Tuesday, February 5, 2008

So Long to a Good Friend

Today I heard news about a former volunteer of ours. He hasn't volunteered for us for a while, but I've always admired him and continued to keep in touch with him through the years. Sjon was a very good hospice volunteer..I guess he will always be "the" hospice volunteer in my mind.

Sjon was committed to hospice volunteering and usually volunteered for a few different hospices at any one time. He would take a patient or two from each hospice and was comfortable in any situation. His jovial nature and desire to serve others made him a "real person" who put others at ease. I just spoke with one of his current Volunteer Coordinators who said that just two weeks ago Sjon volunteered to speak to a group of other hospice volunteers about his experiences as a volunteer. He wasn't just a patient advocate, he was an advocate for everyone having a dignified, peaceful dying experience.

Sjon's own bout of prostate cancer ended on Saturday, February 2nd...while he received care from a loving hospice company. You will be missed, my friend.

You can get to know Sjon a little better by reading his obituary - posted at www.serenicare.com

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