Reflections - Fall, 2022

Doing What’s Best for the One You Love

From the moment Linda met Jeff Loser, he was “the guy” for her. Linda moved into Jeff’s neighborhood in Elizabethtown when he was 16 and she was 14. As Jeff walked his dog past the new girl on the block sitting on the corner, Linda’s brother said, “There’s a guy for you.”

Her brother was right. After their first date to the movies to see “Summer Place,” Linda and Jeff’s fate was sealed. Their 57-year marriage included three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. There was lots of love and laughter, and despite some struggles toward the end, “She always knew I cared,” Jeff said, even through her time on Masonic Village Hospice.

He retired in 2005 after selling insurance for 30 years, and in 2008, Linda retired as office manager from the Elizabethtown Borough. They looked forward to enjoying their retirement.

“We were always together, so I didn’t pick up on the signs of what was going on,” Jeff said.

He became concerned when he noticed she got a book at the library and said she was done reading it within a day. Jeff took her back to the library, and she borrowed three books. Within a day, she said she was done with all three. He asked her how that was possible, and she said she only read the first and last chapters, something completely out of character for her.

“Signs like that,” he said. “She had a lot of anxiety, too. I wasn’t getting any sleep.”

Linda was eventually diagnosed with early stage dementia, although Jeff never shared the official diagnosis with her since he didn’t feel she needed to know. Jeff enrolled her in an adult day program to provide him with some relief, as he had some health issues of his own. As her condition progressed and she began falling, Jeff knew she needed more care.

Jeff Loser displays a framed photograph of he and his wife, Linda.

Both his parents lived at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown before passing away. Jeff inquired about moving Linda into one of the memory support neighborhoods. It was hard to share the news with Linda, but through his tears, she accepted the change.

“I know you love me, and you’ll do what’s best for me,” she said to Jeff.

“I missed her, but because I knew the quality of care she was getting, it was easier for me to accept,” Jeff said. “In seven years, I only missed a handful of days visiting her.”

In 2020, Linda began experiencing a lot of pain. One of the nurses, Todd Pawuk, mentioned his wife, Amber, worked for Masonic Village Hospice, and recommended they do an evaluation. Jeff’s first contact with Hospice was a 45-minute conversation as they determined the best course of action. Linda was placed on Hospice and temporarily discharged, before being placed on it again.

“The same nurses still took care of her, but the hospice care was more concentrated,” Jeff said. “They told me what was going on and kept me informed. The night before she passed, they told me I’d better get out to see her. When she passed, it was almost easier for me than if it had happened sooner because she had been sick for so long.”

Jeff knew his parents received great care at Masonic Village, and it was no different for his wife.

“I still say Linda knew me to the end,” he said. “People used to say to me, ‘I don’t know how you do it. You’re a hero.’ I wasn’t. She was. She never complained.

Linda and Jeff

Jeff, Linda and their extended family

“I have nothing but praise for Masonic Village Hospice. I got to know the staff, and they were all great. I have the highest regard for someone

doing that kind of work. Linda got the best care, and I wouldn’t have sent her anywhere else.”

Caring for Couple in Need of Support

Patricia Thompson is grateful to Masonic Village Hospice for being there for her family during their times of need.

Masonic Village Hospice cared for her father twice, including during the COVID-19 pandemic when Patti was unable to be there with him. They also took care of her mother, who passed away in 2019.

“The pandemic was a really hard time,” she said. “I don’t know what I would have done for my father’s last few days without the Hospice staff because I couldn’t be with him.”

Patti’s parents, William Sr. (Bill) and Dina, had been living independently in their Hershey home when Bill broke his hip on Christmas Eve 2016.

In July 2017, after recovering from his injury, Bill and Dina moved to Masonic Village at Elizabethtown. Two weeks later, doctors discovered that Bill had no blood flow to his foot. He entered hospice because of a gangrenous toe, in addition to signs of heart failure. That September, Bill was still on hospice when he became septic and had to have his leg amputated. He survived and recovered from the surgery.

On Christmas 2017, while celebrating Bill being alive and adapting to one leg, Dina fell and broke her sacrum. The couple then moved into personal care. The following year, Dina broke her hip, and after rehabilitation, she wasn’t progressing in her recovery. She went on hospice in August 2019 and passed away in October, one day before Bill’s 93rd birthday.

“My mother never wanted to be a burden to me,” Patti said. “She had

this aide through Hospice who made her feel like a queen in her dying days. If she didn’t think her hair looked good, they would do it for her. I could tell how calm she would be after

she spent time with Hospice staff. I knew it was all going to be ok.”

Bill had to learn to adjust to being on his own in personal care. Heidi Young, hospice bereavement coordinator, was his “right-hand woman,” Patti said. “He talked to her about a lot of things, and she was there for him.”

Bill had been suffering from prostate cancer for several years when his other foot became gangrenous. He decided to stop his medication and went on hospice; only a few days passed until he died on July 23, 2020.

Patti couldn’t be with her father because of the pandemic, but Hospice staff stepped right in to fill the gap. “They were our eyes and ears,”

Bill and Dina (above) and Patricia (below).

she said. “For me, knowing that these people had known my dad for years and cared about him was a godsend. I don’t know what we would have done without them.

“I told my dad, ‘You don’t get to choose how you die,’ but he said, ‘Yes I do.’ Hospice helped him do it his way. They had fabulous people working with them, like his nurse, Amber. Bob was also his nurse back in 2017 and was with him the day he passed.”

Bill and Dina were married for 70 years, an achievement they were quite proud of. Bill was a member of a submarine crew in World War II and helped capture a Japanese submarine. After the war, he worked for the local telephone company. Dina, the daughter of Italian immigrants, worked in the garment industry. Her mother had died when she was 11 and her dad when she was 18.

“She was one of the most hardworking people I knew,” Patti said. “Her last job was running the garment industry in the Poconos. It was in a 95-degree sweatshop, and she was making buttonholes so we could make ends meet.”

Bill and Dina originally met as neighbors and attended the same high school. They dated for several years before marrying after Bill finished his tour of duty in the Navy.

Bill was always known as the “less social” partner in the marriage. He was very active and athletic and lit up when

talking about sports. He was known to have a quick wit, a stubborn streak and a good sense of humor.

The couple had two other children besides Patti, sons William Jr. and David. Bill and Dina belonged to Hershey Free Church. They had moved to the Hershey area years ago after spending the first part of their marriage in the Poconos.

Bill was a longtime member of Carbon Lodge No. 242 in Jim Thorpe. It was only fitting that Masonic Village at Elizabethtown became the right place for Bill and Dina to spend their final years.

When her father passed away, Patti felt secure in knowing he died peacefully.

“Amazon Alexa was playing his music, and he had the biggest grin on his face,” she said. “He died the way he wanted to die. That happened because of Hospice being so supportive.

“Not only was Hospice there for my parents, but they were helpful to me. On the anniversary of my parents’ deaths, Heidi called just to see how I was doing. These people are just genuinely gifted at what they do, and what they do is such a difficult job. End of life is hard, and they smile and care and never act like they are busy, even though you know how busy they are.”

Family photo: George David Gibson (Dave), Bill, Dina, Patricia Thompson, William Jr.

Always In Our Hearts

The rain didn’t keep attendees from honoring and celebrating their loved ones who passed away on Masonic Village Hospice service in the last year. In fact, the rain stopped just in time for the Masonic Village Hospice 2022 Butterfly Release. Musician Maya Talarico sang and played the guitar. Thanks to all of the families who participated with the hospice team members. We look forward to next year’s release!

Thank You to Our Donors

Memorials

Gifts received May 1 - July 31

MEMORIAL DONOR

Mae I. Alleman James and Joan Bonawitz George and Lois Preble Angela Ryan K. Wade and Jean Seibert Irma Stough

John B. Cain II Paul and Julie Richelson

Gladys E. Eberts Shirley Conrad

Shirley Engle Dennis and Jamie Cope Jack L. Gillmore Doris Longenecker

Joan H. Hall William Hall Michael Goshin

Robert “Bob” Idzik Joanne Idzik Robert and Joan Terwilliger Braden Wright

Robert C. Jackson Shirley Jackson

James W. Jones Edmund and JoAnn Jones Robert and Elizabeth McClure Vincent and Rosemary Rineer

Raymond C. Knorr Susan Barra Lois and Robert Neuhauser Greg Neuhauser Doris M. Novinger Todd and Debra Novinger

Nancy P. Parry Catherine Shultz

Margaret “Peggy” Saulina Sandra Zimmerman George Schmitt Marg Shelley Lawrence Edward Sturm Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc.

Donald Yost Paul Givler and Kathryn Trotta Arlene M. Ziegler

Jean Hynicker

Nancy Olweiler

John and Ingeborg Smith

Nancy Wilkinson and Liz Flanagan

Honors

Gifts received May 1 - July 31

HONOR

DONOR

Timothy R. Reichard Jason and Megan Jarmusz

Give Monthly Change a Life

By giving a monthly gift of any amount to Masonic Village Hospice, you’ll be joining a program that provides you several benefits:

• No cost to you.

• No longer receive annual spring and fall appeals in the mail.

• Receive a year-end statement for ease of tax preparation.

• Cancel your authorization at any time by notifying the Office of Mission Advancement and Development.

Conveniently meet your charitable goals today! Call 1-800-599-6454, email Giving@MasonicCharitiesPa.org or visit MasonicVillageHospice.org/donate to join our Cornerstone Circle Program.

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.

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.