I am honoured to fill the chair position of the Camrose and District Hospice Society.  I look forward to all the great things the society has to offer the community as well as working alongside all of you who are passionate about our organization.   
My day position is as the Older Adult Support Worker and Advocate embedded in the office of the Mirror Lake Centre and Service Options for Senior (SOS) program.  I have been in my role since September 2021.  This project is with the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council and Camrose and District Support Services, Changing Ways program.   New to working with seniors, I have 20 years of experience working with low-resourced and vulnerable children and families. 

  

 

Nancy was raised on a chicken farm in Missouri. Her family was active in the local church and community and she was privileged to spend each July accompanying her parents at a church sponsored camp. She did her university training in Indiana where she earned a Business Administration degree and also became the wife of John A Howard who was studying for Pastoral Ministry. In 1973 they moved to Winnipeg where John pastored and Nancy worked and also gave birth to their children. In 1983 they moved to Camrose where John was a faculty member at Gardner College. Nancy was employed by The Bethany Group and did computer support for them until she retired in 2017. Nancy has continue to be active in her local church and has helped various organizations with computerization tasks.
From a young age, Nancy was aware how important it was to support those who were experiencing health concerns and have lost loved ones. Nancy had first hand experience when her husband died in 2016. She also saw what wonderful support a Hospice program was at the end of her parents lives. Nancy is looking forward to serving the Camrose area by being a part of the Hospice Board.

Evelyn lived in Viking for most of her life, where she was involved in business commitments and raised her children. Over the years she has volunteered on different executives including: the Curling Club, Chamber of Commerce and Day Care. Evelyn was also instrumental in attaining PSS (now FCSS) for the Town of Viking and Beaver County. In 1995 she trained and became an advocate for Beaver County Victim Services, and later became a Board Member. Evelyn discovered her passion while volunteering and with Victim Services, and remained involved for over 20 years. In 2017 she moved to Camrose, where still having a passion for helping people, she chose to train and become a Hospice volunteer. "I am proud to be associated with this wonderful group of caregivers, and I hope my experience, compassion for others , and input will be helpful as a board member of Hospice."

Communication Committee Co-Chair
Diana Nelson-Findlay is a Home Care Nurse in Camrose. She grew up in Camrose and graduated from nursing in 1987. She worked in a variety of settings including ICU, ortho-trauma, and the burn unit at UAH and Texas.  Diana returned to Camrose in 2000 with a young family and started working for Camrose Home Care. It was during that time that Diana became familiar with the importance of a palliative approach to care for many clients and decided to complete a certification in palliative and hospice care through CNA. Diana's husband Pat is a teacher in Camrose and they have two daughters both of which have entered into the medical field.

Penny is impressed with the programs the Hospice Society offers, not only in Camrose but in the surrounding communities. "    "Compassion and caring is what we all need more of in this world". If Penny can help in a small way to  keep the Society viable and continue their important programs, this is the group she wants to offer some time and hopefully, expertise to!!!

Sharon was born and raised in Hardisty, and graduated from nursing in 1983. The majority of her nursing career was spent in rural nursing at the Viking Health Centre, and the last 16 years in a managerial role. In 2021 Sharon retired and has been enjoying the extra time with her family, as well as a little travel. After spending 38 years in the healthcare system she has seen the emotional and spiritual challenges patients and families with chronic and end of life illnesses face. The Hospice Society is helping meet these challenges, and Sharon is looking forward to working with the Society to continue this important work.