Pet Memorial Butterfly Release Video
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Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center and Abbey Glen Pet Memorial Park present the Annual Pet Memorial Butterfly Release Ceremony. Due to inclement weather the butterflies were not able to be released at the ceremony. Please join us in watching the release that was held on Wednesday, September 14. Please watch until the end for a scroll of all the names that were commemorated on Sunday, September 11.
Wine and Cheese Festival postponed to 9/18/2022
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2022 Hospice Honors Photos
Hospice Honors Banquet 2022 – Event Photos
2022 Hospice Honors recipients included:
Mark Avondoglio – Hospice Champion
Philip & Mary Ann Deacon – Hospice Heroes
Dr. Joseph Cirello – Excellence in Leadership
Patricia Keegan – Excellence in Care
Suzanne Kimble – Spirit of Hospice
Pass It Along Volunteers help at Home for Hospice
Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice would like to thank all the volunteers from Pass It Along for their help and hard work on Saturday, June 11 – “Pass It Along Day.”
Their efforts really make a difference to our clients and staff at the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice in Fredon! You all did an excellent job – thank you! #passitalong, #passitalongday
Hospice helps local resident celebrate 103rd Birthday
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Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice was recently part of the 103rd birthday celebration of Virginia “Ginie” Dowe Cherepy. Virginia, currently a resident at Valley View Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Newton, NJ, was born May 31, 1919, in Bloomfield, NJ to Karl A. Dowe and Violet M. Search. Her mother was a professional nurse while her dad played the piano for silent movies at Franklin and other theaters. Mr. Dowe also had an orchestra, gave music lessons, and owned a music store in Summit, NJ. An only child, Virginia, grew up with Aunts around her age and considered them her sisters.
Virginia attended Ogdensburg Elementary School, where she was the Valedictorian of the 8th grade class. She graduated from Franklin High School in 1937 where during her stay she achieved the rank of Valedictorian of her 9th grade class.
Virginia worked as a secretary in many different places including the New Jersey Zinc Company in Franklin New Jersey for six years from 1937 – 1943. Her employment history includes Virginia Electric & Power Company, VA; Tong Sol Electric Inc. N.J.; TWA, DE, VA, and MO; Fluid Chemical Co., N.J.; Interpace, N.J and Picatinny where she retired from after 14 years of employment on October 2, 1987.
On November 19, 1943, Virginia married Coloman Cherepy in Bell Air Maryland. They were married for 56 years. Coloman, an Army Veteran, died on May 10, 1999, at the age of 83. While they were unable to have children Virginia has many nieces and nephews.
When asked about her hobbies and interests Virginia commented that she likes ice skating, roller skating, sports, reading, card games, baseball and football games, movies, piano playing, and bingo, but “I LOVE TO TRAVEL AND SHOP!”
“When Coloman was employed at Reaction Motors & Thiokol Chemical Company as a service representative and sent to Germany, we enjoyed traveling in France, Germany, and Italy. In Paris, France, we went to our first huge flea market, and we ate at the famous Maxim’s Restaurant,” said Virginia. “In Rome, Italy while at an audience with the Pope, we were so close to him that we could almost touch him. In Munich, Germany, we went to Oktoberfest. Also because of Coloman’ s work, we traveled all over the United States of America including FL, MS, VA, DE, MO, NJ, and CA.”
Virginia is a longtime member of the Berkshire Valley Presbyterian Church. “I joined the church when Pastor Dana was there,” stated Virginia. At the church she served in many roles including typing the weekly bulletin and running it off on a mimeograph machine, serving twice as church Elder, assisting with rummage sales and tail gate sales. “I made a Samaritan’s purse, knitted for the needy and for many years I sang in the choir,” said Virginia.
Virginia had two cakes at her 103rd Birthday Party but made it known that cheesecake is her favorite. Pat Keegan a Certified Home Health Aide for Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice was there to help Virginia celebrate her day, which was really special as May 31st is also Pat’s Birthday!
Virginia is an honorary member of the American Legion Post #132 in Franklin, NJ and a lifetime member of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. On her Birthday, Virginia received a congratulatory phone call from Governor Philip Murphy. Governor Murphy also sent a congratulatory letter to be presented to Virginia that stated, “Through life’s trial and challenges, you have always persevered and maintained your integrity. It is because of your unbreakable spirit that you have become such a strong pillar for both your family and your community. On this day, all those you have touch throughout your life come together to celebrate you for your commitment and dedication.”
Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is a not-for-profit healthcare organization which provides a full continuum of high quality medical, emotional and spiritual services to hospice patients, their family members and the community. Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice is licensed by both the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Department of Health as a certified Medicare and Medicaid Hospice. For more information on the services, we provide please call 973-383-0115 or visit us online at KarenAnnQuinlanHospice.org.
Experiencing grief during the long winter season
Full disclosure, I’m looking out my office window at the falling snow as I’m writing this. Just as the winter weather can be a beautiful reminder of nature’s beauty, it can also be difficult for people going through the grief process.
While experiencing grief is hard in any season, it seems to be particularly tough during what can often be a dreary season with cold temperatures and bad weather. People experiencing grief will often “hibernate”, both physically and emotionally to insulate themselves away from the outside world. We know that being alone too much can impact you both physically and emotionally, so there may need to be a concerted effort to continue to reach out to others.
Even those who aren’t experiencing the loss of a loved one may still be suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which often happens this time of year and may lead to a lower energy level and depression. So, what can be done to help counterbalance these effects? The first thing to remember is to give yourself a break; know that this is a process and it’s not going to happen overnight. Winter will change into spring, and as is often said, you can change from just surviving to thriving.
Some other practical things to practice during the winter months: make sure you get outside at least once a day, open the blinds and let the sunshine in (on those days where that bright glowing orb in the sky makes an appearance!), try to make at least one phone call a day to a friend/colleague/family member, and look into purchasing a simple light box to help offset the effects of SAD (Amazon has several to choose from).
The Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center is open for in-person, phone, and Zoom sessions. For more information, please call us at 973-948-2283 to speak with a counselor with any questions you may have regarding our individual counseling or to schedule an appointment.
Rob Rosolanko, MSW, MBA, LSW
Director of Bereavement
Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice
Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center
5 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ 07822
973-948-2283
2021 Half for Hospice Winner Announced
Marlina Schetting, Chief Operating Officer at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice presents a check to the winners Maureen and Glenn Lewis of Sparta as John Quinlan, Director of Foundation looks on.
The winner of the 2021 Friends of Hospice – Half for Hospice is Maureen Lewis of Sparta. Maureen won $9,440 in the drawing that was held on Wednesday, December 8. Congratulations to the winner and thank you for donating $500 back to Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice! Stay tuned for details on the 2022 Half for Hospice. Proceeds benefit the programs and services at Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.
Harmon’s Face Value in Franklin help support the Hospice Mission
(l-r) Helen Vellekamp, Harmon’s Face Value Store Manager stands with Store Associates Val Kerwin and Linda Bazylevich near a display of hand sanitizers donated to Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice.
Helen Vellekamp, Store Manager for Harmon’s Face Value, located at the Franklin Shopping Center, 100 Rte. 23 North in Franklin, NJ, reached out to let Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice know they were arranging a community sales campaign and that Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice was selected as a beneficiary of the products sold.
This featured product was University Medical Pharmaceuticals Hand Sanitizer which was on display throughout the store. Guests were asked by store associates if they would like to purchase a bottle to be donated to Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice and positive responses were plentiful. Helen Vellekamp and her team were proud to present the hospice with 390 bottles of hand sanitizer. The Harmon’s team members noted that the accolades for Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice were abundant and that most of the donations from customers were followed with a testimony of how Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice touched their lives or the lives of someone they knew.
The organization has distributed this donation to the Home for Hospice for their care team and families at the facility; the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center, for field nurses and staff and volunteers. Also, a quantity of the hand sanitizers were allocated to be included the 2021 Blizzard Packs, an annual outreach from the Social Service Department for area residents throughout Sussex, Warren and Pike Counties. The Blizzard Pack contains a variety of staples as well community resource guides in the case of an emergency.
November 18th is National Children’s Grief Awareness Day
National Children’s Grief Awareness Day (NCGAD) was created in 2008 by Highmark Caring Place and is observed the Thursday before Thanksgiving.
This initiative is meant to bring awareness to grieving children who are often referred to as the forgotten mourners. Many times, the adults or older siblings are entrenched in their own grief, leaving young grievers without the support needed during this critical time.
Places like the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center can provide the support a grieving child may need. We do this in a variety of ways such as individual counseling and children’s art and play groups. Many times, children are not able to find the words to express their grief and we can use play, music, art, and books to help them give voice to their grief and help them process their loss.
You can help support grieving children too! Thursday, November 18th you can wear blue to raise awareness and facilitate a conversation about supporting grieving children. You can use the hashtag #childgriefday on all your social media to help bring attention to this initiative. You can click on, and share, this link http://childrensgriefawarenessay.org/cgad2/pdf/butterfly/pdf . The blue butterfly is named Hope and we can all take pictures of us “Holding On To HOPE”
Additionally, hhis “Holding on to Hope,” sheet provides space for a name or names of those you wish to “Hold On To HOPE” for, whether in memory of them or in honor. https://www.childrensgriefawarenessday.org/cgad2/pdf/bubble.pdf
Together, let’s spread “Hope” to let grieving children know that we are here for them, we care, and they are not alone.
2021 Hospice Honors – Event Photos – Winning Secret Number!
Hospice Honors Photo Gallery – More photos to come!
Press the play button to view secret number!