2003 Spirit of Idaho Awards

August 11, 2003 - Volunteers with the Hospice of Eastern Idaho, Idaho Falls. Each of those honored have provided at least 100 hours of service to those who come to the Hospice and their families.

Donna Stone. A Hospice volunteer for three years, who provided 195 volunteer hours for just one patient in 2002, consistently showing up twice a week to give respite care for the patient’s husband for two to three hours at a time.

Debbie and Buck Horton. Since becoming volunteers in the spring of 2003, Buck and Debbie (who are both retired) have each worked almost 200 volunteer hours for many different families under the care of Hospice.

Larry and Evelyn Miller. Missionaries who are assigned to Hospice of Eastern Idaho by the LDS Church. They serve as volunteer spiritual liaisons for our patients and families, but also are available to give famiilies respite care when needed. They served in a non-denominational capacity with no proselytizing. Through their Volunteer Training, which was from October 2002 through May of 2003, this year, they have worked 262 volunteer hours.

Donna Meyer. A Hospice volunteer since 1994, she has put in over a 100 hours helping our patients. Since last year (2002), she has been visiting and reading to one particular patient who does not speak.

Dorothy Wayne. A volunteer since 1989, she has given over 100 hours to a variety of patients. She has traveled extra miles to stay with patients when necessary, often during the evening hours or even on weekends when needed. She is a retired nurse.

Fern Jones. Volunteered for hospice for ten years while continuing to work full time, she has spent over a 100 hours visiting patients during her lunch hour, after work, or on weekends when necessary.

Bob Siedelmann. A Hospice volunteer since 1999, beginning just one year after his wife died and he learned about Hospice, he is always willing to stay with a patient, even if he has to change his plans to make the time work.

Vince Aquino. A volunteer since 1999, he has always been willing to visit with any patient, even if that patient did not know he was there and could not communicate with him. He has spent many hours in the secure units of more than one nursing home to be with patients suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Connie Staffel. A professional counselor who who became a volunteer in October 2002. She has been giving her volunteer hours on Saturdays to facilitate a support group for grieving family members.

Leora Cornia. A volunteer first with District 7 and now with Hospice of Eastern Idaho, she has given 100 hours to a variety of patients. She prefers being able to converse with patients, but is willing to give of her time to any and all who need her.

Jim McCue. A volunteer who also began with District 7 and now works with Hospice of Eastern Idaho, Jim has spent countless volunteer hours listening intently to his patients. He prefers to report on his visits in poetic form.

Barry Leech, Chester. The only volunteer close enough to be of assistance to patients in the St. Anthony/Rexburg area. His volunteer hours also include coming to town to help in the Hospice office with clerical jobs.