MASONIC VILLAGE HOSPICE
SUMMER 2022
Coming Full Circle with Hospice (p. 4) Your Gifts Are Supporting Families Through Grief
Care Fit for a Queen In the eyes of Marsha Fisher, her parents, Merilynn Hart and Robert (Bob) Hart, made the perfect couple. They went above and beyond to provide for their three daughters, eight grandchildren and 22 greatgrandchildren, Marsha said. Bob died of cancer in 1994, two days before the couple’s 50th anniversary. Merilynn died from liver failure on Sept. 2, 2020. She was cared for by Masonic Village Hospice staff at the Mennonite Home in Lancaster, PA. She was 96 years old. “I was very happy with the hospice care [my mother] received – they were wonderful,” Marsha said. “Mom couldn’t eat much at the end, but she wanted white seedless grapes. [Hospice Director] Maureen DolkMetcalfe would buy grapes for her.” It was in the middle of the pandemic, so staff and family members had to adapt to different ways of providing care and visiting their loved ones. “She [Maureen] would also facilitate the family Zoom calls once a week, as
However, she was hesitant about placing
Marsha lived only a mile or so from
mom had grandchildren spread out all
her mother in hospice because Merilynn
the community and was able to help
over. We got everyone together on
said she was scared about moving.
her mother with whatever she needed.
these calls, which made her so happy,” she said. “Maureen would use her own computer because we could not visit. She was like family to my mother. I
Fortunately, Masonic Village Hospice provides care in people’s homes and long-term care communities
was always able to contact Hospice if I
throughout Lancaster County.
needed anything. It worked out great.”
Previously, Merilynn had lived in
Marsha, a retired elementary school
an apartment at Woodcrest Villa (a
teacher, was already familiar with the benefits of hospice because she once volunteered at a facility in Lancaster. 2
Marsha and Merilynn
retirement community across from the Mennonite Home, a personal care and nursing care facility) for 14 years.
When Merilynn started having falls, Marsha knew her mother needed additional care, so she moved her to personal care at the Mennonite Home. A well-put-together woman, Merilynn always took pride in her appearance, Marsha said. When the hair salon at the Mennonite Home closed due to COVID, Maureen would send someone to Merilynn’s room to wash
and style her hair, which Merilynn and Marsha both appreciated. “Everyone who ever knew my mom said she was so attractive,” Marsha said. “She was always made up. She was also a character, and I still meet people who remember her. She participated in the Senior Games for three years at the Mennonite Home. She won many medals.
“When she was 16, mom was a tennis player and the singles champion for Altoona. She was that good. But once her knee went bad, she and my dad started to take up golf and played a lot. She was always very athletic and in shape. She always looked younger than she was and just lovely.”
Marsha, right, with her sisters (l-r): Linda Weber and Becky Rowe
Merilynn grew up in California and played tennis and other sports through high school. While she was at junior college, World War II broke out, and Merilynn went to work at the local Army Air Force Training Center, where she met her husband, Bob. They married, he went off to war and Merilynn remained in California with friends before Marsha was born. When Bob returned from the war, the couple moved to Altoona, where Merilynn lived until she was 80 years old. Bob was a Mason and a Shriner. Merilynn was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and former Supreme Queen in The Daughters of the Nile. Marsha has fond memories of her mother, including how “feisty” she was. “She always wanted us to be strong women, like she was, and I think she got her wish,” she said. Every summer, Merilyn, Marsha and her two sisters would take the train back to California for vacation. Bob
Robert and Merilyn (above), and Merilynn (right) worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad as an industrial engineer. Merilynn
life at her old church in Altoona.
worked at home until Marsha turned
Nearly all the grandchildren and great-
12. Then, she got a job as a cashier at
grandchildren were in attendance,
a local grocery store and was also the
as well as some close friends.
secretary of her church until retiring.
Marsha and her sisters later took
Merilynn always remembered all
a trip to California to honor their
of her grandchildren and great-
mother and celebrate their family.
grandchildren’s birthdays with cards, something Marsha found fascinating.
“We’ve been fortunate to have
“She had a calendar with every date
said. “Everybody loves each other
and always had cards ready. Everyone
and knows they are going to
got $5. When there were too many of
see my mother later in life.”
us, she didn’t send money anymore,” Marsha said. “When I retired, I helped her keep doing it through the years.
a very Christian family,” Marsha
Masonic Village Hospice provided Merilynn the dignified care she
She kept it up until she was 92.”
deserved, while providing support
Following her death, Merilynn’s
time, made even more challenging
daughters held a celebration of her
because of the pandemic.
for her family during a difficult
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Coming Full Circle with Hospice Dr. Barbara Caton, associate medical director, has been with Masonic Village Hospice for the past three years.
She has practiced family medicine for the past 40 years, both in North Jersey and Pennsylvania. She also spent three years serving families of servicemen and women on a U.S. Navy base in Pensacola, Florida. Dr. Caton loves the one-to-one patient focus of hospice over private practice, where she is more limited in terms of time per patient. “Family medicine is a very regimented system,” she said. “With hospice, I can go out to a nursing home. Or I can see home patients in that setting with their families. I’m not under the pressure to rush. I love that part of the job.” Dr. Caton alternates on-call weeks with Dr. John Mast, medical director. During
“Sometimes, patients decide to return
she can video chat with the patient’s
to aggressive treatment or they
family and evaluate the situation over
become stabilized enough that they
the phone, whether it be a medication
no longer require hospice services.
change or a need to order X-rays. She
That happens on occasion. It can be
visits Hospice patients in a variety of
bittersweet for them and us, because
settings, including their homes, at a
often they see the Hospice team as
retirement living facility, an assisted
“We (myself and Dr. Mast) each
part of their extended family with
living facility or personal care homes.
have our own meetings on a weekly
respect to helping their loved ones stay
basis with teams discussing patient
comfortable, reduce stress of care and
care,” she said. “We discuss all newly
in some cases, improve their status.”
24-hour shifts, she fields calls from staff members on the team: nurses, social workers, chaplains and others. She also determines whether someone is eligible for hospice or another program if they are not in need of hospice at this time.
admitted patients to hospice and the ones who are up for recertification review for the next period of care, as well as our ongoing patients. 4
As part of her responsibilities, Dr. Caton visits with patients and nurse care managers in person or through a video chat. If it’s an urgent situation,
“There are quite a few settings offered,” she said. “Our services cover about a 30-mile radius from [the Elizabethtown] campus.” “It’s a whole team approach,” Dr. Caton added. “The patient gets
a lot of say about their care, rather than being told
Dr. Caton is happy to see the perception of hospice
what to do. It’s amazing how mentally and emotionally
as a “place to die” is changing. She views hospice
better patients feel when they have ownership of
as a way to “live better” at the end of your life.
their care. There’s a sense of empowerment for them when they have some control in their care.”
“We cannot predetermine actual time of death for patients, but we use the patient’s health and any declines
Dr. Caton grew up in a military family. She was
in status to help prognosticate their end of life journey.”
born in Germany, where her father served in the
she said. “We try to make the most of the time they
U.S. Army, and traveled all over the world until she
have left, whether it’s days, weeks or months.”
attended high school in Rockville, Maryland.
When she’s not working, Dr. Caton enjoys knitting,
She went on to graduate from Penn State University
crocheting, sewing, crafts, walking her dog, baking
and the Philadelphia College for Osteopathic Medicine.
and traveling with her husband, Dr. Dominic Glorioso,
She then completed a one-year internship and a
and their two daughters, ages 31 and 27.
one-year general practice residency before joining a family residency practice in South Jersey. Dr. Caton, who lives near York, worked at WellSpan York Hospital System in family practice for several years, performing minor surgical procedures from different offices. She then joined a group called MD at Home, where she’d
“We are looking to go to a couple national parks this year,” she said. “We like to go to a fun place at least once a year.” Masonic Village Hospice is grateful for Dr. Caton and all the dedicated staff members who work together to provide comfort and support for patients and their families.
travel to see patients at home and in facilities. Prior to joining Masonic Village Hospice, Dr. Caton spent three years at Asana Hospice and Palliative Care in Harrisburg, PA.
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Thank You to Our Donors Memorials Gifts received Feb. 1 - April 30
MEMORIAL
DONOR
Dorothy E. Andes
Lucinda Whirt
Herman Berzon
Ginger Weismantel
Nancy Biehl
Clark Biehl
Avis Ann Bryan
John and Susan Bricker
Donald Morgan
Helen Heidelbaugh
Edith Muir
Helen Heidelbaugh
Mary Mummert
Chuck and Linda Mummert
Doris M. Novinger
Camilla Anderson Rick and Mary Jo Barrett Neil and Barbara Fasnacht Marilyn Forney Calvin Gates Bob Habig David and Nancy Halliwell
Walter and Norma Havran Shirley A. Engle
Helen Heidelbaugh
John Cope
John and Gayle Hewlett
MOBE
Phyllis Masenheimer
Robert and M. Susanne Santarelli
Joanne McMullen
Robert and Barbara Strickler
Lorraine Murawski
John and Betty Wolgemuth
Margaret Novinger
Richard and Lois Worst Margaret Foltz
Robert Foltz
Christine Fortier
Jillian Stauffer
Joe Geho
Michael Beidleman
Walter K. Gerber
Gerber Great Grandchildren - Olyver and Alyrta & Layla and Warrick Kurstin A. Hulce and Gerber Grandchildren - Kierstin, Kyle, Shealyn, Madison, Jackson & Talon
Joan H. Hall
William Hall
Fredrick “Rick” Hansen
Alan and Sue Pederson
Betty L. Kandes
Pat Anderson Rebecca Arndt Joanne Hariu Susan Jones Carol Kishbaugh Darlene Monahan, Jeanette Reed and Family, Andrew Anderson and Family, and The Kandes Family Barbara Zell
Lois E. LaGueux
Nancy Schlegel Gail Ward
Alvin and Mary Helen Leisey
Kim Leisey
Millard “Mick” McKennon, Jr.
Family of Dr. L. Loyd Ruoss Michael Lynch
Ann Mickel
Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc.
Donald L. Miller 6
Christiana Lodge No. 417
Beverly Schreadley John and Penny Witmer Carolyn Wright Barbara Zell Lois Olinger
Cathy McCracken
Royal Parker
Janet Slavin
Anita Louise Pence
Michael and Sarah Pence
Hon. Michael J. Perezous
Dolores Perezous
Beatrice K. Phillips
John Phillips
Henry Pitz
Robert Foltz
Martha C. Ros
Alberto Ros
Margaret Saulina
Dave Oberdorff
Robert K. Sloan
Edna Sloan
Terri Smith
Jim and Emma Steve and Joanne McNaughton
Bill Stephens
Joseph and Joan Lippa
Audrey Stroup
Helen Heidelbaugh
Robert Telford
John and Mary Ann Olson
John and Louise Tumolo
Alan and Sue Pederson
Walter W. Wilken
Karen Hodges Doris Wilken
Honors
Gifts received Feb. 1 - April 30
HONOR David Whitenack
DONOR Clinton Spiegel
Masonic Village Hospice Supports Local Relay for Life Masonic Village Hospice raised more than $9,700 in 2022 for the local Relay for Life, held in June in Lancaster. At the event, the Hospice team sponsored Caregiver Haven, a safe space for caregivers to relax, engage in stress-reducing activities and find resources. The Relay for Life movement raises funds and awareness on behalf of the American Cancer Society. Masonic Village Hospice’s team will continue to relay for all patients and families impacted by cancer.
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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.