory Gardens.

James E. Curfman, 76, of Smithsburg, Md., died Thursday, March 14, 2013, at Meritus Medical Center. He was the son of the late James and Mary (Sheffler) Curfman. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Jim worked at Mack Trucks. He loved the outdoors and spent many weekends fishing, hiking and bicycling with his brothers and nephews. In retirement, he volunteered for Hospice of Washington County. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Peggy (McCarty) Curfman; by his sisters, Patsy Snyder, Jean Simmers, and Betty Rider; and by his brother, Charles; and infant brother, Gary Curfman.

Evangeline E. LaFollette, age 91, of Hancock, and a resident of Broadmore Assisted Living, Hagerstown, Md., died Saturday, March 16, 2013, at Broadmore. Born Nov. 13, 1921, in Berkeley Springs, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Robert E. and Mae Stoner Hovermale and the widow of Hollis I. LaFollette, who died in 2008. She had been employed as a seamstress with Jacob Brothers and E.J. Fennel. She was a devoted, loving and caring wife to her husband (Granddad) for more than 71 years.

It wasn't how much money they made or how quickly they climbed the ladder of success. It wasn't the big homes or expensive cars, membership in the right social clubs or having a closet full of designer clothes. In the end, none of that mattered. Instead, they wished they would have set aside time to enjoy the things in life too often overlooked - sunrises and sunsets, reading a book with their children, an act of kindness toward a stranger. Most people eventually learn the lessons of how to conduct a satisfying life.

Alma Victoria Simpson-Hollinger, 92, of Clear Spring, died Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, at home surrounded by her family and friends. Born May 17, 1920, in Ridgeley, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late James and Emma Beale. Alma was a professional dancer and worked for the Pony Express, Statton Furniture and Neikirk's Wallcovering. She was a volunteer for Hospice. She was a member of Berean Bible Fellowship. Alma enjoyed traveling and spending time with her family. Alma is survived by her son, John Drew Simpson of Berkeley Springs, W.Va., and his wife, Laurie; daughter, Marsha Lynn Miller of Clear Spring and her husband, Mark; stepdaughter, Sarah Hollinger of Raleigh, N.C., and her husband, Rusty; stepson, Denny Hollinger of Hagerstown, Md., and his wife, Melanie; stepson, Donnie Hollinger of Michigan; grandson, Jay Simpson and his wife, Carla, of Maryland; granddaughter, Jessica Klick and her husband, Tim, of Hagerstown; granddaughter, Courtney Reese and her husband, Joey, of Hagerstown; grandson, Joseph Miller of Clear Spring; grandson, Patrick Simpson of South Carolina; granddaughter, Autumn Simpson of Berkeley Springs; granddaughter, Haley Simpson of Berkeley Springs; grandson, Scottie Simpson of Berkeley Springs; granddaughters, Anna Hood and Beth Hood, and grandsons, Mark Hood and John Hood, all of Raleigh, N.C.; granddaughter, Rebecca Darling and her husband, John, of Michigan; grandson, Raymond Hollinger of Michigan; several nieces and nephews;...

Robert Lee Myers died Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, while under the compassionate care of hospice.  Born near Chewsville, Md., he was the son of the late Wilbur Cleveland Myers and Elnora L. Stouffer Myers. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth M. (Sterling) Myers; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa S. Myers and Max A. Cacas of Arlington, Va.; sisters, Ruth (Glen) Fox of Williamsport, Md., June Alford and Marie (Ronnie) Harshman, both of Hagerstown, Md., and Chris (Stanley) Mullendore of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; and brother-in-law, Jack Hoch of Hagerstown.