Our Stories - Life is Precious

Simple Acts of Compassion
DeAnn Rose

Jun, 2015

Hospice at Home volunteer DeAnn Rose visits Woodland Terrace Assisted Living in Niles to provide pet therapy visits. When one of the residents on hospice that she visits died, Volunteer Coordinator Laurel called to let her know.  DeAnn was very concerned for the woman’s husband, who also lives at Woodland Terrace, and often sat in on her visits.  

This loving couple had been married for 70 years. The wife was quiet but sweet, the husband more outgoing.  They both looked forward to the pet therapy visits with DeAnn. He liked to share his love for planes and trucks and the pride he had in their family.  He loved animals and shared his memories of feeding raccoons and finding a stray cat at their back door.  He also loved to share the candy bars he won at Bingo with DeAnn!  When it was time for DeAnn and her pet to leave, he often told her “your visits make our day!”  

DeAnn was so concerned about the widower that she went before her own doctor’s appointment for an unscheduled visit to offer him her condolences and support. She assured him that she plans to continue her pet therapy visits with him.  After 70 years together, a lifetime of love and memories, DeAnn knows it is going to take some time for him to recover from the loss, and intends to do what she can with her “simple acts of compassion,” to alleviate his pain and loneliness.