Our Stories - Life is Precious

Friends and Family Honor Veteran at Hanson Hospice Center
Robert Williams

Jun, 2015

It is fitting to share the story of Robert Williams during Memorial Day week.  Robert is a 77-year old veteran with Parkinson’s. He has been married to his wife for 36 years, and his wife, Sun Pun, has always wished for him to be baptized. 

Robert’s illness caused physical barriers to being baptized in a church or Lake Michigan, so one of our Social Workers, Amanda Ramtahal, began talking with the family about a baptism ceremony at the Hanson Hospice Center.  Scott Labbe, one of our Spiritual Care Coordinators, agreed to baptize Robert using the spa tub at the Hanson Hospice Center.

In addition to Robert’s baptism, our staff also reached out to local Lest We Forget members to help in celebrating Robert as a veteran.  On April 25, Robert was honored in the great room at the Hanson Hospice Center by Arden Pridgeon, a WWII veteran, for his service to our country.  Afterward he was baptized in the spa room as family and friends gathered around to celebrate this beautiful moment with Robert.  

After the veteran recognition and baptism, everyone gathered for a luncheon in the great room. Their church brought the food and added blessings.  It was a beautiful, sacred, memorable day and all of us from Hospice at Home feel privileged to have been invited to be a part of it.