MASONIC VILLAGE HOSPICE
FALL 2021
Providing Quality Care (p. 4) Your Gifts Are Supporting Families Through Grief
Home is where the heart is A fortuitous meeting at a bridal salon led Janell (Berté) Bertelman to Masonic Village Hospice. Janell, owner of POSH Bridal in Lancaster, was working at her store one day when a mother/daughter team arrived for a wedding dress fitting. Janell didn’t make it a practice to share her private life with anybody at work. But she was feeling overwhelmed that day. Her mother, Ruth, a resident at Homestead Village Skilled Nursing Facility, was in declining health and Janell, an only child, knew she and her husband, Richard, couldn’t take care of her on their own.
“We had a three-story home and did not want mom to fall down the stairs,” she said. “We couldn’t bring her home with us until she was bedbound, and I felt safe enough that she wouldn’t try to get out of bed.” The mother at the appointment, Allison Maloney, was a practicing nurse and Janell thought she might have some insight on how to best care for Ruth moving forward. Her daughter, Jasmine Rakszawski, worked for
Above: Ruth Bertelman. Right: Ruth and Janell making gingerbread houses. “As soon as she said she was linked to Masonic Village, she didn’t have to go any further,” Janell said. Janell’s family has deep roots in the Masonic organization. Her father was a 33rd degree Mason and member of Scottish Rite, Tall Cedars and the Shriners. Ruth was in Order of the Eastern Star. Janell was a Past Grandworthy Advisor for Pennsylvania Rainbow Girls.
Masonic Village Hospice and explained
“I had visited the Masonic Home (as
to Janell what her options were.
Masonic Village was then known) many times when I was in Rainbow,
2
and I was very knowledgeable about the facility,” Janell said. “I knew it would be outstanding.” Hospice took care of everything for Janell — setting up a bed and table for Ruth in her home and providing lots of support.
“Having John, our nurse, and his assistant, Samantha, was so amazing,” she said. “Samantha had a great attitude and always dealt with mom beautifully. John had the best bedside manner, and we adored him. Through the end, he was there practically every day and was so helpful and strong for our family. Without him, I wouldn’t have made it. He was really our foundation.” Once COVID-19 hit, businesses shut down, which turned out to be a blessing for Janell. It allowed her to stay at home and spend 100 % of her time with her mother at the end of her life.
“There was not a lot of activity going on, and it made it easier for John and Samantha to come in and out of the house,” she said. “They were able to stand by our side through everything. It made it so much more meaningful for me and comfortable for my mother. She didn’t die alone or among strangers.” Ruth died on her birthday, April 7, 2020, at 89 years old. Ruth was originally from Mount Pleasant, PA. She met and married her husband, Henry, and they lived in the North
Janell and her parents at the PA Grand Assembly in 1976.
Huntingdon area. He passed away more than 30 years ago. “I grew up in an ‘Ozzie and Harriet’ family,” Janell said. “My dad worked full time and brought the bread home. My mom took care of the house and the family. I had a wonderful childhood. My mom’s life revolved around my father and me.” Ruth was a baker who enjoyed making cookies. She eventually became well-known for bringing homemade cookies with her when she traveled with Janell to bridal shows in New York City. She would serve the cookies to buyers and editors to rave reviews. “The editors of Town & Country magazine, Martha Stewart, they all knew my mom,” Janell said. “Mom got invited to all of Martha’s parties. She was even invited on Martha’s television show, but she was too shy to do it. My mother was a humble lady. I know she was tickled though.” Ruth always enjoyed music. When she was living in the western part of the state, she would attend the Pittsburgh Symphony regularly. She always loved going to NYC for Broadway shows, and she enjoyed opera. She also loved to garden, and Janell often took her to Longwood Gardens to explore. “That was her happy place,” she said. Ruth and Henry traveled the U.S. together, but it took Janell and Richard to take her on international trips. Janell fondly
Ruth, Janell and Richard in Thailand in 2001. recalls a three-week trip she took with her mother and husband traveling around the world in December 2001. “We were greeted with open arms everywhere we went. We visited Greece, India, Thailand and Hong Kong. It was a great experience for the three of us and a wonderful memory.” Meeting Jasmine in the bridal shop that day was a blessing, as Janell was again welcomed with open arms — this time by Hospice staff. “Things happen for a reason,” Janell said. “Obviously it was meant to be, and I could not speak higher of the services that my mother and our family received.” 3
Love at Second Sight “Hospice can always make a difference, no matter when it’s consulted, but the longer hospice has to help individuals, the more they can do.”
Providing Quality Care Dr. John Mast has served Masonic Village at Elizabethtown
He would like to see hospice reach even more
in various capacities for over 21 years. A geriatric specialist
people and provide quality end-of-life care for more
certified in geriatric and family medicine with Penn
individuals at an earlier stage. Some individuals don’t
Medicine Lancaster General Health, Dr. Mast was named
enter hospice until they are very close to death.
medical director in 2020. He recently transitioned to hospice medical director, which is where you can find him when he’s not doing long-term care and rehabilitation.
“Since I started at Masonic Village, the facility and staff have done a fabulous job of providing quality end-of-life care that for many years was a service given to eligible residents regardless of their personal financial circumstances,” he said. “Today, we are able to provide everything that is included in the Medicare Hospice Benefit and get reimbursed for the high-quality work that we’ve been doing.” Dr. Mast appreciates that hospice allows patients to experience end-of-life wishes, whether it be an airplane flight or attending a Phillies game. “They are helping dreams come true,” he said. 4
“Hospice can always make a difference, no matter when it’s consulted, but the longer hospice has to help individuals, the more they can do,” he said. Dr. Mast returned to his hometown of Lancaster in 1999 to look for a job after completing his medical residency at East Tennessee State University. He attended medical school at Indiana University School of Medicine at Indianapolis. Before that, he was enrolled in the premed program at Goshen College in Indiana. While there, he worked as a nurses aide at a long term care facility in Goshen. He really enjoyed the experience. “I did the weekend night, 12-hour shift for a few years,” he said. “It helped solidify my thoughts that I really wanted to practice medicine and be a doctor, because I enjoy taking care of people. I’m here to serve the patients. They are not
here to serve my requests and wishes. That’s how it works.” Dr. Mast eventually joined the family medicine practice at Norlanco Medical Associates in Elizabethtown. There, he learned they needed someone to see patients at Masonic Village. He jumped on the opportunity. Today, he lives just 2.5 miles from campus, so he’s able to walk, jog or bike to work every day. “I had no reservations,” he said about coming to Masonic Village. “With my experience in the nursing facility, I was happy to do it. When I arrived at Masonic Village (in 1999), I learned a lot as I was working. I really benefited from Dr. Kenneth Brubaker’s mentorship over the years. I also learned a lot from the fabulous nurses I worked
and the rest of my time with hospice. It’s a nice balance.”
with over the years. Taking care of complex patients
Dr. Mast said he enjoys caring for what he
really takes a partnership with the whole team.”
calls the “unworried sick,” which is how he
Over the years, as the need increased, Dr. Mast began spending more and more time at Masonic Village. Five years ago, an opportunity arose to leave his outpatient practice and work full-time at Masonic Village. He happily accepted the role. “I made the jump from outpatient medicine to personal
describes his patients at Masonic Village. “Most adults worry about being sick, but they are actually quite healthy,” he said. Nursing facility patients typically have multiple critical, potentially life-threatening illnesses that are all interacting with each other, but often they are not worried and are happy to be as healthy as possible.
care, short-term nursing facility rehabilitation and long-term
“A lot of it is emotional and spiritual maturity. They have
nursing work, and now hospice,” he said. “I still work as part of
become self-actualized and had a chance to live their lives;
Lancaster General Health at Masonic Village. About three-
they are not fearful of death. They’ve finished their life work
quarters of my time is doing long-term care and rehabilitation,
and their life is at a point of reminiscence and reflection.”
Don’t Let Your 2021 IRA Benefit Expire on Dec. 31: Make a Difference for a Patient with a Qualified Charitable Distribution If you are 70½ or older and have a traditional IRA, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is usually the number one way to give to Masonic Village Hospice. You avoid tax on any amount given from your IRA to charity, which is like getting a free tax deduction. Yes, it’s more complicated than writing a check, but once you do, you will never look back. Please
contact the Masonic Charities Office of Mission Advancement and Development for a FREE QCD Kit and then talk to your advisor about dividing up your QCD among your favorite charities, including Masonic Village Hospice. Remember, if you don’t need your Required Minimum Distribution, then turning it into a QCD is an added benefit.
We can help you create a QCD to achieve your goals while supporting Hospice’s mission. Please contact us at 1-800-599-6454 or visit MasonicCharitiesLegacy.org for more information. Everything we do for you comes with no cost or obligation.
MasonicCharitiesLegacy.org 5
Thank You to Our Donors Memorials
Betty Kuhn
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Nancy Myers Landis
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Gifts received May 1 - July 31
Mary T. LeBlanc
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MEMORIAL
DONOR
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Rheems Elementary School
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Worthington Chapter No. 287,
Laurie Shive, Grace Kautz, Lisa
6
OES
Faculty and Staff
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Lawrence, Patti Irvin, Ivy Davis
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Bill Campbell
and Karen Carlson
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of Realtors, Inc.
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Calvary Baptist Church of York
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Richard Gerz, Sr.
Kathryn Heiland
Elizabethtown Masonic Village
Jane and William Staman
Eleanor Gould
Marie Bowman
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Marilyn Forney
Helen Gregg
Marcel and Donna Ferrere
Dominic Glorioso, Jr. and Barbara
Despina M. Grimes
Robert Grimes
John W. Harper, Jr.
John and Carol Bender
Mary Grogan
John and Tammy Harper
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Ethel V. Harris
Tim Harris
Thomas and Judith Host
Robert C. I. Jackson
Sue Ann Land
Elaine Kaylor
Shrine Club
Caton Glorioso
Melvin Guy “Pete” Snyder
Janie & Corky King and
Stephen Jacobs
Lawrence Edward “Ed” Sturm Jean Schoener
David and Karen Schultze Mike and Jenniver Shove, Pete,
Mildred Mealey
Glenn and Kathy Mellinger
Kit and Paul Maynor and
Betty and Tom Miller
Michelle, Jon, Maleaha and
Lauren New
Rowan Stratman
Ann Pavilack
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Newcomers and Neighbors of
Honors
Gifts received May 1 - July 31
HONOR
DONOR
Kevin Jacoby
Diane Snyder
Brenda Kelchner
Diane Snyder
Timothy A. “Tim” Nickel
Sy and Deborah Beozzo
Diane Snyder
Debbie Novinger
Diane Snyder
Mary Oldham
Dale Oldham
Angela Ortiz
Craig Dayton
Amber Pawuk
Marjorie Menear
Lancaster, Inc.
Tom and Freeda Roberts
Norma Scalise 7
MASONIC VILLAGE HOSPICE 98 Masonic Drive, Suite 101 • Elizabethtown, PA 17022 717-361-8449 • MasonicVillageHospice.org
Who We Are Since 2009, Masonic Village’s trained, compassionate hospice staff have cared for thousands of patients and their families, focusing on the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients so they may complete their lives joyfully. Our hospice staff promote comfort and self-determination, enabling patients to participate in making decisions about their care. Based in Elizabethtown, Masonic Village Hospice is pleased to offer services to patients in the comfort of their homes throughout Lancaster, Dauphin, Lebanon and Eastern York counties.
Open for Everyone. Masonic Village Hospice does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, ancestry, national origin, familial status, age, sex, limited English proficiency (LEP) or any other protected status in admission, treatment or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. Masonic Village Hospice cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. Masonic Village Hospice iss willich, die Gsetze (federal civil rights) vun die Owwerichkeet zu folliche un duht alle Leit behandle in der seem Weg. Es macht nix aus, vun wellem Schtamm ebber beikummt, aus wellem Land die Voreldre kumme sinn, was fer en Elt ebber hot, eb ebber en Mann iss odder en Fraa, verkrippelt iss odder net.