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Lewis County Hospice Volunteers and Staff Honored at Appreciation
Dinner
Published: January 21, 2026
at 04:30 p.m.
By: Press Release from Lewis County Health System
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
January 21, 2026
Lewis County
Hospice Volunteers and Staff Honored at Appreciation Dinner
2025 Hospice Volunteer Graduates front row left to
right - Wanda Norton, Kelly Balash, Karla Iosilevich-Searl,
Ladouceur Flarissaint, Lori Farquhar, and Emily Finn. Back left
to right - Kathleen Merrick, Joanne Rhubart
and Philomena Goss. Missing from photo Cathy Schantz.
LOWVILLE, NY — Lewis County
Hospice recently gathered to honor its volunteers and staff at the VFW in
Lowville. Volunteers, staff, board members and guests helped to honor and
celebrate all that Hospice volunteers and staff have achieved in the past
year.
Attendees enjoyed
a delicious roast beef dinner sponsored by the Friends of Lewis County
Hospice and celebrated the 2025 Hospice Volunteer of the Year and most
recent graduates of the Hospice volunteer class. Volunteers completed a 10-week training
program, learning about important services and skills to help patients and
their loved-ones through the end-of-life journey.
"Volunteers
enrich the Hospice program and are a cornerstone of the compassionate care our
team provides," stated DeyLynne McConnell, RN,
Hospice Director of Patient Services "Our staff couldn't do all they
do without volunteers who want to make a difference in the lives of our
patients and their families.”
According to Volunteer
Coordinator Kathleen Merrick “The dinner provides an opportunity for new
volunteers to mingle with those volunteers who have many years of service
with Hospice. It was wonderful for the hospice staff, board members, and
volunteers to gather for some good cheer, great stories, and lots of laughter.”
 Volunteer Fern Lyndaker (retired RN) was
honored as the 2025 Hospice Volunteer of the Year. Since 2013, Fern has
been volunteering at Hospice. She
has taken on the important role of the Weekly Tuck-In Call volunteer. In
this role, Fern establishes a weekly connection with Hospice patients and
caregivers to offer support. The calls are directed by Hospice staff to
provide an opportunity to check in on patient needs and ensure supplies are
in place for the upcoming weekend. The calls support the Hospice staff by
bringing valuable information back to the care team about how families are
doing.
Mrs. Merrick says
“Lewis County Hospice is very grateful for all of
the volunteers that serve throughout the year. Our volunteers serve in many
capacities with each individual choosing which
tasks they are comfortable doing and the times that they are
able to help.” Some examples include running errands for patients,
sitting with patients while their family members get a much-needed break,
or providing indirect hours by helping with jobs in the Hospice office and fundraising
activities.
To learn more
about volunteering, please call 315-376-5434 or email
kathleen.merrick@lcgh.net.
Photo 2: Hospice Director
of Patient Services DeyLynne McConnell, RN,
Volunteer of the Year Fern Lyndaker, and Volunteer Coordinator Kathleen Merrick.
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