Eaton Community Hospice Staff
Diana Vierk

Asked what she likes best about working at ECH, Diana said, “Camaraderie. I have never worked with so many different people and actually felt comfortable with ALL of them. That makes work like fun!”

Diana enjoys caring for patients and supporting their families. She notes, “The employees here actually like their jobs and genuinely care about the patients and their families. The atmosphere here provides the freedom for all to live and grieve without pressure from staff and just enough support to let families feel ‘good’ at the end. “We had a patient I distinctly remember whose family didn’t have much contact with her. We became like her surrogate family, caring for her until she passed.” Working with the terminally ill, to Diana, is the most gratifying job she has had.

Diana lives in Charlotte and has been married 35 years to Larry. Together they have 3 grown children. She enjoys bowling, sewing and spending time with her 5 grandchildren: Stephanie, Taylor, Jordan, Emma and Layne.

Eaton Community Hospice Staff 
Donna Bishop

Donna enjoys watching football and baseball - especially the Detroit Tigers. Recalling a special memory, Donna remembers a patient with a shared fondness for the Tigers. "We were talking and discovered he was a Tiger’s fan. We developed a special rapport as we watched baseball and football games, discussing the plays."

Working in an environment which to many can seem sad and depressing, working with the terminally ill has impacted Donna in a positive way. She observes the different family dynamics of how different families face illness and death of their loved ones. This has given her a healthier view of the life process and a better understanding of her personal experiences in regard to her parent’s deaths.

She admits sometimes her biggest challenge is overcoming personality conflicts while remaining professional. "You can’t just walk away from a resident or family member who needs care. You get in there and keep giving what is needed.

Giving her impression of the Hospice program, Donna said, "I think we have a great program. The community support we receive allows us to continue caring for a population that desperately needs it"

In addition to Tigers baseball, Donna enjoys watching the Cubs and Yankees. She is also a 16-year member of the Battle Creek Kennel Club and has 2 Labrador Retrievers, a Golden Retriever and a German Shorthair Pointer.

Eaton Community Hospice Staff
Cherri Brester

Cherri Brester’s involvement with Eaton Community Hospice began  in away that will be familiar to most everyone involved with the organization. “Margaret talked me into it.”

Cherri was first introduced to Hospice while caring for her grandmother in 1996.  Having remembered how valuable the volunteers were to her, and wanting to honor her grandmother’s memory, she attended the 2003 Volunteer Training  classes, eager to assist those with a terminal illness.  Sadly, her husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer a week after training was complete and passed away the
end of August.

Cherri  began  working  at  the  Hospice House the day after it opened in  2003,  and  now that she is here, it would probably take a crowbar to separate her from the job. “The  minute I started working here I knew it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.”

Cherri  works  full-time  performing  direct  patient care and according to her, “I have never worked at a job that I loved so much.”  Before coming to the Hospice House, she provided in-home health care  to  a  number  of  elderly  residents  in  the Olivet and Charlotte area and worked in several nursing homes.  Cherri said she feels honored to be able to attend to the needs of the patients at Hospice House.

“I know that I am helping someone that has a greater need.  I’m happy to know that I’m probably one of the last faces that they’re  going  to see  before  they die,” she said. “At times,  families aren’t able to be here and it just gives me a lot of  pleasure  knowing  that  I’m  helping  them with their last need.”

She acknowledges how much there is to learn from listening to  the residents of Hospice House. “I have learned more here, in the last two years, than I ever did in my lifetime about people.

“It  really  is  rewarding.  I love my job. I love my co-workers. I really enjoy coming to work  every  day.  I cannot wait to come and see my patients every day.”