Goodrich – From her hospice bed, Nadine Clear’s face was intent on the trio who’d come to make her smile.
‘He’s the boogie woogie bugle boy of Company B,? sang the Dibbleville Dolls, a musical threesome who this week entertained the residents of Genesys Hospice.
Clear clapped her hands in delight.
‘I enjoyed that immensely,? said Clear, in her soft voice. ‘It was beautiful.?
‘That’s one of my favorites, because I liked The Andrews Sisters, and because they played it during the war.?
The Dolls, a three-teacher act from Fenton, have performed to larger audiences than the group of residents and their families gathered in the hospice day room, but this concert was especially well received.
Guitars in tow, the trio stopped room-by-room to sing a storytelling Irish ballad or folk song to residents, who range from a man in his 20s to the elderly.
The strains of ‘Rockin? Robin? and ‘Sentimental Journey? filtered into the hallways eliciting smiles from residents, family, staff, and volunteers.
‘It made me feel good,? said Clear, when the last note had sounded.
‘We focus on quality of life while people are in the last stage of their lives,? said Kate Milkman, hospice activities coordinator.
Milkman is always on the lookout for talented local entertainers willing to donate an hour or two to bring residents enjoyment.
In addition to music, volunteers help coordinate parties, yard work, pet-cuddling, open-air luncheons, and other activities. Milkman credits the hospice? ‘salt-of-the-earth? volunteers with planning, developing, and facilitating ideas and events.
Donations of craft items are also being accepted for the center’s upcoming Fourth Annual Joyce Burrow Memorial Craft Show and Bake Sale this Nov. 20 and 21.
Funds from the event are used to purchase ‘extras? for residents, like the plane ticket purchased for a family member who couldn’t afford to visit, or a special gift one resident wanted to purchase for her loved one, said Milkman.
The craft show came about through the efforts of a former resident, the late Joyce Burrows, who suggested the idea in August 2000.
‘With her dynamic, outgoing personality (Burrows) engaged practically every hospice care center employee, volunteer, resident, family member in helping to make the first craft show a huge success,? said Milkman.
‘She said she wanted people to know that hospice residents still have something to give and this was her way of giving. Prior to her illness, Joyce worked many years as a fundraiser for March of Dimes.?
If you can donate crafts, or would like to entertain residents, call Genesys Hospice at (810) 636-5000 or 888-943-9690.