MAKING HOSPICE A HAVEN
Grand-Prize Winners
The Riess-Hunstiger family of St. Cloud, Minnesota: Anne, 13, Ryan, 14, Gary, and Kelly in front of Quiet Oaks Hospice
The hospice where Gary's father, Jerry, passed away was a great source of peace and comfort to his family. Gary's wife, Kelly, is a registered nurse who took care of both her own father and (with help from her kids Ryan and Anne) a beloved neighbor when they chose to die at home. These experiences taught them all how to help the dying and comfort a dying person's family, knowledge they hoped to bring to a local hospice. Two years ago, they began volunteering at Quiet Oaks Hospice House, an eight-bed home that was being readied for its first patients. All of them have put in hundreds of hours to improve the place: weeding, gardening, tending to the pond, keeping the building clean, and helping with a cookout that introduced the hospice to the neighbors. During the summers, Kelly, Ryan, and Anne worked at the house nearly every day. Along with strengthening the bonds of this blended family, their work reminded them of those people they've lost. Quiet Oaks opened this September, and the Riess-Hunstiger family hopes to continue volunteering their time to assist the families staying at the home.
Ryan, 14:
"When we visited my stepfather's dad in his hospice, we'd go out and sit, just looking at the green grass. We thought about what a great place it was. And so I got involved with Quiet Oaks."
Anne, 13:
"The gardens have filled out a lot with really beautiful flowers. My brother helped lay stones around the pond and put in a little sprinkler thing."
Gary:
"I'm a social studies teacher, and I see the value of volunteering. You have a responsibility as a citizen to become part of your community and to give back."
Kelly:
"My kids are always willing to lend a helping hand. I feel that if I teach them anything in life, that's probably the most important thing: to always be ready to help others."
