Photo: (l to r) Jennifer Smith, Paula Dupre, Gail Burckes, Julia Quinlan, Mary Alice Hosking, Lisa O’Hara, Gay VanEtten, Bea Smith, June Roberts and Marie O’Hara were all on hand to present a check for $25,000 to Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.

At the Holiday Reception held on December 8, at the home of Mary Ellen Quinlan, Lisa O’Hara and several members of the philanthropic group “Friends of Hospice”, presented a check for $25,000 to Julia Quinlan, Director and co-founder of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice. Since the inception of the group they have donated more than $350,000 to the foundation.
In 1984 Marilyn Thompson, Administrator of the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice approached Julia Quinlan, co-founder of the Hospice to ask if Julia could form a committee to raise funds for the Hospice program. Julia approached women who were active in the community and had shown an interest in the work that the hospice does. They met in the basement of the Alexander Linn Hospital in Franklin and choose to name the group “Friends of Hospice.”

It was suggested to hold a Wine and Cheese afternoon at a local farm to raise funds. Willard and Jeannette Klemm, owners of the Waterwheel Farm in Fredon, were recruited and agreed to hold the event at their farm. The first Wine and Cheese Festival was held in 1984. It was the first of more than thirty festivals, the most recent of which hosted over 550 attendees.

The Wine and Cheese Festival continues to be the signature fundraising event for the “Friends of Hospice.” Other successful events included: a fur and lingerie fashion show brunch, a Harley Davidson raffle, Dental Day for Hospice at Sparta Dental Designs and a High Tea of Hospice.
The Friends of Hospice are also visible at many events held throughout the year such as the Butterfly Release, Memorial Tree Lightings as well as our Paper Shred Event.

The Friends respond to requests made by clinical staff to fulfill the wishes of a patient or to purchase an item that is no covered by Medicare or insurance. All funds raised are used directly or indirectly for patient care. On behalf of our patients, caregivers and the community that have benefited by your labors of love, thank you. Thank you for your hard work, thank you for your dedication, thank you for your caring.

The Friends of Hospice is holding an open enrollment for new members. Anyone in the community is welcome to join. Please call 973-383-0115, ext. 106 for more information or attend a meeting held on the second Monday of each month at 4 p.m. at the Karen Ann Quinlan administrative office located on 99 Sparta Avenue in Newton.

The Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is a not-for-profit organization which provides a full continuum of high quality medical, emotional and spiritual services to hospice patients, their family members and the community. For more information on our services please call 800-882-1117.

Children’s Grief Awareness Day is designed to help us all become more aware of the needs of grieving children — and of the benefits they obtain through the support of others. Children’s Grief Awareness Day is an opportunity to make sure that grieving children receive the support they need.

Please join us at the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center for an open house on November 16. Come tour the facility, talk to staff and show your support for grieving children by holding on to hope.

You can also show your support for grieving children by holding on to HOPE. For the last several years, others have let grieving children know that people across the globe are
“holding onto HOPE”for them through the tragic times in their lives through the Holding onto to HOPE photo campaign. We know people support Children’s Grief Awareness Day for many different reasons. We want everyone to share why Children’s Grief Awareness Day is important them. Take a photo, share it, and let others know why this cause is important to you. Download your Holding On To Hope butterfly by clicking here! Bring you completed form to the open house – or take a picture holding it and email to: bereavement@karenannquinlanhospice.org

Please call 973-948-2282 for more information. KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org

Q. What is the purpose of National Hospice/Palliative Care Month?

A. November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and hospices across the country are reaching out to raise awareness about the highest quality care for all people coping with life-limiting illness.

Throughout the month of November, Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice will be joining organizations across the nation hosting activities that will help the community understand how important hospice care can be, especially if services are received early enough. The hospice is launching a “Sooner is Better,” campaign in November. The campaign was developed by The Center for Hospice Care in Connecticut and will focus on the five main reasons “Sooner is Better,” when choosing hospice care.

1. You live longer. Studies show that people in hospice care live longer than patients getting curative treatment for the same illness.

2. You feel better. The side effects of aggressive treatments for cure of life-limiting illnesses frequently make you feel sicker. By choosing to stop treatment and start hospice care, our patients feel better and gain quality time.

3. You regain control of your life. In hospice care you can socialize and focus on living. And by managing your symptoms, our care will keep you out of the hospital.

4. You don’t have to stay. If you get better, you can leave hospice care, no problem. And you can re-enter hospice whenever you need us — simple as that.

5. We share the care with family members. It’s difficult for family to be your full-time caregivers — difficult for you and them. We manage and coordinate your care, which means that your loved ones get to be your family again.

You don’t need to be in the last days or weeks of life to qualify for hospice. Our care is about living — living well in the time you have left. The sooner you call us the better you’ll live.

Receiving our care is easy. Just call us. You don’t have to wait for your medical doctor. You, your family, or even a friend can refer you to us. We’ll work with your doctor and be your advocate. And you or your family can call us 24 hours a day.

If you have a life-limiting illness with a prognosis of six-months or less and meet criteria for care, you can access hospice, and you and your family can immediately begin to reap the benefits.

It’s your choice. Ask for Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice by name. The sooner, the better.

Please visit the hospice website www.KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org for more information on activities and outreach events that are scheduled during November, including a screening of “Being Mortal,” in partnership with Sussex County Community College on Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the SCCC Performing Arts Center.