Life's Journeys

News Digest

A message from Dottie Deremo,
President/CEO, Hospice of Michigan

"A great burden was lifted once
we learned about Hospice
Home in Farmington Hills.
I wish we had known about it
sooner. From the moment we
walked in the door, we had a feeling
of peace — Teri Craine."
This statement appears in our
most recent advertisement in the
Detroit Jewish News. It conveys
what we believe is the greatest
strength of Hospice of Michigan
and also reminds us of a weakness
we hope to remedy as we become
better known in the community.
Teri Craine's mother, Bess. Gonte,
had just a short time to live. Her
family suffered because she was
suffering, and they felt they must do
something to mitigate her pain and
their concern. A call to Hospice of
Michigan brought immediate relief
to all. Hospice physicians, Dr
Kathleen Murphy and Dr. Michael
Paletta, promised this ending could
he peaceful. A meeting with the
Hospice Home staff brought more
assurances and comfort. "They
don't just promise; they deliver,"
Teri commented. "We found loving,
round-the-clock care for our mom
and our family."
Bess Gonte had been a feisty
woman all her life. At age 83, while
still living in California, she had
volunteered regularly at the Jewish
Home for the Aged. After returning
to Michigan, she was adamant that
she would not move in with family
members when her illness reached
its final stage. But the family wanted
to be with her.
Hospice Home in Farmington
Hills was the answer. Bess's room
was furnished with a day bed so

Bobbie Blitz, our Jewish liaison
staff member, at 248-966-8262.

n

Israel Mission

that a family member could stay at
night. The Hospice cook provided
continental breakfasts ; the Hospice
staff arranged for laundry, for mas-
sage, for bathing, for whatever else
was needed. And when there were
moments of emotional pain, the
family walked in the garden or sat
quietly in the chapel provided by the
DeRoy Testamentary Foundation.
Visits from two different rabbi's also
brought comfort.
The Bess Gonte family has been
unanimous in its praise for Hospice
of Michigan. Such responses are -
not unusual. As the largest hospice
in Michigan, we take pride in our
reputation for compassionate care,
both in patients' homes and at our
Hospice Home.
What then is our weakness? We
know we have to better educate
the Jewish community about our
organization. We hope that no one
will say regretfiilly, "We wish we
had called sooner." When there is any
thought that Hospice of Michigan
might be needed, please call
ADVERTISEMENT

For- your best- price,
selection end
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Hospice of Michigan is committed
to providing hospice care to patients
and tneir families that is both
culturally and religiously sensitive.
In that context, I'm pleased to tell
you that, since 1996 we have
worked closely with Lois and the
late Milton Shiffman and the
Partnership 2000 project to create
and provide continuing education
to the Lois and Milton Shiffman
Home Hospice of the Valleys in
Central Galilee. Last May, a group
of Israeli hospice staff spent time
with our Hospice of Michigan staff
seeing patients, visiting our Hospice
Home in Farmington Hills and
learning about our research efforts.
Last month, we were happy to
he able to send two senior staff
members — Terry Barclay, senior
vice president for community and
employee relations, and Pola
Friedman, senior development officer
— on the Jewish Federation's
Solidarity Mission to Israel. They
described to me their great pride in
seeing the dream of an Israeli hos-
pice come to fruition. Two other
HoSpice of Michigan staff members,
Rabbi E.B. Freedman and Bonnie
Topper, RN, also participated in the
mission under the auspices of the-
Federation.
At present, the Shiffman hospice
only takes care of patients in the
hospital but there are plans to
expand the service to include home
care, as well. We look forward to
continuing to work closely with the
Federation and the Shiffman Hospice.

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NEWS DIGEST

from page 29

head a newly created U.S. office on
faith-based organizations.
Instead, Stephen Goldsmith was-
named to lead a council that will advise
the new office, which in turn will seek
to distribute billions of dollars in feder-
al funds to religious groups that provide
social services. Goldsmith was thought
to be the top candidate to head the
office, but University of Pennsylvania
Professor John Dilulio Jr. was tapped
for the post instead.
At a meeting, when he announced
the outlines of his faith-based plan,
President George W. Bush reassured the
president of the Orthodox Union,
Harvey Blitz, that religious minorities
would be protected under the plan.
The O.U. and other Orthodox groups
have long supported the initiative.

Groups Help
Quake Victims

New York/JTA — The American
Jewish joint Distribution Committee,
B'nai B'rith International and the
American Jewish World Service are col-
lecting contributions to help victims of
the earthquake that has killed thou-
sands in India.
Further information is available at
jdc.org, bnaibrith.org and ajws.org

STAR Initiative
Funds Projects

New York/JTA — A philanthropy pro-
moting synagogue renewal allocated
more than $565,000 in funding to 25
U.S. communities.
Among the largest recipients of
STAR'S first round of grants are a
multi-synagogue effort to provide lead-
ership training for Boston Jews in their
20s, a project in which Orthodox rab-
bis serve as an educational resource to
the goca Raton Jewish community, and
expansion of a home-based outreach
project for unaffiliated Jews in
Portland, Ore.

Europe Holds
Shoah Memorials

Rome/JTA — Britain and Italy held
their first-eyer Holocaust memorial days.
Shoah.commemQrations —
marked annually on the anniversary
of the Jan. 27, 1945, liberation of -
Auschwitz by Allied forces — also
were held in other countries, includ-
ing Sweden, Lithuania, Germany
and Poland.

