Chilliwack Hospice Society News ~ September 2019 7112 Vedder Road, Chilliwack, BC V2R 3T6 Phone: 604-795-4660 Email: [email protected] - Website: www.chilliwackhospice.org Registered Charity #867303232RR001 Mission Statement: Chilliwack Hospice Society is a community based volunteer organization which accepts death as a part of life. We support individuals and families during the dying and grieving process. Goodbye Summer Hello Fall There has been so many positive things going on at Chilliwack Hospice Society. Our team of Program Staff: Lucy Fraser – Program Director, Jen Dacre - Palliative & Bereavement Services Manager, and Brandon Wakefield - Child and Youth Program Manager have been hard at work serving this amazing community. Our offices on Vedder are a hubbub of activity, healing, laughter and joy. We are so blessed to have such a talented and compassionate team. We have several fundraising events coming up that allow us to provide all these services for free. Our 16th Annual Gala is fast approaching on October 19th and will be a “Moonlight Gala” filled with glamour and glitz. It will include everything that sparkles. Our entertainers will be the Bruce James Orchestra who will play all night and provide dancing later. Our Chef from “Taste of Thyme” is preparing a sumptuous meal that will delight all who attend. Our live and silent auctions are always a huge hit with our guests. Tickets are available on Eventbrite or by calling our office at 604-795-4660. They are $150.00 and include a partial tax receipt. Don’t miss this fabulous event. On November 21st we will be holding our first Champagne Tastes Art Auction. We have several beautiful pieces of original art and numbered prints that have been generously donated to the Society which will be auctioned that night. They include works by Brent Heighton, Johnathan Milne, Evelyn Zuberbier, April Lacheur and Sylvie Roussel-Janssen, just to name a few. Tickets will be available through Eventbrite or by calling our office at 604-795-4660 and the cost will be $20.00. We will be serving scrumptious snacks and delicious bubbly. If you have art that you would like to donate to this event, please contact Sharilyn Jackson at 778-860-4019 or email at [email protected]. Starting in January Laurie McNaught, our new Educational Manager, will be presenting various educational events for the community. These will cover various topics such as Advance Care Planning, Banking, Downsizing, Cooking for One, Legacy Arts, and Bucket List Festival. We are currently working on our schedule so stay tuned for more information. Thank you for your continued support of Chilliwack Hospice Society! Thank you to all our volunteers who are the backbone of our Society and to our staff and board members!
Sue Knott, Executive Director Tickets on sale now October 19, 2019—Moonlight Gala This high profile and glamourous evening offers fine dining, dancing, silent & live auctions and exciting entertainment. Definitely not one to miss! Page 2 2 Programs and Services
Traumatic Loss Group
This eight week group is for people who have had loved ones die in ways including but not limited to suicide, homicide, accident, substance use and/or physical illness. Please contact Lucy at [email protected] or by phone at 604-795-4660 ext. 105 if you would like more information about this group.
Pregnancy and Baby Loss Grief Support Group
We offer one-to-one support to parents whose baby has died from miscarriage, stillbirth or within the first year of life. If this is a group which you would like to attend or have questions about it, please contact Lucy: [email protected] or by phone at 604-795-4660 ext. 105
Relaxation Program
We offer relaxation treatments to community members on Monday mornings and Wednesday afternoons. Our Relaxation Team consists of volunteers trained in a variety of Complementary Therapies. People who receive treatments do so for a variety of reasons including: chronic pain; bereavement; anxiety/depression; illness; treatments of illness such as radiation and chemotherapy; caregiving fatigue; recovery from accidents; and addictions. Or you just might like to try receiving a treatment to see what it’s like and have a relaxing experience. The treatments are usually around half an hour. To book a session, just call the office: 604-795-4660
First Step Grief Support Group
An 8-week closed program that takes place at the Chilliwack Hospice Society’s “Rotary Hospice Centre” It is offered up to 3 times annually. Our next session will begin October 1st and run through to November 19th. Please call Jen if you are interested in joining this group. [email protected] or by phone at 604-795-4660 ext. 107
Children’s Grief Support Group
This program is for children, ages 6-12, who have experienced the death of a loved one; or who currently have a loved one dying. Our next session will begin October 1st and run through to November 19th. Please call Brandon if you are interested in joining this group. [email protected] or by phone at 604-795-4660 ext. 108
Lucy Fraser, Director of Programs, How to Obtain Our Services recently celebrated 15 years with Chilliwack Hospice Society. We Just give us a call or send us an email surprised Lucy with a lunch party There is No Cost to Our with all her favourite foods. Working with Lucy makes every Clients for Our Services day enjoyable and we are so Phone: 604-795-4660 happy to have her. Thank you, Email: [email protected] Lucy, for everything that you do! Page 3 3
Programs and Services
Children’s Horse Whisperer Grief Camp
Our annual Horse Whisperer Grief Camp was held this year on June 15th. There were 30 children and youth between the ages of 5 and 13 who attended the camp, along with 26 Hospice Society volunteers and staff. The participants spent the day riding, grooming, painting, and reflecting with the horses. We also had a Fun and Games station that involved lots of running and laughing, as well as an Arts and Crafts station at which the kids made horseshoe dreamcatchers. Special thanks goes out to Dora Isaak for once again hosting the event this year and to all those who volunteered on the day. Both your presence and efforts ensured that the day was safe, fun, and meaningful for the children and youth of Chilliwack! Page 4 4
Chilliwack Hospice Thrifty Boutique 260-45428 Luckakuck Way 604-846-2226 Store Hours: Monday—Saturday 9:30am– 5:00pm Donation Drop Off Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:00am-4:30pm
3rd Annual Fashionista Fashion Show
Our 3rd annual Fashionista Fashion Show was held on May 13th at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre. Our volunteers and staff worked hard to make this the best one yet! We had thirty models from 6 to 80 strutting their stuff on the runway. Many volunteer hours were put into organizing, setting up making over 1000 appetizers and ensuring the evening ran smoothly. A huge thank you to all of or volunteers and our community for supporting us to put on a successful show! Don’t forget to get your tickets early next year, we sold out fast!
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Thrifty Boutique Thrifty Boutique Club Elite Volunteers Needed! Thrifty Boutique’s new Elite membership is an amazing value! 4 hrs a week gives you the opportunity to make new Become a member today! All for only $20 annually! personal connections while helping out our store. If this is of interest to you please call Sandy at ♥ 10% off regular prices ♥ Early opening on special sale days ♥ Additional 10% off sale items ♥ Chance to win 2 tickets to Gala 604-846-2226. ♥ VIP shopping days monthly ♥ Chance to win 2 tickets to Hoedown Your donations to the Thrifty Boutique go towards Hospice Programs and Services that are offered free of charge to the residents of Chilliwack and Agassiz. Page 5 5
Hike for Chilliwack Hospice was held at Townsend Park on May 5th. We had beautiful weather and a great turnout of walkers. Thank you to all those who participated, including our generous volunteers and sponsors.
Our 2nd Annual Play it Forward Golf Tournament was held May 30th at Chilliwack Golf Club. Golfers enjoyed the beautiful course, a delicious buffet dinner and many fabulous prizes and sponsored activities. It was tons of fun! Thank you to all who helped to make this wonderful event possible. Page 6 6
Hi, my name is Elaine. I have been volunteering at Hospice since January 2011. Elaine I have 4 grown children, 8 grown grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren and 7 amazing great grandchildren. I live with my beautiful diva cat Lucy. When my Mom, who lived in Waterloo, Ontario, became terminally ill with cancer I was fortunate enough to be able to go there and spend her last 15 days with her. Her last 8 days were at a beautiful hospice setting and I was so impressed. At that time, I knew very little about hospice and what it meant. However, after this experience with my Mom, I knew that when I retired, I would volunteer in a hospice setting and begin to pay it forward. I started at the Society office in January 2011 and except for a short 'absence', have been doing this ever since. Volunteering with such an incredible dedicated staff has been amazing. Everyone is so appreciative of anything we do and seeing their personal dedication to what Hospice does is heartwarming. The programs and support offered to the local community, free of charge, never ceases to amaze me. I look forward to my hours at the office and seeing the wonderful group of people who work there. I am also fortunate in that my shift is on a day when free relaxation therapy sessions are offered to people in grief. Having developed a relationship with the therapists and the people who attend makes my time there so much more rewarding and pleasant. I love the interaction with everyone doing the sessions and those getting the treatments. I had also taken the Hospice training, and from October 2011 until November 2015 I also volunteered at Cascade Hospice where the patients are. Again, as in my Mom's case, seeing the gentle loving care shown to the patients and their family touched me every time I was there. Unfortunately, I lost my husband in a tragic accident in November 2015 and I have been unable to go back to the residence. I do however continue my volunteer hours at the Society office and helping at some of their fundraising events when I am able. I know they always say how much they appreciate their volunteers, but they make it easy to help them. The picture I have attached is at last year's Volunteer Appreciation 'hippy' dinner - so much fun!!!
Bonnie
Hi, my name is Bonnie. I have been married to my husband Ron for 52 great years. We have 3 children, 5 grandchildren and 2 greatgrandchildren. We lived and raised our family in New Westminster for 35 years. From 1979 to 1984, I owned and operated 3 consignment stores. One in Surrey and two in New Westminster. Those were fun years. From 1985 to 1997, I worked at Labatt Breweries in the HR department. In 1997, we retired and moved to Cultus Lake where we enjoy daily mountain walks and great friends. Back in 2009, I answered an ad looking for volunteers for the hospice thrifty boutique. The rest is history. I have been volunteering since the store opened. The cause is near and dear to my heart. Volunteering has taught me to be patient, non-judgmental and a good listener. The services and care that hospice provides is amazing. I have met so many nice people over the years, both volunteers and shoppers.
Check out more bios monthly on our website! Page 7 7
Friends and Co-workers at Scotiabank held a Bake Sale in memory of Carla Barraclough who passed away at Cascade Hospice. Carla was a bank teller at Scotiabank for many years and was also a great baker and took part in many bake sales over the years. While Carla was sick, she mentioned that it would be wonderful if the bank could do a bake sale with the proceeds going to Hospice. Carla’s friend and co-worker, Bonnie Oliver, helped to make this happen along with help from all of the staff at Scotiabank. The proceeds of the bake sale were donated to Hospice and Scotiabank generously matched the donation.
A generous donation was made on behalf of the two Masonic Lodges in Chilliwack, Ionic-Kent #19 and Mount Zion #120. It is in the names of the 4 brothers who have passed in Cascade Hospice: Hal Singleton, Lou Reid, Kurt Wensler and Jack Stanley. Their family and friends want to thank Cascade for the care that was given that made a difficult time much easier.
Thank you to the Chilliwack chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star for their $500.00 donation to Chilliwack Hospice Society!
In a joint partnership, Paul Mertin, President of the Mertin Auto Group and Paul Lescisin, Mertin Auto Group Fleet Manager along with Glenn Anderson, Vehicle Acquisitions Manager forEnterprise, present Sue Knott, Executive Director for the Chilliwack Hospice Society, with a $3,500 donation. The donation will be used to help the Chilliwack Hospice Society provide holistic and comfort care to meet the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of those nearing the end of their lives and to offer support for their families. (Left to right: Sue Knott, Paul Mertin, Glenn Anderson, Paul Lescisin) Page 8 8 Thank you Thank you to Steve Barnes from Land and Sea Plumbing for repairing the sink at the Board Of Directors Thrifty Boutique. Thanks also to Mel Melissen for all his help and repairs at the office and Gerry Enns the Thrifty Boutique. President Thank you to Joe Palmer, Dale Seguin and Ray Robinson for helping out on our office Benjamin Lorimer clean-up day. They helped move things around, took items to the Thrifty Boutique and to Vice-President the dump. The office looks fantastic thanks to your help. Dale also did all the garden prep work outside for our upcoming new garden area. Joanne Beck Past President
Jeannine Walsh Treasurer
Ryan Huston Chantal Chris Heather Bier Brian Fell Directors
Staff
Sue Knott Executive Director Thank you for the thoughtful and Thanks to Stó:lō Nation for hosting their annual generous donations of beautiful Lucy Fraser Stó:lō Children's Festival earlier this month and handmade quilts and blankets for Director of Programs inviting Chilliwack Hospice Society to Cascade. The patients, families and staff Tammy Genzale participate in the Jurassic- Dawn of the of Cascade love and appreciate the Financial Manager Dinosaurs themed event. quilts so much. Family members keep Hospice volunteers Margaret, Shianna and the quilt that was on their loved one’s Jennifer Dacre Heather encouraged kids to make wishes on a bed, hopefully giving them happy Palliative & Bereavement "wish tree," offered candies and butterfly memories of the time that they and Services Manager stickers for their festival passports, and their loved one spent in the care of the provided information on our Child and Youth staff and volunteers of Cascade Laurie McNaught Programs at the Society. Thank you to our Hospice. The quilts add a homey touch Fundraising & Promotions Manager to the rooms, helping the patients and volunteers for graciously donating their time families to feel relaxed and welcome in Stephanie Johnson and energy for the duration of the day! the residence. Events Manager
Brandon Wakefield Child & Youth Program Manager
Sharilyn Jackson ♥ ♥ ♥ Administrative Assistant Arthur Brookes Gary Roberts Vivian Quigley ♥ Beverly Robinson ♥ Jan Dahm ♥ Wayne Johnson Sandy Parker Thrifty Boutique Manager ♥ Blazenka Nikolic ♥ Keith Hubbard ♥ Masonic Lodge Brothers: ♥ Carla Barraclough ♥ Lorna MacLaren ♥ Hal Singleton Stephanie Heinrich Thrifty Boutique Assistant Manager ♥ Carol Maclachlan ♥ Lorraine Bailey ♥ Jack Stanley
♥ ♥ ♥ Bonnie Yule Dan Petrick Myrna Lewicki Kurt Wensler Susan Greenway ♥ Edith Veer ♥ Shardesh Sharma ♥ Lou Reid Arlene Wright Nancy Hilliard Donation made in honor of: Thrifty Boutique ♥ Martha Melissen ♥ Darren’s Birthday