Warmhearts Palliative Caregivers Sudbury/Manitoulin volunteer Vi Roy said family members often ask her where she gets the emotional strength to spend time with those in the last stages of life.
“I say ‘You don’t understand the reward you get in your chest for sitting with somebody, combing their hair, and holding their hand, knowing that they’re not going to be dying without somebody with them,’” Roy said.
“The families really appreciate our services. They can’t thank us enough for it.”
Palliative Caregivers Sudbury/Manitoulin is a volunteer community-based, non-profit organization whose mission is to provide end-of-life support to clients and their families.
The organization provides volunteer visiting, advocacy, education and bereavement support to clients and families within the Sudbury and Manitoulin district.
Last spring, after being nominated by Warmhearts, Roy was presented with the June Callwood Award by the Hospice Association of Ontario.
Right away I knew this is what I wanted to do.
Vi Roy,
volunteer with Warmhearts Palliative Caregivers
The annual award is presented to a hospice volunteer. The award was established in 1994 in honour of Callwood, the late Canadian journalist, author and social activist who founded Casey House, a Toronto hospice.
“I read (Callwood’s) books,” Roy said. “She was a marvellous woman. I feel honoured to accept that award in her name.”
Roy said she learned about Warmhearts 10 years ago when she was looking after an elderly woman who was dying, and volunteers from the organization came to help out.
“Right away I knew this is what I wanted to do,” she said.
Warmhearts volunteer Vi Roy (left) pictured with Warmhearts client services co-ordinator Madeleine Sauve. Photo by Heidi Ulrichsen
The 72-year-old retired Canada Post employee said when she sits with clients at the hospice, the hospital’s palliative care unit or in nursing homes, she likes to take the night shift, which lasts from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. She does this up to three times a week.
“In the hospital at night, it’s so quiet,” Roy said. “You just sit there and watch your client. If they’re able to talk, we talk to them. One lady wanted to say prayers all night long. She wanted to know ‘Are you Catholic?’ I said ‘Yes.’ She said, ‘OK, we’re saying (rosary) beads all night long.’”
Madeleine Sauve, the client services co-ordinator at Warmhearts, said her organization nominated Roy for the award because she is a “true humanitarian,” citing her willingness to stay up all night to help clients.
“To me, that is incredible,” she said. “She’s just a very goodhearted woman.”
Sauve invites those who want to support the work done by Warmhearts to participate the eighth annual Warmhearts Walk for Palliative Care, which takes place Sept. 18 at 203 York St., starting at 10 a.m.
Warmhearts is hoping to raise at least $10,000 during the event, she said.
For more information, phone 705-677-0077 or visit www.warmhearts.ca.
