Franciscan Palliative Care Outreach, which serves patients diagnosed with a terminal or end-stage chronic illness, has named its volunteer of the year award in memory of a Key Peninsula resident who served the program as both a volunteer and as a paid staff member. It is called the Mary Hill Volunteer of the Year Award.

Mary Hill became a volunteer with Palliative Care Outreach in 1999 after learning about the service from its director, Georganne Trandum. Mary, who died in 2006, joined the program at Northwest Medical Specialties oncology clinic in Tacoma as a volunteer. Later, she accepted a paid position working with the registered nurse and a chaplain, and leading a group of volunteers that supported cancer patients.

“With Mary, you would laugh, cry and listen,” says Sharon Anderson, the nurse with whom she worked.

Mary was a gentle, calm and compassionate person who reached out to patients and their families in very special ways. She was soft and radiant, and had a special talent for bringing people together.

“She truly was Mary full of grace,” recalls Trandum.

Mary was diagnosed with Lewy Protein disease, a fast-acting type of Alzheimer’s, and died on Aug. 22, 2006. She worked as long as she could and then she received the type of care she had championed for others through the support of her husband, son and daughters, her friends, church community, and hospice.

Franciscan Palliative Outreach is an important resource for patients who may have a year or longer to live. The program’s services help individuals and their loved ones to begin planning for the end of life. By integrating palliative care (pain and symptom management) with education, reliable support, and links to a broad range of community and health resources, the staff at Palliative Care Outreach make sure the needs and desires of patients and their loved ones are heard, supported and met.

Vicki Haberman of Enumclaw received the 2008 Mary Hill Volunteer of the Year Award in April during a ceremony in Tacoma.

Palliative Care Outreach is an integral part of the Franciscan organization’s comprehensive Hospice and Palliative Care program, which serves patients in homes, in Franciscan hospitals and at Franciscan Hospice House, a 20-bed inpatient care facility in University Place. For more information about Franciscan Palliative Care Outreach, call (253) 858-4380.