Hospice & Palliative Care of Chenango County

Club 4 Seasons

Hospice of Chenango County will host a fall pumpkin carving event for children who are grieving the loss of a loved one on Wednesday, October 17 from 5:00-6:30pm at the Hospice office, 21 Hayes Street in Norwich. Parents and guardians are welcome to stay for the fun.

This is one of an on-going series of Club 4 Seasons gatherings throughout the year. The fall meeting will give children the chance to meet their peers and share experiences. All children who live in Chenango County are invited to join Club 4 Seasons. The club is facilitated by Hospice’s Bereavement Coordinator Maureen Casey-Bryant.

If you would like to sign your child up to attend the October 17th Club 4 Seasons event, or have any questions about Hospice’s Bereavement Program call the office at 334-3556.

Annual Dinner

Join us on November 1 from 6pm-9pm at the Canasawacta Country Club in Norwich for our Annual Auction and Dinner. We will recognize 2012 Hospice Heroes who include Pharmacist Al Austin, Newsman Jim Sargent, Volunteer Nancy Snell, The American Legion #189, and a Hospice family.

Celebrity waiters will be hosting tables and working for your tips; and you can start your holiday shopping by bidding on more than 60 auction items that include vacations, art, jewelry, and gift certificates to name just a few.

For more information contact us at 334-3556 or click on the Annual Dinner button on the homepage.

Service of Remembrance

Each year Hospice stops to remember the lives of patients we've cared for in the past year. Family and friends are encouraged to to attend the Service of Remembrance. There will be a reading of the names of our patients and candle lighting ceremony. The event will take place at the United Church of Christ at 11 West Main Street in Norwich at 6:30pm on Thursday, October 25.

There will be time for fellowship following the ceremony, and refreshments will be served. For more information call 334-3556.

Poinsettia Sale

Hospice has two flower sales a year. For the winter holidays we offer poinsettias for sale to anyone in Chenango County. This is a pre-order sale, so if you don't receive an order form in your mailbox by October 31 give us a call and we will send one out to you. Plant pickup date will be December 5 in Norwich, Bainbridge, Oxford, Sherburne, Afton and Greene.

For more information contact Hospice at 334-3556.

Holiday Grief Support

Holidays can be very difficult after the loss of a a loved one. During the upcoming holiday season Hospice has help for you and your family. There will be a five session workshop to help you plan for the holidays and learn ways to cope with your feelings. The workshops begin on November 19th and will be held each Monday from 5:30pm-7:00pm at the Hospice office at 21 Hayes Street in Norwich. For more informaiton call 334-3556. There is no fee and no prior conneciton with Hospice is required to attend, however you should RSVP by November 15th.

Light Up A Life

It's not too late to order a memorial ornament in the name of a loved one who has passed away. The Light Up a Life Memorial Tree is currently adorned with scores of ornaments. The tree is in the main branch lobby of NBT Bank in downtown Norwich. It will remain up and lit until after the first of the year. If you'd like to purchase a very special ornament simply download the form by clicking below. Have a happy and peaceful holiday season.

Click here for memorial ornament order form

Year End Gifts

As 2012 draws to a close those seeking charitable tax deductions often make year end gifts. Hospice has seen an increase in this type of giving in the past few years. If you or someone you know has been touched by the care that Hospice provides to those nearing the end of life, we ask that you consider a donation at this time. To donate simply click on the CONTRIBUTE button on our homepage to enter your gift amount and credit card. Or you can send a contribution to Hospice of Chenango County, 21 Hayes Street, Norwich, NY 13815. Your tax deductable donation will be used to ease the physical and emotional pain that often is associated with the dying process. Thank you in advance for your gift. We will acknowledge it with a letter to your home address.

Making Valentines

Chenango County children who have experienced the death of a loved one are invited to participate in an upcoming Club 4 Seasons event. Those attending will be making Valentines. The session will take place on Monday, February 11th from 5:00pm-6:30pm at the Hospice office, 21 Hayes Street in Norwich. Club 4 Seasons is a support group intended to help children process and live with their loss. This event is free and open to all, no prior relationship with Hospice is required. Parents and guardians are welcome to bring their child and participate. Please call Hospice by February 6th if you plan to attend. Our phone number is 334-3556.

Buried in Paperwork

After the death of a loved one, especially a spouse, there is a lot of paperwork that has to be sifted through and dealt with. Sometimes this is overwhelming for the one left behind. If you haven't been the one to monitor the finances of the household, you may have to learn a new skill set. There may also bedeath benefits, life insurance, or other paperwork that needs immediate attention. If you find yourself facing this challenge, plan to attend our January Living with Loss talk entitled: "Buried in Paperwork: Where to Start after a Loss." The talk will be held from 1:30pm-3:00pm on Thursday, January 17th at the offices of The Chenango Health Network in The Eaton Center in Norwich. For more information please contact us at 334-3556. The third Thursday of each month will be a time to gather and learn about a different subject related to loss. Continue to check back on the website for upcoming topics, and click on the calendar icon on the homepage.

Death and Taxes

Our monthly Living with Loss grief talks continue on Thursday, February 21st. The topic will focus on managing your finances after a loss. If you could use some help in this area especially around tax time, make plans to attend. This event is free and open to anyone in Chenango County. The talk will take place from 1:30-3:00pm at the office of Chenango Health Network in the Eaton Center in Norwich. For information or directions contact our Bereavement Coordinator Jessica Bohndorf at 334-3556.

Next month the talk will be about creating a memory album and will take place on March 21st.

Spring Volunteer Training

Plans are underway for a Spring Volunteer Training. Hospice Volunteers give a few hours of their time to support our work with patients and their families. Our Volunteer Coordinator Kendall Drexler facilitates the twenty-three hour training. The goal is to inform trainees about the physical, emotional and spiritual issues that people often face at the end of life. We are looking for Volunteers from all over Chenango County, and especially welcome Veterans who will become part of our Vet to Vet Volunteer Program. For information about the training contact Kendall at 334-3556 before April 15th.

Parking Now Available

One of the most difficult problems we've faced in the years our offices have been on Hayes Street in Norwich is parking. Because we are located in an old Victorian house with limited space in the back, many people who came to our office did not have a place to park. Staff, volunteers and visitors were often inconvenienced by having to find alternative parking. Recently, our garage came down to make way for the much larger lot with space for up to twenty vehicles. So, when you visit us now, feel free to pull around back and come through the kitchen door.

Currently the lot is dirt and gravel but we hope to have it paved by fall. In the meantime we want to thank Burrell's Excavating and Burt Adams for donating their services for all the work that has been done so far.

Give Yourself a Hug

We are very pleased to report that The Hugs for Hospice Campaign, a fundraiser in which we partnered with the Mirabito Quickway and Convenience Express stores, raised a total of $4,378.92 for Hospice of Chenango County. We wish to thank Lindsay Meehan who coordinated the project at Mirabito Energy, all of the store employees who sold the Hugs, and especially the generous customers who purchased a Hospice Hug.

The Hugs for Hospice funds will be used to provide physical, emotional and spiritual care for our patients and their families. We look forward to working with Mirabito Energy for years to come.

Golf Save the Date

The 8th Annual Hospice Golf Tournament in memory of Mary Jane Prindle will take place in Norwich on Friday, August 23rd. After two years away, in Greene, and Oxford, we are returning to The Canasawacta Country Club. We know that many golfers choose which tournaments they want to support, that's why we're putting the date out early before their calendars get filled up. For more information contact our office at 334-3556.

Plant Sale Orders

Spring is here and that means flower sale time at Hospice. If you did not receive an order form in the mail by now, and would like to support the sale, call our office at 334-3556, or click on the plant sale icon on the homepage and order and pay for your plants right on this website. The pickup and delivery date is Wednesday May 8th, and our cash and carry sale in East Side Park, downtown Norwich is the following Wednesday, May 15th.

Walk & Talk Support Group

Meet the first Friday of each month at Weiler Park on Borden Avenue in Norwich for a walk and talk support group. Meet our Bereavement Coordinator Jessica Bohndorf for light exercise and the chance to walk with others who have experienced a loss in their life. The walk will start at 10am and end a half hour later. Upcoming dates are May 3, June 7, July 5, August 2 and September 6. For information contact Jessica Bohndorf at 334-3556.

Parent’s Memorial Breakfast

Saturday June 1st is the date for the annual Paren'ts Memorial Breakfast at The Park Place Restaurant on East Park Place in downtown Norwich. Time is from 9:00am-10:30am. Join Bereavement Coordinator Jessica Bohndorf who will be on hand, and you will have the opportunity to share memories of your parent or grandparent who has passed away. A fee of $8.99 will cover the cost of the buffet breakfast. Please RSVP by Monday, May 27 by calling Hospice at 334-3556.

Plant Sale in Park

We'll have a walk up sale in East Side Park at the gazebo in downtown Norwich on Wednesday, May 15 from 8:30am-1:00pm. Payment will by cash, check or credit card. The sale will be held rain or shine. Hope to see you there.

Caregiver School

Hospice is offering a new support group for caregivers. The group is designed to give practical support for those who are caring for a chronically ill person. Meetings will take place the 2nd Saturday of each month from 9:00am to 10:30am at the Hospice office, 21 Hayes street in Norwich. The June 8th discussion will address the following topics: modifying your home for safety, stress management, asking for help, communicating your needs, and role changes within the family dynamic. Caregiver School is free and open to anyone in Chenango County. No prior affiliation with Hospice is required. For more information contact the office at 334-3556.