| It’s really hard to know where to begin. Saturday, June
6th we celebrated the dedication of the Leland and Opal Peck Memorial Garden. This breathtaking gift was
made possible by Dick and Jan Wendorf of Mason & Florida.
This story really began nearly 14 years ago when
Jan’s dad, Harb Orr, was a Hospice patient and I helped coordinate his care at his home. Then, two and
a half years ago, I got another call from Jan. Her elderly cousin was very sick. He was in his 90’s and
didn’t believe in doctors. She wanted to know what to do. His name was Leland Peck. I made a visit to his
home and we discussed how to get a doctor involved. Jan scheduled a home visit with the Visiting Physicians
the following week. Well by Sunday morning, Jan called me and said, “we can’t do this anymore.” We
had just had a death at the Hospice House, but the bed was already spoken for and the fact of the matter
was Mr. Peck didn’t have a doctor to write orders.
To make a long story short, the patient waiting for the
bed changed their mind so that meant Mr. Peck could have the bed. When I spoke to the doctor of the
patient who had just died, I said, “Oh by the way, would you be
agreeable to assume the care of Mr. Peck. I need a doctor to write orders and scripts.” The doctor agreed, so we
were able to get Mr. Peck in that morning to the Hospice House and when Dick and Jan arrived later, he was pain
free and resting comfortably. After Leland passed, Jan asked me to meet them for lunch one day. She asked
about our program, what our goals for the future were and was amazed that we didn’t charge. She was sure
there was something she could do to help us out.
Later that spring, she called me and said she would like to
create a Memorial Garden for the patients and their families.
I said, “there’s just one problem, we don’t own any land or the
pond.” She said, “is it for sale?” I said I would check. By the
end of the summer, they had bought the twelve and a half acres of property that adjoins our Hospice House and donated
it to Hospice.
Now, not only do we have the most magnificent Memorial
Garden, but also we have enough property for three more Hospice Houses, thanks to the Wendorfs. It’s hard to imagine
such a need in the community for another Hospice House, but
last year alone, we turned away nearly as many patients as
we cared for because we didn’t have an available bed for them.
How do we solve this problem? We pray in the near future, we would have a donation come in to cover the cost of building.
Also as a reminder to everyone, our services are provided at
no cost. 83% of our patients are not financially able to pay for
end-or-life care. We operate totally on donations, memorial
money, fund raising, United Way donations, grants, volunteer
help and the Thrift Shop. Some retirement plans out there need taxes paid on them when they are being drawn out, but
if they are given to a non-profit, you don’t have to pay the
taxes. So please keep in mind, it takes over $600,000.00 annually
to support our program. It’s also possible to remember Hospice in your estate planning. As a community, you have
supported our hospice for 26 years. We have grown from a very small program to a program serving over 200 families
annually. Last year alone, our volunteers saved us well over a
half million dollars. This says a lot for all of you. I want to again thank the Wendorfs for their gift that will
keep on giving year after year with its’ beauty and peaceful
setting. It will certainly offer solace to countless Hospice patients
and their families.
Margaret Kyser
Executive Director
Eaton Community Hospice
June 2009
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