Wayne and Martha

Throughout his extensive career as an educator, Wayne shaped the minds of students from preschool all the way to graduate school. Near the end of his career, he was asked to help establish a kindergarten library at Solon schools. What was expected to be a week-long project turned into five years of joyfully managing the children's library. Upon retirement, Wayne embraced volunteerism to stay active. He found great meaning in volunteering as a hospice companion at Hospice of the Western Reserve, where he served several clients. This role held deep significance for him, so much so that when he needed hospice care himself after a valiant fight with cancer, he was referred to the same Hospice of the Western Reserve by his oncologist. Martha recalls, "We had discussed hospice care very early on, and we both agreed that it was the type of end-of-life care we wanted."

Soon after Wayne was released from the hospital, Martha got a call from the Hospice of the Western Reserve team to go over how to care for Wayne at home. “They walked through the process with us,” shares Martha. “Our daughter moved back from Denver to help with care and our son Matthew really became the point person.” Matthew managed the nighttime medications and oversaw Wayne's care. June, the HWR Spiritual Care Coordinator, visited often, and she and Matthew formed a deep connection of learning and healing. "The team was there to answer all our questions," Martha said. "Matthew could even call them overnight for advice, which really helped him take charge of Wayne's care." As Wayne's time drew near, the HWR team guided the family on what to expect and the steps to take, and Wayne passed away peacefully at home in January 2023.

Wayne and Martha consistently engaged in open discussions about death with their children and others. As a volunteer at Lakeview Cemetery, Wayne would often have his children join him in cleaning graves, taking the opportunity to explain the concept of death in an understandable way. Martha believes in the significance of these dialogues, stating, "Understanding death and dying is crucial. By talking about hospice and the end of life before it's necessary, you can demystify the stigma surrounding it."

Martha and Wayne’s experience with hospice care at home underscores the importance of discussing and expressing end-of-life care wishes. By openly communicating their desires, Wayne was able to receive the compassionate personalized care he desired in the comfort of his own home.