SOUTHEAST HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS HONORED

Volunteers with Southeast Hospice, which provides support to terminally ill patients and their families, were honored for their service to the program at the annual Southeast Hospice Awards Banquet sponsored by Southeast Missouri Hospital Thursday night.

Gabriel: Ken BarrettThe Gabriel Award, the top award for Hospice volunteers, went to Barrett of Gordonville. Although Barrett has been a Hospice volunteer officially for only a year, he has been part of Southeast Hospice for the past seven years. Barrett puts his musical talent to work singing with the Southeast Hospice Choir at special Hospice memorial services and at the annual "Wailing in the Woods" musical festival. He also was cited for his dedication to patients and for providing companionship, music and even lawn care to Hospice families.

Guardian Angel: Jack BondRecipient of the Guardian Angel Award was Bond of Cape Girardeau. Bond was cited for his dedication to patients, particularly to those who live at an area nursing home. On several occasions, that dedication has included staying late into the night with a dying patient until family members arrived.

Cherub: Charlotte ArnesonArneson of Oak Ridge was recipient of the Cherub Award. She was cited for her work with patients and with the Careline Bereavement Support Program, a telephone support program for families. Arneson also frequently assists with office duties, special events and crafts. Three Southeast Hospice volunteers, Charlotte Abernathy, Jo Dunbar and Dixie Hopkins, were recognized for 10 years of service to Hospice.

Southeast Hospice Volunteer Coordinator Carol Keppler said Southeast Hospice volunteers gave 1,470 hours of service to more than 200 people through Oct. 30.

Jeannie S. Williams of Sikeston, whose stories have appeared in the best-selling "Chicken Soup" series of motivational publications, was speaker at the banquet. Special entertainment was provided by Marie Humphrey's fifth-grade class at St. Vincent de Paul School, which has "adopted" Hospice volunteers this fall.

The banquet was held in conjunction with National Hospice Month. Southeast Hospice, a service of Southeast Missouri Hospital, serves Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Scott, Stoddard, Perry, Mississippi, New Madrid eastern Wayne, eastern Madison and northern Pemiscot counties.