hospice of new yorkhospiceny.com/docs/vnlh2014.pdfhands. her grandmother’s loving interest sparked...
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A note from Angela and Sandra
With the winter upon us, we can look forward to the hope of a Happy New Year. It is a time of
reflection, a time to give thanks and a time to recognize your priceless gift of helping others.
Remember your continued acts of kindness will grow roots that will flourish in the early spring.
Working with volunteers who give of their time and hearts expecting nothing in return has been
truly inspirational. May 2015 give you the energy and wisdom to continue to be the wonderful
resource that has made what you do so very special at a crucial time in the lives of our patients.
Have a blessed, peaceful, healthy and Happy New Year!
Hospice of New York
Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens & Nassau
Volunteer Voices
2014
Welcome to our New Volunteers
Lynn Berlow Stacey James Malgorzata Salmieri
Gwendolyn Bethea Cythnia Johnson Elisa Schwartz
Jeremy Cohen Jennifer Kim Beth Sheridan
Jane Colman Miriam Lakes Fred Skepner
Adriana Goodsell Gregory Leffert Yole e Telemaque
David Grant Tasnia Madmud Eval Townsend
Regina Hatcher Ann Maso Avril Treston
Jacob Horowitz Nancy Moreno Alejando Zarate
Sister Immaculate Mwelu
“A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination “—Nelson Mandela
Born in New York City and a resident of Queens for nearly four decades, Norma was just seven years old when her grandmother showed her what wonders kni ng needles can accomplish when placed in the right hands. Her grandmother’s loving interest sparked a flame that would eventually ignite a long and reward‐ing career. Upon reaching adulthood, Norma found employment as a pa ern maker in the famed New York City garment district at a me when Made in America stood for true cra smanship.
When she re red at age 67, the kni ng didn’t stop, but a unique form of volunteerism started. Norma began channeling her energy and her love for kni ng into the crea on of blankets for Hospice of New York, as well as handcra ed hats, mi ens, and blankets for gi baskets that she donates to her local church.
The mother of five children, and grandmother of seven, Norma welcomes dona ons of yarn, which she of course puts to good use. Norma describes herself as a “very seasoned kni er” – which she certainly is. But that descrip on doesn’t do this remarkable lady jus ce. She is one of those rare individuals who say that by sharing her me and talents, she has made this world a much be er place. A round of applause, please.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
Our apprecia on to John Diaz‐Chermack; Asst. Administrator; Joan Melito, RN; Sean Casserly, RN; Walter Frendrich, LCSW/Coordinator of Bereavement Services; Connie Gordon, LCSW; Marie Thermoise, LMSW; Rev. Hyacinth Ikemelu, Spiritual Coordinator; Patricia Crupi, Spiritual Care Coordinator and our Volunteers Rev. Stephen Brown, Judy DeVito, Heather Figgins, Dinah Han, Sandra Hollingsworth, Dan Monahan and Stacey Robertson for par cipa ng in the September and October Pa ent Care Trainings. Thank you to Fran Gerard for help in edi ng the newsle er.
The Story of Norma Bachelor… A Very Inspiring Yarn
Volunteer, Norma Bachelor, Angela Purpura , and Weaver Ross.
The Healing Touch of Music
The documentary “Alive Inside: A story of Music
and Memory” attests to the fact that music really is
medicine for the soul.
It is about social worker Dan Cohen and his Music & Memory nonprofit program
which brings personalized music to the elderly patients suffering from Alzheimer’s
and other ailments. This film demonstrates the benefit of music therapy and argues it
should be prioritized by the health care system.
The documentarian Michael Rossato‐Bennett says the first time he witnessed the
effect of Cohen’s program, which began with a single Cobble Hill nursing home in
2008 and has since expanded to more than 650 locations, he was fundamentally
transformed.
When you experience another human being come to life, with
music therapy , it is inescapable.
If music be the food of love, play on ...William Shakespeare
VOLUNTEERS !!
Danielle Espinoza 11/1 Jennifer Kim 11/21 Edward Lisciandro 12/13
John Cunningham 11/3 Shannon Green 11/29 Mercedes Selmo 12/23
Norma Batchleor 11/12 Andrea Sanchez 11/30 Fran Sax 12/29
Patti Parsons 11/17 Stacey Roberton 12/2 Murray Wilkow 1/25
Dina Lagos 11/18 Heather Figgins 12/4 Courtney Louis 1/29
Cynthia Johnson 11/19 Marvin Newman 12/6 Ann Masotti 1/31
Volunteer Notes
When I arrive at Saint Barnabas, I check with the desk if there is anyone they recommend for a visit.
On that day, I visited with a women from Africa. I went to her room and sat down. Her eyes were
closed, but I asked her if she would like a visit. She opened her eyes and nodded yes. I asked her if she
would like to hear some music and she nodded yes again. Well, I happen to have an MPS player with
around 400 CDs on it and I played her some music from Barbatunde Olatunji, a very famous Nigerian
drummer. A er just a couple of minutes of the music, the pa ent opened her eyes and smiled and
reached out to hold my hand. We spent the next 45 minutes like that. She opened her eyes just twice
more, smiled and said, “thank you.” It was one of the most tender experiences of my life.
—Raymond Schmidt
Dorothy was in the recrea on room enjoying live music. She was in good spirits. She blew me kisses
and held my hand for about 5 minutes. I spend quality me with her. It was so lovely to see her
enjoying the music. —Sharda Geer
When I walked in, Maria was sleeping. She woke and she was responsive. The aide came by to change
her dressing, combed her hair and gave her some water. She was happy that I was there to translate
and get her needs known. She said her grandson would come soon to visit.—Ivania Solorazano
Not long a er I arrived, Selma was happy because her daughter was coming. When her daughter
came, she lit up. It makes a difference when you can connect to the pa ent’s family. The pa ent
suddenly became a real person with interes ng stories. —Sihua Prior
William is confined to his bed and can’t speak. However, he is alert and can hear and paid close
a en on to the conversa on I had with his wife. We had many things in common and spoke for close
to an hour. The rest of the visit was spent helping his wife to organize her paperwork , which seems to
comfort her. —Heather Figgins
Adrian is in great spirits. His sister, niece and nephew came by and visited. Adrian asked me to stay.
His family cares and loves him very much. He received a haircut from his nephew. Adrian asked me to
stop in again on Tuesday. —Louisya Graves
Lena was in good spirits when I arrived, si ng with her aide ,friends, and granddaughter looking at
TV. She is always happy to see me and chat. Although , she o en tells very fanciful tales, of having
dinner with the President and his wife. Lena also ate a full plate of food by herself, very contentedly
while I sat with her. —Eva Peck
Judy DeVito’s Life me of Caring
It is with great pride that Hospice of New York spotlights a truly gi ed and unique volunteer. She says of her service “Li le did I know, it would be me who would gain great rewards from volunteering at Hospice of New York. I feel I get so much more than I give.” Judy first became aware of Hospice of New York when her mother was diag‐nosed with cancer in 2003.
Although her mother received care for only one month, Judy was truly touched by the treatment and love
her mother received. A er her Mom passed away, Judy vowed to offer her services to Hospice of New York
once she re red from her posi on as an execu ve secretary at a Manha an law firm. And she did just that.
Volunteering and making a difference in people’s lives has been a life‐long commitment for Judy. Born and
raised in Jackson Heights, New York, she joined Goldwater Hospital as a volunteer at the tender age of 14.
A er that, she went on to volunteer at the American Cancer Society and St. Mary’s Hospital for Children.
The list of her achievements does not stop there. Judy also organized a recrea on and sports program for 17
years at her local church.
In her nearly 5 years of service with Hospice of New York, Judy has visited more than 50 pa ents, refusing
to be in midated by even the most challenging situa ons or environments. Judy is a true “professional
Volunteer” who takes pride in ge ng to know her pa ents and devising innova ve ways of making her visits
enjoyable for both herself and the pa ent. Judy is savvy enough to realize that every pa ent represents a
unique set of challenges and that small things can o en bring a big smile to their faces. Judy has been
known to bring a pet magazine to someone who has expressed a love for animals or a simple flower to
brighten a lonely person’s day. In addi on, she has represented Hospice of New York at health fairs, made
bereavement house calls, and shared her invaluable experience at Hospice Pa ent Care Volunteer
Trainings.
On a personal note, Judy recently became a great‐grandmother, making her one of a few volunteers, who
has achieved this milestone. If Judy has her way ( and she usually does), she will serve as a volunteer un l
she is a great‐great grandmother. And we at Hospice of New York would like nothing more.
Hospice of New York
Holiday Party December 11, 2014
Life Lights
Volunteer Sihua Prior completed the NYC Marathon on Sunday, 11/12/2014 in just 4 hrs., 21 min., 27 sec. WE ARE SO PROUD!!!
Judy DeVito, volunteer, is the proud Great‐Grandmother of Madeline DeVito, born on 10/31/2014, 7 lbs. 3 oz., 19 inches. Volunteer Robin Cohen welcomed her first grandchild Kovey Rose Cohen on August 26, 2014. Granddaughter Kovey lives in Chicago. Chaplin Beatrice Diggsrodriguez, who volunteers at Brooklyn Hospital, will be gradua ng with a Masters Degree in Religious Studies from Anointed by God Seminary, January 17, 2015. Congratula ons to Volunteer Felipa Isales and her husband, Raymond on 50 years of marriage on December 18, 2014. Congratula ons to John Cunningham on his new job: working with the elderly with cri cal illness.
Suggested Readings
The First Phone Call from Heaven, by Mitch Alborn, 2013 Harper Collins.
The Best Possible Day, by Atul Gawande
Ins nct, The Power to Unleash Your Inborn Drive, by T.D. Jakes, 2014 Hache e Book Group.
The Meaning and Prac ce of Faith, by Diarmuid O’Murchu, 2014 Orbis Books.
Forgiveness, by Desmond Tutu, 1999 Doubleday.
Grace, by Judith Orloff, Three Rivers Press, 2011.
Be Real: Because Fake is Exhaus ng, by Rick Bezet, 2014, published by Baker Books.
Hospice of New York Honors Our Veterans
Hospice of New York is a na onal partner of We Honor Veterans, a pioneering campaign developed by Na onal
Hospice and Pallia ve Care Organiza on in collabora on with the Department of Veteran Affairs.
In November, we recognized our pa ent, Ferdinand Lemon. Ferdinand Lemon was born in South Carolina and is 94
years young. He is currently living in Brooklyn, New York, where he made his home a er being honorably dis‐
charged in 1944 from the United States Army. He is a proud military veteran. He remains a dedicated father who
raised his 5 children on his own a er his divorce. He served as an usher, deacon and pastors assistant for over 50
years at his church.
By the grace of God, he transi oned out of HONY program because he is doing well a er having his leg amputated in January 2014. Ferdinand is s ll a quiet humble man who loves to smile, tell stories of his youth to his family, friends and his volunteer, Courtney Louis and tease his granddaughter.
Volunteer Voices is wri en and edited by Sandra Nielsen and Angela Purpura. Graphic design by
Sandra Nielsen. Contact informa on: sandra.nielsen@hospiceny.com/347‐226‐4821 and
angela.purpura@hospiceny.com/347‐226‐4801.
Pictures:
1. Mr. Lemon with son‐in‐law and Spiritual Care Coordinator, Patricia Crupi; 2. Mr. Lemon with picture of himself as a young
soldier. 3. Mr. Lemon as a young soldier. 4. Mr. Lemon holding his cer ficate. 5. Mr. Lemon’s Nurse, Norma LaGuerre, a
neighbor and his Social Worker, Flavia Goldson
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