Doris was the youngest of 10 children and recalls her mother being a remarkable, giving person who always wanted to help people.

“After me and my last two sisters got married and moved out of the house, I remember my mother saying that ‘I cannot not do something for somebody,” Doris said. “She raised two more foster girls after us. I think I got my desire to help people from my mother.”

“My mother passed away in 1991 following hospice at home,” she added. “I was so impressed with how the hospice team treated her and our family. I thought it was wonderful and I wanted to do something to give back so I became a hospice companion and visited hospice patients at a local nursing home.”

Doris was not sure if she was making a difference though. She recalls attending a volunteer meeting in which she openly questioned the value of what she was doing. The volunteer coordinator told her that hospice patients think of her as someone who is non-clinical and is there to spend time with them. A person who does not need to take vital signs or solve any problems.

“I said, that’s right, I am the only one who does that,” she said. “That helped me continue to want to do it. One time when I was leaving, a daughter of a hospice patient was coming in and she said that it was a relief to know that her mom was not alone. They work and have kids. That validated it for me again to stay.”

In 2002 following a brief time off period, Doris switched to office work and helped with filing and organizing information, among other tasks. Through that work, Doris learned about Hospice Lights of Life (now Season of Remembrance) and her and her husband George, who was recently retired, began volunteering to help with that effort.

As time passed, the husband-wife team began volunteering at Hospice House and later assisted in the Medical Records Department before many aspects were automated. Today, they both help complete home care admission folders for new patients. Combined, they have volunteered for an amazing total of 51 years!

“I’m thankful for the opportunity to do this,” Doris said. “I enjoy feeling worth something. I get a lot out of it.”

“When I retired in 2001, I was not going to stay home and clean closets and do stuff. My closet is still not cleaned out. That’s not what I’m here for.”

We are extremely grateful and fortunate for Doris’ and George’s commitment to volunteering and helping others. Our volunteers are such an important part of our team dedicated to fulfilling our Mission. Thank you, Doris and George!