To honour their adopted community of Rockwood and their final days in the Hospice Wellington residence, Klara and Oskar Bookbinder’s estate made a remarkable gift to support the people of Guelph/Eramosa and Wellington County. Their executor, Peter Hannam shared, “this is a tribute to the friendly, 24-hour caring atmosphere that Hospice Wellington provided for the Bookbinders.” Their $250,000 investment will fund a three-year project to offer support services to these communities, making it possible for people to access services in or near their own communities.
Local Family Health Teams, agencies, churches and County elected leaders have all been supportive of the program and shared how it might align with services already in place. Julie Martin-Jansen, the program’s leader, will connect further with those same partners to confirm what current or special programs will best support each respective community or person.
Executive Director Pat Stuart commented, “home means so much to each of us. Klara and Oskar Bookbinder have made it possible for people in the towns and rural communities of Wellington County to access services closer to their own homes”.
As Julie said, “What a thrill to be joining Hospice Wellington to connect services to rural communities. I appreciate the vital relationships that are the bedrock of the rural life and look forward to meeting with people in Wellington County while traveling around in my mobile office.
My whole life has been spent in rural communities and that sense of connection really matters to me. For the last 16, I supported vulnerable adults with Elmira’s Community Living at the end of life in creating and delivering their Palliative program. That plan was created and enhanced through regular input from staff, families, our partnering agencies and the individuals we served.
I appreciate that just as everyone’s loss is unique, the supports that we access should also be unique. I look forward to meeting you or your organization to figure out what service might be most meaningful for you. The scope and compassion that the staff and volunteers of Hospice Wellington bring to the people they serve has impressed me and it will be an honour to connect those services further to the people of Wellington County.”
For more information, visit hospicewellington.org.