Hospice program honors sisters

BANGOR – Hospice of Eastern Maine, a program of Bangor Area Visiting Nurses, presented sisters Roxanne Byron and Janet French with its highest volunteer honor, the Patricia Jameson Award, at its annual appreciation dinner. The Jameson Award for volunteer excellence was given to Byron and French in recognition of their exceptional service to patients and families.

The women’s father died in Hospice of Eastern Maine’s care in December 2004. Though the family did not use volunteers, they greatly appreciated the care hospice gave their dad and family, and decided to become hospice volunteers to help others facing the challenges posed at end of life.

Byron became a volunteer in 2006. In 2007, she served eight patients and families, contributing 195 hours of volunteer service that included giving blocks of respite time to families, going on weekly lunch dates and road trips with a patient, and sitting quietly with another patient who was unresponsive.

French donated 196 volunteer hours in 2007, much of that time provided to a husband and wife with limited family support who came to think of her as their daughter. Her love and attention since early 2006 helped make their final months together special.

Both women participated in speaking engagements to educate others about hospice care.

Since 1981, Hospice of Eastern Maine volunteers have proudly and lovingly served area residents living with terminal illness. HOEM has many outstanding, selfless volunteers committed to exceptional patient care, officials said.

Through their many hours of dedicated service, Byron and Mitchell distinguished themselves in 2007.

Byron lives in Milford with her husband, Zane, and has two grown children. She is the office manager for Dr. Gary Fessler, a dentist.

Mitchell lives in Glenburn with her husband, Jonathan. They have five children, two of whom are in college. She recently returned to the nursing profession and is a per diem nurse at Acadia Hospital. Both women serve patients and families in Greater Bangor.

The Patricia Jameson Award for Hospice Volunteer Excellence was established in honor of an exceptional woman who, after four years of serving patients and families as a hospice volunteer, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. She continued to volunteer with hospice patients until she was no longer able to do so. She then became a recipient of hospice services.

For information, visit Hospice of Eastern Maine at www.emhospice.org, or call 973-8269.