Blessed to be Sons and Daughters again
JoAnn and Charles Packan, were lifelong best friends who did everything together, so it was fitting that they entered hospice together as well.
For their four children, it had become very difficult to manage their increasing care needs, and when they finally made the decision to engage hospice, it brought so much relief to them all.
After returning from a family 2024 beach trip, their children realized they would have to make some painful choices. It had become obvious in spending several their parents' health issues – diabetes, heart failure, and lung disease – had progressed much further than they had thought.
After surveying the options, the Packan siblings chose hospice even knowing what it meant, because it allowed them to honor their parents' wishes in caring for them together and at home.
Immediately as Frederick Health Hospice sent aides, emotional and physical burdens were lifted – including from their Mom and Dad, who were concerned and anxious about the responsibility on their children. Hospice nurses were able to answer all the family's many questions and provide much-needed comfort through the end-of-life process.
Patriarch Chuck’s greatest fear was to be without his wife, and entering hospice at home allowed him to keep “looking after” her. As such. their children especially felt that home hospice helped him pass on his terms. When it was time, support from Hospice allowed them to simply be present. He spoke and said goodbye to each one of them and even his many grand- and great-grandchildren before his October death.
It didn’t surprise them that their mother passed just a few months later, in April. But her process took her to the beautifully serene Kline Hospice House. Deeply attached to her home, it was initially a challenge to get her to agree – but once she did, the quality of care and peace of the setting made it clear it was the right choice.
When she first moved in, Kline House staff graciously allowed her to decorate her room, making her feel more at home. The siblings hung their special family portrait on the wall – with close to thirty people in it– and JoAnn proudly pointed out to nurses, “That’s my whole family!”
The Packan family were supported throughout their journey by a variety of Hospice staff members, including the chaplain and music therapists. Hospice Chaplain Wes Parks gently alerted them when their matriarch needed moments of space to process and find peace. Music therapist Melanie first had her work cut out for her with Chuck who wasn’t sure about the service, but lifted his mood until he joyfully sang along to “Country Roads.”
"We couldn’t have imagined the presence and connection Hospice allowed us to share with our parents as they passed. Rather than worrying as caretakers, we were blessed to spend this time as sons and daughters. We’re sharing our parents’ end-of life journey in the hope that you will consider making a gift to Frederick Health Hospice. It’s our sincere wish that many more families in the community can benefit from Hospice’s compassionate care." - The Packan Siblings, Charles, Pam, Nicole & Gina
