...most people ask Jonelle when they hear she works at a hospice. “No, it isn’t” is her response. After spending fifteen rewarding years in public health, Jonelle came to work at Seasons Hospice at a crossroads in her life when she was ready for something new. Her career choices in the past needed to fit with her family life, but now “it could be all about me.”

Jonelle appreciates the opportunity to be present for people during a tough time in their lives without the intensity of a hospital environment. She started at Seasons Hospice as a volunteer, but was quickly encouraged to join the staff, who assured her that the team approach to patient care at Seasons would provide an excellent atmosphere for her to transition to bedside nursing. Four and a half years have passed, and she has never regretted it.

She realizes that when patients and their families come to Seasons Hospice, she is only seeing a snapshot of their lives. “We meet them as strangers. I try to remember that there were times when they were stronger and healthier.”

Jonelle particularly remembers one family. The father was dying. His wife and children were with him during his last hours. She empathized, thinking of her children who were about the same age as the two who were losing their father. She could see that they weren’t sure what to do, where to be, what to say. She became a little more assertive than she usually is and made some suggestions. She offered to play music and the family accepted. Jonelle put on a CD, which seemed to be immediately soothing to the father. His wife noted that he had liked that particular music very much in the past. This serendipitous moment seemed to help the family come together and connect better through the music. The children seemed to sense their father was being lifted up through the music. The rest of the staff stepped away and let this special connection take place regardless of the scheduled shift change. Jonelle is thankful to be a part of these journeys and to work with coworkers who make up a tight knit team of caring people.

When she isn’t working, Jonelle enjoys cooking, entertaining, home decorating and her big news is that she married recently! She is embarking on a significant new beginning. She and her new husband have five adult daughters between them. “We know girls!” she says. Even though Jonelle has adjusted to the waves of loss that she sees weekly, she recognizes the importance of self-care. Participating in bereavement support programs periodically for the staff are good ways to regenerate. She sees the importance of this for the long run to help prevent burnout. “This is a job I want. I’m stretching my wings.”

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