Honoring our History, Welcoming the Future
September-October 2021
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Welcome to Our New Executive Director
By Fred Bockstahler, Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice Board President and Chair
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The Board of Directors of Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice have selected Dwight Wilson, RN, MSN, as the organization’s new Executive Director. Stepping in to lead our organization on September 1, he brings over 35 years of experience leading hospice, eldercare, home care and nursing organizations.
Dwight replaces Pamela Norr, who retired her position as a result of an unexpected family health situation. We thank Pamela for her leadership.
Most recently Dwight served as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice nonprofit in Monterey, California. Prior to that position, he served for eleven years as Chief Executive Officer for the Mission Hospice and Home care of San Mateo County.
Previously serving with the Veterans Administration for over 30 years, Dwight opened a 150-bed nursing home program and oversaw three nursing homes with 434 beds providing respite, hospice, dementia-care and long-term care.
With deep knowledge of mindfulness practices in healthcare, gained through his training at the Metta Institute – a program established to provide education on spirituality in dying – Dwight is well prepared to support our unique culture.
When asked his perspective on joining us, Dwight shared the following, "I am thrilled to be chosen by Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice to lead at such a crucial time in the organization's history. Your mission and contribution to end-of-life care is such a gift to the Rogue Valley community."
Being a native Southern Oregonian, Dwight shares that his move back to the Rogue Valley, after raising his children in the Bay Area, is long awaited and sets the foundation for his commitment to providing stable and long-term leadership to Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice, Celia’s House and The HUB. Please join us in welcoming Dwight into our shared mission as we work to introduce him to our strong community of supporters and the individuals and families in our care.
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Meese Foundation Completes the Circle with Pay-Off for Celia's House Mortgage
By Cheryl French, Volunteer
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In 2018 Jed & Celia Meese pledged a $1 million gift to Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice, and to honor his wife of 56 years, Jed requested we bestow Celia’s name on the former Harry Holmes estate. Their gift allowed us to complete our capital campaign and open Celia’s House.
With their recent additional gift of $342,015, the Meese Foundation made the final payment to our outstanding mortgage, bringing their investment to care for our community full circle.
Consistently led by a desire to help those in need, Jed summarizes the couple’s big vision behind their support of Celia’s House. “We believe that no one should die alone. The safe and caring environment provided by Celia’s House, for not only those with means but also for those without, inspired us to lend our support to this cause.”
“We are tremendously grateful for the Meese’s generous gift that adds to a strong financial foundation for Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice and Celia’s House,” said Julie Raefield, Development Director. “This greatly supports our mission to provide mindful, compassionate end-of-life care for those who do not have the option to spend their last days in their own home.”
"I'm pleased to see Celia's House become so important to the community,” said Jed Meese, reflecting on the family decision to pay off the care home’s mortgage. “I hope our gift ensures that Celia's House hospice home is sustained long into the future."
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New Gazebo & Pergola Grace Gardens
By Julie Raefield, Development Director
With the help of generous Carrico Family Foundation grant award, our aging wooden pergola and gazebo have been replaced with new, long-lived metal structures. And none too soon. During a windstorm in mid-April, the original gazebo tumbled over in the middle of the night! The footings of the pergola were showing similar structural weaknesses.
Gleaned from a review of old photos and designed to reflect some of the architectural adornments of the original estate, the pergola's seating and the gazebo's railing designs add a beautiful aesthetic touch to the now weather-resistant structures. We are grateful to the Carrico Family for helping us to restore these beloved gathering areas in the garden.
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A new pergola seating area with inviting design. |
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New gazebo securely in place! |
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Celia's House Receives National Historic Registry Recognition
By Julie Raefield, Development Director
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Celia's House in Holmes Park seen here in its entirety, displays the historic Holmes estate on the left including the garage in front, and the new addition on the right. |
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An evening view illuminates the aesthetic beauty of architect Paul R. Williams' design, and showcases some of the ancient native oaks on the property. |
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An eons-long evolution of beauty has been highlighted in Medford with the recent National Historic Registry recognition received by Celia's House in Holmes Park. With this honor, Celia's House may now apply for some special preservation funding to maintain the original home's integrity.
Long before the famous architect Paul R. Williams designed this wonderful home, commissioned by Harry and Eleanor Holmes as co-founders of Harry & David, the beauty of this homesite existed in the sacred land beneath it's foundations. We take this opportunity to recognize that this verdant knoll, which hosts Celia's House, once provided sustenance to the first peoples, Modoc, Shasta, Takelma, Latgawa, and Umpqua who inhabited the meadows and rolling hills of what is now Jackson County.
A special thanks goes to Ms. Mary Ann Gum, whose gracious donation funded the research and application for the NHR award. The original 5,500-square-foot house was built in 1939 and its designer, Williams, was a notable 20th century architect in Southern California and the first African American member of the American Institute of Architects. Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice completed an eight-room, 5,723-square-foot addition to the house in 2018 which was skillfully designed to match and attach to the historic structure.
We celebrate that this amazing structure is now available for the use and benefit of the entire Rogue Valley community!
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Share a Smile?
If you have warm smiley eyes and the ability to welcome visitors and family, please join our team of volunteers, like Colleen Searle, pictured here.
Celia's House hospice residence continues to need door greeter volunteers, weekdays and Saturdays available for 2 hour shifts. Even one day a month helps us help our families! Please contact Eleanor Crescenzi, Volunteer Coordinator to learn more at Eleanor.Crescenzi@sofriendsofhospice.org or 541-500-8911 (ext. 304 - Option 5).
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Notices and Needs:
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Visit our eBay store to see some great new specialty items! Check them out here: The HUB eBay store
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Come on down Justin Gibb! You are our lucky shopper whose name was drawn from those who have signed up on our email list. Call The HUB for your gift certificate!
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Mover-Helper needed for donation pick-ups. We continue to seek volunteers who are able to safely pick up, move and deliver furniture. Please contact us: THEHUB@opendoor.com or 541-488-7805. We are grateful for even a few hours per week!
- Check out our upcoming WAREHOUSE SALE info below:
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Need Help or Have Questions?
For General Information - Call Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice Administrative Offices:
541-500-8911
For Admission Information - Call Celia's House Administrator Michele Murray: 541-613-0230
Photo: Fall brings out an array of lovely colors at Celia's House.
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Southern Oregon Friends of Hospice & Celia's House
Mailing Address:
217 S. Modoc Ave., Medford, OR 97504
Check out our Youtube Video Tour:
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