Volunteers Celebrating 20 and 25 Years-of-Service Milestones
This year, we are thrilled to be celebrating seven individuals who have been volunteers with Hospice of Waterloo Region for 20 or 25 years. Volunteers at Hospice support clients with life-threatening illness, by providing social, emotional and practical supports. Our volunteers may also support the bereaved after their loved one has died. Volunteers also help us with special events and office projects. Simply put, we could not do our work without volunteers.
25 Years
Lorna Fenton, Bernadette Lorentz, Lois Schmidt & Tricia Wands
20 Years
Glenn Jantzi, Cathy Kroetsch & Mary Jo Lyons
Recently, we engaged with our longstanding volunteers to ask them about what they enjoy most about volunteering at Hospice.
This volunteer role is both humbling and rewarding. You learn a lot about yourself, about your own fears and joys, in the training and then as you go along with a client on their journey.
The feeling of being present as one’s life comes to an end is of gratitude and privilege.
It is meeting the clients and families. Helping make their life moments a little more comfortable, peaceful, and enjoyable.
We also asked about advice they would give to new volunteers or people considering volunteering for Hospice.
To have an open mind and enjoy the training you are given, along with the many great experiences you will have.
Be yourself, listen and trust your instincts. A smile, a touch, a kind word can brighten or soothe a person’s tough moment. People’s life journeys are precious, and teach us all about life, each other and ourselves.
Hospice Waterloo Region is so proud of the commitment and caring shown by our volunteers year after year. We are so lucky to have you in our organization. Congratulations to all volunteers celebrating their years-of-service milestones!!