30 | NOVEMBER 3 • 2022 

M

iles and Deede 
Auster of West 
Bloomfield were 
nominated by Hospice of 
Michigan (HOM) as Volunteers 
of the Week for their passion to 
giving back to the organization. 
“Miles and Deede are the 
embodiment of tikkun olam, 
repairing the world. They 
see a need for help and don’t 
hesitate to jump in,
” said Alana 
Knoppow, Hospice of Michigan 
volunteer program manager.
Before retiring as a physician, 
Miles was looking for a place 
to volunteer his time where 
he would get to interact with 
people. For the last 13 years, 
he’s been doing so at HOM.
“I see patients as a volunteer, 
not as a physician,
” Miles 
explained. “Over the years, I’ve 
had wonderful experiences with 
patients who are in hospice. I’ve 
also done some marketing at 

various fairs. I’m also a veteran, 
and I have participated in some 
of the veterans’ events, which 
has been very moving for me.
”
The statewide director 
of volunteer services and 
complementary therapies at 
HOM, Alison Wagner, says 
Miles has become a volunteer 
they can rely on.
“It’s wonderful to have 
somebody who’s well-rounded 
and willing to help in so many 
ways,
” Wagner says. “He really 
makes a difference for the 
organization and for the people 
that we serve.
”
In the past few years, Deede 
was inspired to volunteer 
with HOM after everything 
the organization did for her 
family when her mother was in 
hospice care for nine months. 
“I love working with the staff, 
and it’s nice to be able to give 
back,
” Deede said. 
Miles and Deede volunteer in 
different departments at HOM. 
While Miles volunteers helping 
patients, Deede works with 
the staff in the organization’s 
offices.
“Deede is an absolute 
delight,
” Wagner said. “She 
helps with our clinical 
paperwork for volunteers, and 
sometimes she’ll do special 
projects. The impact Deede has 
helps take some of the burden 
off the staff members.
”
Deede says she’s also involved 
throughout the community as a 
board member of the National 

Council of Jewish Women and 
the Jewish Historical Society of 
Michigan. She is also involved 
with Cancer Thrivers of 
Michigan. 
“Both Miles and Deede have 
committed their retirement 
years to helping wherever 
there is a need. In addition to 
jumping in whenever asked to 
at HOM, they are both heavily 
involved in volunteer work at a 
number of organizations within 
the community. 
“Each of them has made 
a positive impact on untold 
numbers of lives, and for that 
we thank them,
” Knoppow 
added.
The Austers plan to volunteer 
with the organization for as 
long as they can and encourage 
anyone who’s looking to give 
back and is interested in HOM 
to reach out and get involved. 
“HOM is really a supportive 
organization that helps people 
through these difficult times. 
I think these services are 
critically important. I can’t 
say it enough. I really would 
encourage people to learn more 
about it and get involved,
” Miles 
added. 

 If you’d like to get involved and learn 

more about volunteer opportunities 

with the Hospice of Michigan, you 

can email Alana Knoppow directly at: 

aknoppow@hom.org. 

 If you would like to nominate 

someone to be the next volunteer 

of the week, send a nomination with 

a short paragraph telling us why to 

rsweet@thejewishnews.com.

Meet Miles and Deede Auster, who 
volunteer for Hospice of Michigan. 

The Couple 
Dedicated to 
Giving Back

RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR 

Deede and 
Miles Auster 

OUR COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEERS OF THE WEEK

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