Hospice Month

During National Hospice Month in November, lights adorn the Lake Sunapee VNA building at 107 Newport Road in New London to reflect the value of hospice and the bright light of every life.

"Even as a retired nurse, I didn’t realize everything that hospice had to offer. I discovered it’s all about comfort and being home, for both the patient and the family. The staff would always give me a hug at the end of each visit, and that small gesture was so meaningful. It gave me the strength to carry on. It was a horrible time, but an amazing experience to know we weren’t alone on our journey.”

~ Judy Bruguiere

‍

“My parents were so in love and had strong faith and wanted to pass at home. With the help of Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice, their wishes were answered. It was such a difficult time to take care of and watch both decline and pass at home, but with the help of the Hospice team, they made the transition as smooth as possible. They gave them utmost care. Always with a smile on their face, their care, knowledge, and guidance were top notch. My parents loved them and felt comfortable and cared for. They also had lots of laughs together, which is the best medicine of all!"

~ Mary (Catrambone) Mallgraf‍

‍

"My wife, Julie, was strong and smart and made a difference in this world as was recognized by the 230 people who showed up for her Celebration of Life in 2025. In the Fall of 2018, Julie started showing the first signs of the Alzheimer’s disease that would take her life 7 years later. As the disease progressed, hospice care was suggested. My reaction was the traditional one of interpreting the very suggestion of hospice as the beginning of a short-term death watch. But I agreed to meet with a team of professionals who helped me understand the meaning of “comfort care.” Their presence and impact were substantial and obvious, and I would get comforting calls from hospice team members after they had a good session with Julie. Then came Thanksgiving weekend of 2025. I was with my kids and grandkids in Connecticut. Julie was not having a good weekend. I got several calls from the hospice team on Saturday night and again on Sunday. Julie was uncomfortable. They wanted to let me know that they were administering morphine to comfort her. But no one thought the end was in sight. On Monday morning, I was almost home when I got the call that Julie had passed away. And then, while still in the car, I got a call from hospice nurse, Emily, who let me know that she had been with Julie. What she said and what she did at that time was a gift that my kids and I will NEVER be able to repay. She told me that Julie was waiting for me. That she had my favorite blouse on. That she looked peaceful. That she looked pretty. And then Emily waited for me in the parking lot to give me a hug. I did what had to be done that day. So did Emily. Except she went above and beyond. So would any of the hospice team. And somehow, they go on to do it again for someone else who needs them just as much as I did. And then again. And again. They are all Angels."

~ Kirk Bishop