WINTER 2013/14

(continued on pg. 2)

Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care606 Potter Rd.Des Plaines, Illinois 60016Toll free: 800-570-8809

SUPPORT

6

®

If our mailing records need to be updated, or if you would like to receive this newsletter electronically, please contact Seasons Hospice Foundation at 847-692-1000.

6400 Shafer Ct., Suite 700Rosemont, IL 60018

RETURN TO SENDER IF UNDELIVERABLE

Everyfor Seasonseasonsfoundation.org

FoundationFast Facts

Wishes - Past, Present & Future GoalsWish Utilization Cost of Wishes Total Wishes Avg. Cost per Wish2011 $70,000 141 $496.452012 $95,318 439 $217.13Jan-Jun 2013 $72,767 275 $264.002013 Goal $118,000 550 $214.54

Every Seasonfor

Brother and sister RickWeigand and Melody Striedare among a growing numberof people who are partneringwith Seasons Hospice Foundation to raise money tofund programs that they arepassionate about.

Every year since 1996,Melody and Rick have organizedStrike at Cancer, a bowlingevent in Arlington Heights,Ill. The annual fund-raisingevent is a way for the familyto honor the legacy of theirmother, Mary Weigand, whotransitioned after living withbreast cancer for 10 years. To date, the event has raisedmore than $500,000.

“We are a bowling family,so it seemed like a great activityto honor her memory,” says Melody, who also serves asDirector of Support Care and Support Services for SeasonsHospice & Palliative Care. “Plus, we have found it is apretty simple event to organize.”

The fund-raising focus of the 2013 Strike at Cancerevent shifted to recognize the passing of Rick and Melody’sfather, Ray Weigand, who was a patient in Seasons Hospice. “In addition to the wonderful care, the programthat really impressed my brother is Seasons Remembered:Leaving a Legacy,” says Melody.

Seasons Hospice Foundation’s Legacy program captures life stories, lessons, sentiments, memories, andtraditions. Legacies convey what we want remaininggenerations to know and understand about our life experiences. For loved ones, these legacies help us remember and heal as we carry on important traditions.

The program has many options, including video and voice recordings, filling out cards to mark specialdays in loved ones’ lives for years afterward, creating amusical timeline, or even writing and recording a songwith a Music Therapist.

“With Seasons, it is easy towork with the Foundation todirect gifts to a single program,”says Melody. “That way, thefunds go directly to support a program you have a connection to.”

Seasons Hospice Foundationalso partners with people whostage fund-raising events onits behalf by offering supportto publicize the event, helpconnect events to potentialsponsors and provide on-site assistance.

“Raising funds for programslike our Legacy program is a beautiful way for people to express their passion for acause,” says Greg Grabowski,President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Seasons Hospice

Foundation. “Perhaps even more importantly, this is a wayto get involved in your community, have some fun, andknow that you are bringing comfort and joy to others.”

The 2013 Strike for Cancer event featured more than100 bowlers and raised more than $11,000 for Legacyprograms. The brother-and-sister pair is already planningthe 2014 event and will be working with Seasons HospiceFoundation once again to help other families create legacies that will last for generations to come.

Brother and SisterTeam Up With

Seasons Foundationto Take a

‘Strike at Cancer’

A Bereavement Newsletter from Seasons Hospice Foundation

With your help, Seasons HospiceFoundation is able to provide assistance to hospice families in need.

Through the granting of wishes, we are ableto enrich lives with fond, lasting memories.You can be confident that your generous giftstays close to home and makes a differenceto the patients and families.

Helping Others through SEASONS HOSPICE FOUNDATION

To honor your loved one by making a gift or to learn more aboutthe Seasons Hospice Foundation, please visit seasonsfoundation.org or call 847-692-1000.

5

“Tears of grief are unique. They contain

chemicals that aren't found in the

more mundane droplets of moisture

that bathe the eyes, as if our tears wash

us free of some noxious cause of sorrow.” – Carol Cassella

small things matter the most

Volunteering Helps Mike Pereira Bond with Other Veterans and WorkThrough Grief

Through his service to other veterans, retired U.S. Army SergeantMike Pereira, 31, has come to terms with the grief and painful memoriesof his wartime military service in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

In Afghanistan, a close friend was killed by a roadside bomb. Manyother friends did not come back. Like so many fellow veterans, Mikewas diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

“I was almost killed when a helicopter malfunctioned and wasforced into an emergency landing,” says Mike. “I felt like I should havedied. I lived through it in one way, but felt like I died in another way.”

Therapy for PTSD ultimately led Mike to seek out Seasons Hospice& Palliative Care of St. Louis in 2012 to serve in the Veteran-to-VeteranVolunteer Program. The need for these volunteers is significant. According to We Honor Veterans, there are 26 million veterans, and one in four Americans who will die in 2013 is a veteran.

Specially trained volunteers such as Mike provide veterans at the end of life an opportunity to connect with someone who understands military culture, language, and can help them review their military service in the context of their life. Goals of these visits often include reducing feelings of isolation and breaking down barriers such as stoicism and secrecy, which are not unusual for those who served in combat.

www.seasonsfoundation.org3 4

“In this role, I can

be there for them so they

know someone is looking out for them.” – Mike Pereira

2

How Veterans Can Become Volunteers

There is a great need for veteran

volunteers. If you are or know

a military veteran who might want

to help veterans who are enrolled

in your local Seasons Hospice &

Palliative Care program, visit

www.seasons.org/page/volunteering

or call 855-812-1136 for information.

Ryana Goldberger, director of Supportive Care

for Seasons Hospice of San Diego

“Veterans I meet with often revisit a time when their life was almost cut short, or was important to them for other reasons,” says Mike. “On a battlefield, you rely on people to look out for you. It is a sickening feeling when you are out there alone. In this role, I can be there for them so they know someone is looking out for them.”

Seasons Hospice Social Worker Allison Givens says serving veterans is a big part of the hospice’s culture. That’s why the We Honor Veterans Program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) recently recognized Seasons Hospice of St. Louis as a Level Four Partner. Less than one percent of hospice programs in the nation have earned the prestigious designation.

Givens recruits and trains veteran volunteers, who then help spread the word about the program by making presentations to veterans groups.

One of the more popular aspects of the program is a pinning ceremony in which all veterans can take part. Members of the Seasons Hospice team including clinical staff, volunteers,

social workers, Board-Certified music therapists, and chaplains

are often part of the ceremony. “The

ceremony is a way for all our teammembers to say ‘thank you’ to allour patients who are veterans. Itreally makes a difference to the patient – and to us,” says Givens.

For Mike, helping fellow veteranshas provided valuable perspectiveon his combat experiences and ishelping turn negative life eventsinto positive ones. He also workswith autistic children and is a full-time student at WashingtonUniversity, pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology. After graduation, hehopes to use equine therapy to help children affected by trauma.

“Many veterans want to giveback, but don’t know how,” saysMike. “This and other programs

provide meaning to life that can be hard to find after experiencing war first-hand.”

Seasons ‘Memory Bears’ Offer Loved Ones Something Cherished to Hold Onto

Susan House cherishes the memories of her mother, Jo Toone, in a beautiful blue pleated dress she wore on very special occasions. The Poway, Calif., resident smiles when she remembers the way Jo lit up a room and made her family feel special and loved.

After Jo’s passing two years ago, House was faced with the painful task of sorting through her mother’s clothes. When she came across the blue dress and other treasured items of clothing, she realized she couldn’t part with them.

“So many memories of my mom are wrapped up in that dress and a pretty purple shirt,” House recalls. “I just couldn’t give them away.”

Then House’s husband Lawrence reminded her of Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care of San Diego’s Memory Bears program, which gives surviving loved ones something to hold onto when they need it the most.

Begun in 2010, the Memory Bears program offers three handmade teddy bears, lovingly sewn by Seasons volunteers, to the surviving family of Seasons Hospice of San Diego clients.

“I was only going to ask for one bear, but my husband convinced me to get three, and he was right,” she adds.

House chose the blue dress and a purple shirt for her bears.

“The call that the bears were ready… and would be delivered came just minutes after our realtor hadcalled and said the sale of Mom’s house was final,” she recalls. “It was a bittersweet moment to know thatI had just sold our childhood home. Then came the callabout the bears… and the delivery of such a treasure. It was like Mom and Dad were smiling down on me.”

House keeps her treasured memory bear on a shelf in her den.

“It’s very comforting to me,” she adds. “I like to see it whenever I’m in the room. I’m so appreciative to Seasons for creating this program and these beautiful bears for our family.”

House had the opportunity to personally thank the volunteer seamstress who created her bears when she attended a special tea hosted by Seasons Hospice last spring, A Bear Affair to Remember.

“It was an opportunity to tell her how I felt,”she said. “I felt completed. It brought

closure in a way that was very pleasant.”

Seasons Hospice Foundation funds all the supplies and delivery costs of the program.

“We are looking for people who can provide financial support to help us jump-start this wonderful program at Seasons Hospice programs around the country,” says Greg Grabowski, President and CEO of Seasons Hospice Foundation. “Once we

have support for starting a new Memory Bears program, donations from those local programs will keep it growing.”

Memory Bears program founder Ryana

Goldberger, director of Supportive Care for Seasons Hospice of San Diego, says the bears receive glowing reviews from both grateful recipients and the program’s talented volunteers.

Eight enthusiastic seamstresses, ranging in age from 40 to 80, sew tirelessly throughout the year, crafting a tangible memory for which recipients are forever thankful. On average, each bear takes about six hours to create. More than 250 have been delivered since the program started.

“Every bear has its own personality,” Goldberger explains. “Each is about 12 inches tall and is created using a revised version of a Simplicity® pattern, but they’re all unique based on the clothing and what our clients tell us about their loved ones.”

Seasons Hospice volunteer seamstress Cynthia Harrison, who has sewn more than 140 memory bears herself, says a help-wanted flyer caught her attention in 2011.

“I thought, ‘Wow, that would be fun,’ and I emailed Ryana that afternoon,” Harrison said.

“The Seasons Hospice Memory Bears have become a serious hobby, forsaking all others. Each time Ryana brings a new batch, it’s like Christmas. I never know what kind of clothing families will send. Of course, there are pajamas and robes, but there are well-loved jeans

and tee-shirts with writing on them that are significant to the families.”

Harrison lovingly sews each memory bear using a Singer Feather- weight® sewing machine that her mom

purchased in 1948!

At a Memory Bears tea event earlier this year,

she was reunited with a bear that showed signs of being very

well-loved.

“This bear had been through the mill. But the family explained

that the toddler who had been so close to his grandmother had recognized the fabric of the bear as being his grandmother’s and immediately embraced it,” she explained.

The Memory Bears program is available to surviving loved ones of Seasons Hospice of San Diego clients.

For more information about the San Diego program, call Ryana Goldberger, director of Supportive Care, at 858-592-2000.

I’m so appreciative to Seasons for creating this program and these beautiful bears for our family.”

- Susan House

A Bear-yGood Idea

Currently, the Memory Bear program serves only the

San Diego area.

However, if you would like to sponsor a Memory Bears

program, you can!

A donation of $5,000 can bringthe joy and healing of this

program to your community.

For information, please call Gregory Grabowski at

Seasons Hospice Foundation,847-692-1000

or send him an email atggrabowski@seasons.org.

www.seasonsfoundation.org3 4

“In this role, I can

be there for them so they

know someone is looking out for them.” – Mike Pereira

2

How Veterans Can Become Volunteers

There is a great need for veteran

volunteers. If you are or know

a military veteran who might want

to help veterans who are enrolled

in your local Seasons Hospice &

Palliative Care program, visit

www.seasons.org/page/volunteering

or call 855-812-1136 for information.

Ryana Goldberger, director of Supportive Care

for Seasons Hospice of San Diego

“Veterans I meet with often revisit a time when their life was almost cut short, or was important to them for other reasons,” says Mike. “On a battlefield, you rely on people to look out for you. It is a sickening feeling when you are out there alone. In this role, I can be there for them so they know someone is looking out for them.”

Seasons Hospice Social Worker Allison Givens says serving veterans is a big part of the hospice’s culture. That’s why the We Honor Veterans Program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) recently recognized Seasons Hospice of St. Louis as a Level Four Partner. Less than one percent of hospice programs in the nation have earned the prestigious designation.

Givens recruits and trains veteran volunteers, who then help spread the word about the program by making presentations to veterans groups.

One of the more popular aspects of the program is a pinning ceremony in which all veterans can take part. Members of the Seasons Hospice team including clinical staff, volunteers,

social workers, Board-Certified music therapists, and chaplains

are often part of the ceremony. “The

ceremony is a way for all our teammembers to say ‘thank you’ to allour patients who are veterans. Itreally makes a difference to the patient – and to us,” says Givens.

For Mike, helping fellow veteranshas provided valuable perspectiveon his combat experiences and ishelping turn negative life eventsinto positive ones. He also workswith autistic children and is a full-time student at WashingtonUniversity, pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology. After graduation, hehopes to use equine therapy to help children affected by trauma.

“Many veterans want to giveback, but don’t know how,” saysMike. “This and other programs

provide meaning to life that can be hard to find after experiencing war first-hand.”

Seasons ‘Memory Bears’ Offer Loved Ones Something Cherished to Hold Onto

Susan House cherishes the memories of her mother, Jo Toone, in a beautiful blue pleated dress she wore on very special occasions. The Poway, Calif., resident smiles when she remembers the way Jo lit up a room and made her family feel special and loved.

After Jo’s passing two years ago, House was faced with the painful task of sorting through her mother’s clothes. When she came across the blue dress and other treasured items of clothing, she realized she couldn’t part with them.

“So many memories of my mom are wrapped up in that dress and a pretty purple shirt,” House recalls. “I just couldn’t give them away.”

Then House’s husband Lawrence reminded her of Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care of San Diego’s Memory Bears program, which gives surviving loved ones something to hold onto when they need it the most.

Begun in 2010, the Memory Bears program offers three handmade teddy bears, lovingly sewn by Seasons volunteers, to the surviving family of Seasons Hospice of San Diego clients.

“I was only going to ask for one bear, but my husband convinced me to get three, and he was right,” she adds.

House chose the blue dress and a purple shirt for her bears.

“The call that the bears were ready… and would be delivered came just minutes after our realtor hadcalled and said the sale of Mom’s house was final,” she recalls. “It was a bittersweet moment to know thatI had just sold our childhood home. Then came the callabout the bears… and the delivery of such a treasure. It was like Mom and Dad were smiling down on me.”

House keeps her treasured memory bear on a shelf in her den.

“It’s very comforting to me,” she adds. “I like to see it whenever I’m in the room. I’m so appreciative to Seasons for creating this program and these beautiful bears for our family.”

House had the opportunity to personally thank the volunteer seamstress who created her bears when she attended a special tea hosted by Seasons Hospice last spring, A Bear Affair to Remember.

“It was an opportunity to tell her how I felt,”she said. “I felt completed. It brought

closure in a way that was very pleasant.”

Seasons Hospice Foundation funds all the supplies and delivery costs of the program.

“We are looking for people who can provide financial support to help us jump-start this wonderful program at Seasons Hospice programs around the country,” says Greg Grabowski, President and CEO of Seasons Hospice Foundation. “Once we

have support for starting a new Memory Bears program, donations from those local programs will keep it growing.”

Memory Bears program founder Ryana

Goldberger, director of Supportive Care for Seasons Hospice of San Diego, says the bears receive glowing reviews from both grateful recipients and the program’s talented volunteers.

Eight enthusiastic seamstresses, ranging in age from 40 to 80, sew tirelessly throughout the year, crafting a tangible memory for which recipients are forever thankful. On average, each bear takes about six hours to create. More than 250 have been delivered since the program started.

“Every bear has its own personality,” Goldberger explains. “Each is about 12 inches tall and is created using a revised version of a Simplicity® pattern, but they’re all unique based on the clothing and what our clients tell us about their loved ones.”

Seasons Hospice volunteer seamstress Cynthia Harrison, who has sewn more than 140 memory bears herself, says a help-wanted flyer caught her attention in 2011.

“I thought, ‘Wow, that would be fun,’ and I emailed Ryana that afternoon,” Harrison said.

“The Seasons Hospice Memory Bears have become a serious hobby, forsaking all others. Each time Ryana brings a new batch, it’s like Christmas. I never know what kind of clothing families will send. Of course, there are pajamas and robes, but there are well-loved jeans

and tee-shirts with writing on them that are significant to the families.”

Harrison lovingly sews each memory bear using a Singer Feather- weight® sewing machine that her mom

purchased in 1948!

At a Memory Bears tea event earlier this year,

she was reunited with a bear that showed signs of being very

well-loved.

“This bear had been through the mill. But the family explained

that the toddler who had been so close to his grandmother had recognized the fabric of the bear as being his grandmother’s and immediately embraced it,” she explained.

The Memory Bears program is available to surviving loved ones of Seasons Hospice of San Diego clients.

For more information about the San Diego program, call Ryana Goldberger, director of Supportive Care, at 858-592-2000.

I’m so appreciative to Seasons for creating this program and these beautiful bears for our family.”

- Susan House

A Bear-yGood Idea

Currently, the Memory Bear program serves only the

San Diego area.

However, if you would like to sponsor a Memory Bears

program, you can!

A donation of $5,000 can bringthe joy and healing of this

program to your community.

For information, please call Gregory Grabowski at

Seasons Hospice Foundation,847-692-1000

or send him an email atggrabowski@seasons.org.

www.seasonsfoundation.org3 4

“In this role, I can

be there for them so they

know someone is looking out for them.” – Mike Pereira

2

How Veterans Can Become Volunteers

There is a great need for veteran

volunteers. If you are or know

a military veteran who might want

to help veterans who are enrolled

in your local Seasons Hospice &

Palliative Care program, visit

www.seasons.org/page/volunteering

or call 855-812-1136 for information.

Ryana Goldberger, director of Supportive Care

for Seasons Hospice of San Diego

“Veterans I meet with often revisit a time when their life was almost cut short, or was important to them for other reasons,” says Mike. “On a battlefield, you rely on people to look out for you. It is a sickening feeling when you are out there alone. In this role, I can be there for them so they know someone is looking out for them.”

Seasons Hospice Social Worker Allison Givens says serving veterans is a big part of the hospice’s culture. That’s why the We Honor Veterans Program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) recently recognized Seasons Hospice of St. Louis as a Level Four Partner. Less than one percent of hospice programs in the nation have earned the prestigious designation.

Givens recruits and trains veteran volunteers, who then help spread the word about the program by making presentations to veterans groups.

One of the more popular aspects of the program is a pinning ceremony in which all veterans can take part. Members of the Seasons Hospice team including clinical staff, volunteers,

social workers, Board-Certified music therapists, and chaplains

are often part of the ceremony. “The

ceremony is a way for all our teammembers to say ‘thank you’ to allour patients who are veterans. Itreally makes a difference to the patient – and to us,” says Givens.

For Mike, helping fellow veteranshas provided valuable perspectiveon his combat experiences and ishelping turn negative life eventsinto positive ones. He also workswith autistic children and is a full-time student at WashingtonUniversity, pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology. After graduation, hehopes to use equine therapy to help children affected by trauma.

“Many veterans want to giveback, but don’t know how,” saysMike. “This and other programs

provide meaning to life that can be hard to find after experiencing war first-hand.”

Seasons ‘Memory Bears’ Offer Loved Ones Something Cherished to Hold Onto

Susan House cherishes the memories of her mother, Jo Toone, in a beautiful blue pleated dress she wore on very special occasions. The Poway, Calif., resident smiles when she remembers the way Jo lit up a room and made her family feel special and loved.

After Jo’s passing two years ago, House was faced with the painful task of sorting through her mother’s clothes. When she came across the blue dress and other treasured items of clothing, she realized she couldn’t part with them.

“So many memories of my mom are wrapped up in that dress and a pretty purple shirt,” House recalls. “I just couldn’t give them away.”

Then House’s husband Lawrence reminded her of Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care of San Diego’s Memory Bears program, which gives surviving loved ones something to hold onto when they need it the most.

Begun in 2010, the Memory Bears program offers three handmade teddy bears, lovingly sewn by Seasons volunteers, to the surviving family of Seasons Hospice of San Diego clients.

“I was only going to ask for one bear, but my husband convinced me to get three, and he was right,” she adds.

House chose the blue dress and a purple shirt for her bears.

“The call that the bears were ready… and would be delivered came just minutes after our realtor hadcalled and said the sale of Mom’s house was final,” she recalls. “It was a bittersweet moment to know thatI had just sold our childhood home. Then came the callabout the bears… and the delivery of such a treasure. It was like Mom and Dad were smiling down on me.”

House keeps her treasured memory bear on a shelf in her den.

“It’s very comforting to me,” she adds. “I like to see it whenever I’m in the room. I’m so appreciative to Seasons for creating this program and these beautiful bears for our family.”

House had the opportunity to personally thank the volunteer seamstress who created her bears when she attended a special tea hosted by Seasons Hospice last spring, A Bear Affair to Remember.

“It was an opportunity to tell her how I felt,”she said. “I felt completed. It brought

closure in a way that was very pleasant.”

Seasons Hospice Foundation funds all the supplies and delivery costs of the program.

“We are looking for people who can provide financial support to help us jump-start this wonderful program at Seasons Hospice programs around the country,” says Greg Grabowski, President and CEO of Seasons Hospice Foundation. “Once we

have support for starting a new Memory Bears program, donations from those local programs will keep it growing.”

Memory Bears program founder Ryana

Goldberger, director of Supportive Care for Seasons Hospice of San Diego, says the bears receive glowing reviews from both grateful recipients and the program’s talented volunteers.

Eight enthusiastic seamstresses, ranging in age from 40 to 80, sew tirelessly throughout the year, crafting a tangible memory for which recipients are forever thankful. On average, each bear takes about six hours to create. More than 250 have been delivered since the program started.

“Every bear has its own personality,” Goldberger explains. “Each is about 12 inches tall and is created using a revised version of a Simplicity® pattern, but they’re all unique based on the clothing and what our clients tell us about their loved ones.”

Seasons Hospice volunteer seamstress Cynthia Harrison, who has sewn more than 140 memory bears herself, says a help-wanted flyer caught her attention in 2011.

“I thought, ‘Wow, that would be fun,’ and I emailed Ryana that afternoon,” Harrison said.

“The Seasons Hospice Memory Bears have become a serious hobby, forsaking all others. Each time Ryana brings a new batch, it’s like Christmas. I never know what kind of clothing families will send. Of course, there are pajamas and robes, but there are well-loved jeans

and tee-shirts with writing on them that are significant to the families.”

Harrison lovingly sews each memory bear using a Singer Feather- weight® sewing machine that her mom

purchased in 1948!

At a Memory Bears tea event earlier this year,

she was reunited with a bear that showed signs of being very

well-loved.

“This bear had been through the mill. But the family explained

that the toddler who had been so close to his grandmother had recognized the fabric of the bear as being his grandmother’s and immediately embraced it,” she explained.

The Memory Bears program is available to surviving loved ones of Seasons Hospice of San Diego clients.

For more information about the San Diego program, call Ryana Goldberger, director of Supportive Care, at 858-592-2000.

I’m so appreciative to Seasons for creating this program and these beautiful bears for our family.”

- Susan House

A Bear-yGood Idea

Currently, the Memory Bear program serves only the

San Diego area.

However, if you would like to sponsor a Memory Bears

program, you can!

A donation of $5,000 can bringthe joy and healing of this

program to your community.

For information, please call Gregory Grabowski at

Seasons Hospice Foundation,847-692-1000

or send him an email atggrabowski@seasons.org.

WINTER 2013/14

(continued on pg. 2)

Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care606 Potter Rd.Des Plaines, Illinois 60016Toll free: 800-570-8809

SUPPORT

6

®

If our mailing records need to be updated, or if you would like to receive this newsletter electronically, please contact Seasons Hospice Foundation at 847-692-1000.

6400 Shafer Ct., Suite 700Rosemont, IL 60018

RETURN TO SENDER IF UNDELIVERABLE

Everyfor Seasonseasonsfoundation.org

FoundationFast Facts

Wishes - Past, Present & Future GoalsWish Utilization Cost of Wishes Total Wishes Avg. Cost per Wish2011 $70,000 141 $496.452012 $95,318 439 $217.13Jan-Jun 2013 $72,767 275 $264.002013 Goal $118,000 550 $214.54

Every Seasonfor

Brother and sister RickWeigand and Melody Striedare among a growing numberof people who are partneringwith Seasons Hospice Foundation to raise money tofund programs that they arepassionate about.

Every year since 1996,Melody and Rick have organizedStrike at Cancer, a bowlingevent in Arlington Heights,Ill. The annual fund-raisingevent is a way for the familyto honor the legacy of theirmother, Mary Weigand, whotransitioned after living withbreast cancer for 10 years. To date, the event has raisedmore than $500,000.

“We are a bowling family,so it seemed like a great activityto honor her memory,” says Melody, who also serves asDirector of Support Care and Support Services for SeasonsHospice & Palliative Care. “Plus, we have found it is apretty simple event to organize.”

The fund-raising focus of the 2013 Strike at Cancerevent shifted to recognize the passing of Rick and Melody’sfather, Ray Weigand, who was a patient in Seasons Hospice. “In addition to the wonderful care, the programthat really impressed my brother is Seasons Remembered:Leaving a Legacy,” says Melody.

Seasons Hospice Foundation’s Legacy program captures life stories, lessons, sentiments, memories, andtraditions. Legacies convey what we want remaininggenerations to know and understand about our life experiences. For loved ones, these legacies help us remember and heal as we carry on important traditions.

The program has many options, including video and voice recordings, filling out cards to mark specialdays in loved ones’ lives for years afterward, creating amusical timeline, or even writing and recording a songwith a Music Therapist.

“With Seasons, it is easy towork with the Foundation todirect gifts to a single program,”says Melody. “That way, thefunds go directly to support a program you have a connection to.”

Seasons Hospice Foundationalso partners with people whostage fund-raising events onits behalf by offering supportto publicize the event, helpconnect events to potentialsponsors and provide on-site assistance.

“Raising funds for programslike our Legacy program is a beautiful way for people to express their passion for acause,” says Greg Grabowski,President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Seasons Hospice

Foundation. “Perhaps even more importantly, this is a wayto get involved in your community, have some fun, andknow that you are bringing comfort and joy to others.”

The 2013 Strike for Cancer event featured more than100 bowlers and raised more than $11,000 for Legacyprograms. The brother-and-sister pair is already planningthe 2014 event and will be working with Seasons HospiceFoundation once again to help other families create legacies that will last for generations to come.

Brother and SisterTeam Up With

Seasons Foundationto Take a

‘Strike at Cancer’

A Bereavement Newsletter from Seasons Hospice Foundation

With your help, Seasons HospiceFoundation is able to provide assistance to hospice families in need.

Through the granting of wishes, we are ableto enrich lives with fond, lasting memories.You can be confident that your generous giftstays close to home and makes a differenceto the patients and families.

Helping Others through SEASONS HOSPICE FOUNDATION

To honor your loved one by making a gift or to learn more aboutthe Seasons Hospice Foundation, please visit seasonsfoundation.org or call 847-692-1000.

5

“Tears of grief are unique. They contain

chemicals that aren't found in the

more mundane droplets of moisture

that bathe the eyes, as if our tears wash

us free of some noxious cause of sorrow.” – Carol Cassella

small things matter the most

Volunteering Helps Mike Pereira Bond with Other Veterans and WorkThrough Grief

Through his service to other veterans, retired U.S. Army SergeantMike Pereira, 31, has come to terms with the grief and painful memoriesof his wartime military service in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

In Afghanistan, a close friend was killed by a roadside bomb. Manyother friends did not come back. Like so many fellow veterans, Mikewas diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

“I was almost killed when a helicopter malfunctioned and wasforced into an emergency landing,” says Mike. “I felt like I should havedied. I lived through it in one way, but felt like I died in another way.”

Therapy for PTSD ultimately led Mike to seek out Seasons Hospice& Palliative Care of St. Louis in 2012 to serve in the Veteran-to-VeteranVolunteer Program. The need for these volunteers is significant. According to We Honor Veterans, there are 26 million veterans, and one in four Americans who will die in 2013 is a veteran.

Specially trained volunteers such as Mike provide veterans at the end of life an opportunity to connect with someone who understands military culture, language, and can help them review their military service in the context of their life. Goals of these visits often include reducing feelings of isolation and breaking down barriers such as stoicism and secrecy, which are not unusual for those who served in combat.

Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care333 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E., Suite 333Houston, TX 77060 • Toll free: 855-893-05308610 Greenville Ave., Suite 200Dallas, TX 75243 • 214-528-2200, xt 4050Toll free: 866-570-64845237 N. Riverside Dr., Suite 220Fort Worth, TX 76137 • 817-887-0017Toll free: 866-746-0009300 East Sonterra Ave., Suite 1260San Antonio, TX 78258 • 210-471-2300Toll free: 855-425-1055

SUPPORT

6

Dallas/Fort Worth2nd Tuesday of each month at 12 noonVista Ridge UMC2901 Denton Tap Road, Lewisville, TX 75067For more information, call 817-887-0017

Dallas Maverick BranchGrief Support Group2nd Monday of each month, 6 p.m.8610 Greenville Ave, Suite 200, Dallas, TX 75243Facilitator: Chaplain Ron Scott214-355-4097

SEASONS HOSP I C E BER EAVEMENT GROUP S

®

If our mailing records need to be updated, or if you would like to receive this newsletter electronically, please contact Seasons Hospice Foundation at 847-692-1000.

6400 Shafer Ct., Suite 700Rosemont, IL 60018

RETURN TO SENDER IF UNDELIVERABLE

Everyfor Seasonseasonsfoundation.org

“Tears of grief are unique. They contain chemicals that

aren't found in the more mundane droplets of moisture

that bathe the eyes, as if our tears wash us free

of some noxious cause of sorrow.”

– Carol Cassella

With your help, Seasons HospiceFoundation is able to provide assistance to hospice families in need.

Through the granting of wishes, we are ableto enrich lives with fond, lasting memories.You can be confident that your generous giftstays close to home and makes a differenceto the patients and families.

Helping Others through SEASONS HOSPICE FOUNDATION

To honor your loved one by making a gift or to learn more aboutthe Seasons Hospice Foundation, please visit seasonsfoundation.org or call 847-692-1000.

FoundationFast Facts

Wishes - Past, Present & Future GoalsWish Utilization Cost of Wishes Total Wishes Avg. Cost per Wish2011 $70,000 141 $496.452012 $95,318 439 $217.13Jan-Jun 2013 $72,767 275 $264.002013 Goal $118,000 550 $214.54

Brother and sister RickWeigand and Melody Striedare among a growing numberof people who are partneringwith Seasons Hospice Foundation to raise money tofund programs that they arepassionate about.

Every year since 1996,Melody and Rick have organizedStrike at Cancer, a bowlingevent in Arlington Heights,Ill. The annual fund-raisingevent is a way for the familyto honor the legacy of theirmother, Mary Weigand, whotransitioned after living withbreast cancer for 10 years. To date, the event has raisedmore than $500,000.

“We are a bowling family,so it seemed like a great activityto honor her memory,” says Melody, who also serves asDirector of Support Care and Support Services for SeasonsHospice & Palliative Care. “Plus, we have found it is apretty simple event to organize.”

The fund-raising focus of the 2013 Strike at Cancerevent shifted to recognize the passing of Rick and Melody’sfather, Ray Weigand, who was a patient in Seasons Hospice. “In addition to the wonderful care, the programthat really impressed my brother is Seasons Remembered:Leaving a Legacy,” says Melody.

Seasons Hospice Foundation’s Legacy program captures life stories, lessons, sentiments, memories, andtraditions. Legacies convey what we want remaininggenerations to know and understand about our life experiences. For loved ones, these legacies help us remember and heal as we carry on important traditions.

The program has many options, including video and voice recordings, filling out cards to mark specialdays in loved ones’ lives for years afterward, creating amusical timeline, or even writing and recording a songwith a Music Therapist.

“With Seasons, it is easy towork with the Foundation todirect gifts to a single program,”says Melody. “That way, thefunds go directly to support a program you have a connection to.”

Seasons Hospice Foundationalso partners with people whostage fund-raising events onits behalf by offering supportto publicize the event, helpconnect events to potentialsponsors and provide on-site assistance.

“Raising funds for programslike our Legacy program is a beautiful way for people to express their passion for acause,” says Greg Grabowski,President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer of Seasons Hospice

Foundation. “Perhaps even more importantly, this is a wayto get involved in your community, have some fun, andknow that you are bringing comfort and joy to others.”

The 2013 Strike for Cancer event featured more than100 bowlers and raised more than $11,000 for Legacyprograms. The brother-and-sister pair is already planningthe 2014 event and will be working with Seasons HospiceFoundation once again to help other families create legacies that will last for generations to come.

Brother and SisterTeam Up With

Seasons Foundationto Take a

‘Strike at Cancer’

5

WINTER 2013/14

(continued on pg. 2)

Every Seasonfor

A Bereavement Newsletter from Seasons Hospice Foundation

small things matter the most

Volunteering Helps Mike Pereira Bond with Other Veterans and WorkThrough Grief

Through his service to other veterans, retired U.S. Army SergeantMike Pereira, 31, has come to terms with the grief and painful memoriesof his wartime military service in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

In Afghanistan, a close friend was killed by a roadside bomb. Manyother friends did not come back. Like so many fellow veterans, Mikewas diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

“I was almost killed when a helicopter malfunctioned and wasforced into an emergency landing,” says Mike. “I felt like I should havedied. I lived through it in one way, but felt like I died in another way.”

Therapy for PTSD ultimately led Mike to seek out Seasons Hospice& Palliative Care of St. Louis in 2012 to serve in the Veteran-to-VeteranVolunteer Program. The need for these volunteers is significant. According to We Honor Veterans, there are 26 million veterans, and one in four Americans who will die in 2013 is a veteran.

Specially trained volunteers such as Mike provide veterans at the end of life an opportunity to connect with someone who understands military culture, language, and can help them review their military service in the context of their life. Goals of these visits often include reducing feelings of isolation and breaking down barriers such as stoicism and secrecy, which are not unusual for those who served in combat.