T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY Pictured are (front row) Pat Smith, Virginia Palmisano-Goettsch, Mary Kirchner, Betty Nikkel, Mary Claire Mohrfeld, Bev Sloppy, and (back row) Rita Riskedahl, Amy Moeller, Diane Koch, Doug Husak, Scott Smith and IRH Board member Deb Wollam.

April was National Volunteer Month, and Iowa River Hospice has been blessed with a particularly dedicated group of volunteers over the years. The volunteers, some of whom are pictured in the accompanying photo and others who aren’t, also shared reflections on why they give their time to IRH.

Jon and Ronda Andresen

Ronda has enjoyed quilting for many years, giving quilts to family and to assure that all her grandkids have a hugging quilt from grandma. She has collected much more fabric than needed for family quilts, and once Jon found how much fabric she had stashed away, she was told that she needed to be using it.

Granddaughter two, a child with Down Syndrome, has a support group with a program that gives baskets to new Down patients with baby stuff and educational books about raising their new special needs child. And to introduce them to the support group and the help from other Down parents. We felt the need to support these efforts with a donation of a receiving blanket for each basket. Over the last six years, we’ve donated about 25 baby quilts each year.

Both our mothers received hospice care in their last days. When we found out that our local Hospice could use more lap quilts, we knew that we had found another use for the quilts we make. Using the fabric and the time that we have as retirees, we’ve been making about four lap quilts each month for their use.

Jon’s ‘keep busy hobbies’ have been fishing, wood crafting, and maintaining the house. One of the toys in his workshop is a laser. Once we found that a laser can cut the quilt pieces much quicker and more accurately than cutting by hand, he was enrolled in supporting the quilt making.

Ronda’s hobbies are reading, tablet game play and quilting — don’t ask her to repair a pair of jeans or a rip in a shirt… no time for that). Her sewing room has been designed for a smooth workflow by Jon using manufacturing knowledge gained from his career and is equipped with customized workspaces and several embroidery machines to do the sewing. Ronda does the assembly process and asks Jon for help in doing the quilting ‘in the block’ on one of the embroidery machines. The process works much better with a pair of us working together.

We’ve always been busy people and donating these quilts gives us something we share doing while we fill our daily timecards. Find something you enjoy, share it and keep busy doing it, it will fill your life with a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Marla Grabenbauer

When my mother was battling cancer and dementia you gals came and helped me with medication and bathing. You were always so helpful and gave me a boost when mother was having a bad day, she absolutely wanted to stay home as long as she could and she did till her last breath. I was a single mom with two children and when mom got sick, I built an addition for her so I could work downstairs in my home beauty salon and keep an eye on her as well.

Doug Husak

First of all, my previous wife Annie passed away under their care back in 2014. It was a wonderful place, and we were so glad it was available.

I recently retired from 34 years of banking and wanted to help somewhere. My new wife Donna suggested grief counseling for men so I contacted Marty Mitchell for ideas. He gave me several contacts, but as God would have it, I played in the Hospice House golf fundraiser.

I asked if they needed help, and since I took up guitar four years ago, I put the two together and now play for patients one to two times.

Mary Kirchner

After my husband was admitted into Iowa River Hospice in 1996, they helped our whole family adjust to his illness and walked us through our journey. I took classes to become a volunteer in 1997 to “pay back” how much help and caring for others like we received.

It is an honor to help ease someone’s journey from this life into their heavenly permanent home. To listen to them talk and listen without judging — things they might not want to share with family members. As a volunteer, you can touch their arm and hug them and not “keep your distance” as some friends do. That often helps them feel more loved.

Diane Koch

My mom and I would quilt together and when she was being cared for in a nursing home by IRH she had asked me to continue quilting. I made 80 quilts for every bed at the nursing home per her request. Then I continued doing this for IRH because they cared for my dad as well. Everybody needs a little comfort at any stage of their life and that is what I try to contribute. All the people at IRH are amazing. I never know who receives a quilt I have made but a friend said a quilt was taken to someone being cared for, I was very glad but yet knowing someone personally brought me to tears.

Amy Moeller

Iowa River Hospice provided exceptional end of life care for both my father-in- law and mother-in-law. Volunteering at the Hospice House is a rewarding way to give back to and help my community. You too can join the team as a volunteer and make a difference!

Betty Nikkel

I started being a volunteer at the Hospice Home in 2015. Enjoying every Wednesday morning, serving as a cookie maker, helping with other duties, I have been so blessed because a keyboard is available to play and I love providing comfort to family and staff. I also do outpatient visits in patients’ homes. It is a wonderful blessing to serve others.

Virginia Palmisano-Goettsch

I have been volunteering for many different organizations over the years. I feel energized when I can help and make a difference for someone. I became aware of Iowa River Hospice when my husband was in the final stage of Lou Gehrig’s Disease. A nurse came once or twice a week or more if needed, an aide came daily. Someone was on call weekends if he needed help. I couldn’t do it alone and a volunteer came once a week to sit with him while I went shopping. After Randy passed, I came to the hospice home for grief support and learned more about the volunteer program. I think it was in 2014 that I went through the volunteer training and have been helping at the hospice home since. I help in many different ways and feel like I am appreciated for my assistance — watching the desk, talking to family and patients, baking cookies, laundry, vacuuming, washing windows, whatever needs to be done.

Rita Riskedahl

I have been a nurse for a long time and had contact with hospice during my nursing career, so I became familiar with hospice services. I knew that when I would retire and have time to volunteer, hospice would be the place I would want to donate my time. Both of my parents were under the care of hospice before they passed away and I was grateful for the hospice care that they received.

I love to sew and I started at the Iowa River Hospice sewing quilts and other items needed for the hospice patients and families. Then I took over the outreach blood pressure clinics and continue to do the clinics once a month at The Embers, Village Coop and Senior Citizens Center, which I really enjoy doing.

Beverly Sloppy

After working at a school, I was with people all the time. I found out I needed to do more with people. So retiring wasn’t for me. I was used to helping teachers and being a part-time nurse.

Once you see how everyone needs help, I decided maybe I could find a place that needs helpers. Well, I found hospice and the hospital both welcomed me!

You just feel being a helper and doing for others is really rewarding. You can do just simple jobs, it still makes you hope whatever you do, it is rewarding.

P.S. At hospice, I can help by greeting visitors, laundry and baking cookies and visiting with a hospice patient.

Patricia Smith

“I have volunteered with IRH for 13 years by visiting patients in their homes, in care facilities or in the hospice house. These individuals and their families became friends over the days, weeks or months I spent visiting them. I learned so much from these precious folks as they would share their many life experiences. I feel so blessed to be a small part of their lives.

I also volunteered at the hospice house by being a greeter occasionally, by baking cookies, and attending a variety of fundraisers over the years. Iowa River Hospice staff are the most caring people I know. They reach out to their patients and families regularly and offer so much support as their loved ones near the end of their life. I appreciate all the love and compassion the staff offers to their patients and I love being included in their dedicated circle.”

Scott Smith

It gives me an opportunity to bring comfort and joy to others through the ministry of music as people navigate through life’s most tender and challenging moments … It also allows me to say thank you to the veterans and their families for all they sacrificed to provide the freedoms we have,” he said. “I am so grateful for the opportunity to give back, and in each volunteer experience, I am always blessed through the amazing resilience and kindness of others and the love and grace of God.