In December, 2017, Jeanne Strohm first met Svenia Daniel, an RN Case Manager with Hospice of the Foothills. Jeanne was a 17 year resident at Eskaton, moving there after her husband, Charlie, died in 2003.
At the time they met, Jeanne had just enlisted the care of HOF at the suggestion of her physician. Jeanne and Svenia quickly became fast friends. Jeanne was an impeccably dressed, amiable and distinguished woman. Jeanne would share anecdotes from her early life of raising 3 boys (Richard, Peter and Charles ‘Chip,’ who tragically died in 1997). She had traveled the world, was an active volunteer and esteemed member of this community for over 75 years, and had many interesting stories to share.
After spending a year on hospice, Jeanne’s symptoms were being managed well and her health stabilized. She was doing so well, she ‘graduated’ from needing hospice care, but the friendship between the two continued.
Whenever Svenia would make the trip to Eskaton to check on other patients, she always made the time to visit with Jeanne. During COVID-19, when other visitors were not able to enter the facility safely, Svenia, as a health care provider, was able to provide the human connection Jeanne was missing terribly.
Jeanne would often say that her life spanned the time between two worldwide pandemics. In 1919, her mother, Claire, contracted the Spanish flu when she was pregnant with Jeanne. Fortunately, she made a full recovery before Jeanne was born.
In January of this year, Jeanne knew she needed the support of Hospice of the Foothills again, and Svenia had the privilege of caring for her dear friend. On March 7, Jeanne’s son, Richard and his wife went for their daily visit and she threw kisses to them saying, “I am so blessed and I am tired.” She was ready to go. The next day, Jeanne’s life journey ended.
When Svenia received the news her eyes welled up as she commented “I feel that I have just lost my best friend, I will remember her forever.”
Indeed, the feelings were mutual. Jeanne’s son Richard shared that “mother thought that Svenia was the greatest person in the world, and that the care provided by Hospice of the Foothills was wonderful.”
Every patient served by HOF is special, but when given the time, beautiful friendships are often made between patient and hospice caregiver.