The Most Experienced Care Giving Staff in the Columbia Gorge

JoElla Anglin—LCSW—Social Worker

JoElla received her MSW from Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to her private counseling practice, she works for Heart of Hospice because it is her passion. Her favorite activities revolve around her 6-year-old daughter, AnnaLee. She enjoys cross-country skiing, traveling and hiking.

Bobbi Casey—CNA/HHA—Home Health Aide

Bobbi grew up in South Dakota, and received her CNA/HHA training at Columbia Gorge Community College. Her hobbies include reading, gardening and spending time with her family.

A patient composed a poem to describe why she loves Hospice:

It’s very rewarding being able to care
For people whose needs they are willing to share,
There are smiles, hugs, and sometimes tears
and soothing words allaying fears,
So our days and hours are spent
helping them to be content.

Pam Chandler, BSN,RN - Director of Clinical Services

Pam received her Bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Portland. She has been a nurse for over 30 years, providing Hospice nursing care in the Columbia Gorge for the past fifteen years. Heart of Hospice also uses Pam’s vast experience in hospice to head up our quality assurance and training programs.

Pam is married with three grown children and 5 grandchildren. Pam loves to spend time with her grandkids, is very active in the Lion’s club, and enjoys scrap booking and sewing.

Holly Court, RN

Holly has joined the Hospice team and continues to provide palliative care through the Lifeworks program in The Dalles.

Becki Fischer, CNA/HHA—Home Health Aide

Becki received her CNA/HHA training at Columbia Gorge Community College, began working in the health care field in 1993, and has a passion for caring for elderly patients. She is married with 2 daughters and a granddaughter. She enjoys spending time with her family and likes beading, sewing and gardening.

Tama Hepner, RN—Volunteer Coordinator

Tama has spent half of her nursing career working in education and program development, including managing volunteer programs at the hospital level. She received her nursing training at Clark College in Washington and completed the American Hospital Training for Volunteer Coordinators. She has over 8 years experience as a Hospice nurse and several years experience as a Hospice Volunteer Coordinator. Tama is married with 3 children and two dogs. Her hobbies include attending her children’s activities, hiking, gardening and camping.

“Hospice work is the most fulfilling work I have done since becoming a nurse. I cannot imagine doing more important work than this.”

Karen Lee, BA, RN

With an appetite for learning, Karen began her nursing training with an LVN at Willmar Community College, received her RN from LATT College in Los Angeles, and then received a BA in Humanistic Studies at Ryokan College in California. She received her Adult Nurse Practitioner training at Cal State University. Her studies also include acupressure, herbal studies, and alchemical hypno-therapy. She has been providing Hospice care here in the Gorge for over 14 years. Her interests include travel and cultural studies, nature hiking, backpacking all over the world; she enjoys animals, gardening and alternative health.

“To embrace the end of our lives with courage, strength, compassion and honesty is to live life to its fullest. I have learned about “living” by taking care of the dying and it is an honor to be part of the sacred process in someone’s life.”

Eve Moore—CNA/HHA—Home Health Aide

Eve received her CNA/HHA training at Columbia Gorge Community College. She has been doing Hospice care for over 9 years. Her greatest joys are her husband, 4 children and 4 grandsons. She enjoys riding her bike, taking walks with her daughters, reading, gardening, painting and travels to Mexico.

“It is amazing to me that patients and families allow us to come into their homes at such an intimate time in their lives. I have been greatly blessed by the families I have served.”

Doriene Morton, RN

Doriene attended Columbia Gorge Community College then Blue Mountain College in Pendleton to complete her RN. Her experience includes working in a Nursing Home and 7 years at Oregon Veterans Home. Doriene’s “spare” time is spent minding her 90 acres of cherries in The Dalles, 6 grandkids, a chocolate lab named “Bella”, and a love for travel.

“I’ve been a long term care nurse my whole nursing career and I feel that Hospice is a continuation of that care. When I met the nurses from Heart of Hospice and saw how they care about the patient and family outcomes, I wanted to be a member of their team.”

Chris Nielsen—CNA/HHA—Home Health Aide

Chris received her Associate of Science degree and CNA/HHA training at Columbia Gorge Community College. She has been providing Hospice care for over 4 years. She is married, enjoys spending time with her family and enjoys gardening.

Kay Overstreet—M.Divinity—Spiritual Care Counselor

Kay cares about connecting with the heart and soul of patients, family members, and colleagues. This is what brings her joy and feeds her soul. For the past 4 years Kay has worked in health care and hospice as an Interfaith Minister and Spiritual Care Counselor. Prior to her life/career transition Kay supported employee and corporate change as an Organizational Development and Training Consultant for 10 years in Portland. Now she nurtures patients through the final transition of life providing a compassionate listening ear, bereavement support and pastoral counseling, and acting as a soul companion in whatever ways are sacred to the patient.

She received her seminary education through New West Seminary in Oregon City, OR, earning a Master's of Divinity degree in 2004. She was also ordained upon graduation as an Interfaith Minister. Kay earned her BS in Business Administration at Warner Pacific College in Portland, OR in 1995. Kay has continued her spiritual education through a variety of on-going venues. Most recently she completed over 60 hours of training through the Sacred Art of Living Center in Bend, OR, and continues deepening that training through on-going participation in their Anamcara Project.

Kay recently married in August of 2005 and moved to the Gorge from Portland where she enjoys helping raise her 10-year-old granddaughter Sierra, dancing with her husband Fred by the light of the moon at their 100 acre forest up on Mt. Burdoin, and learning to ride her two horses, Dakota and Beauty. One cat and one dog complete their immediate family.

Lisa Pacheco—CNA/HHA—Home Health Aide

Lisa received her Associate of Science degree and CNA/HHA training at Columbia Gorge Community College and has over 3 years Hospice experience. She is currently continuing her education to become a Registered Nurse. She is married and enjoys outdoor activities while spending time with her husband and dog.

Ann Rhodes—MSW—Social Worker

Ann received her BA in Psychology and MSW from Portland State University. She enjoys spending time with her two daughters and four grandchildren. Ann enjoys reading, crafts, and spending time with her lifelong (since first grade) friends.

Jaune’ Sipe—Office Manager

Jaune’s experience includes general office, office management, medical transcription, and accounting. She also worked at the Oregon Veteran’s Home in The Dalles. She enjoys reading, baking, outdoor activities and spending time with her friends.

Aaron Swafford, RN

Aaron received his nursing training from Columbia Gorge Community College. During his final year in nursing school he chose a Hospice internship. He developed a love for Hospice care during that internship and has been a Hospice RN ever since. Aaron was an LPN at the Oregon Veteran’s Home prior to becoming a Hospice RN. He is married with 5 children, 3 cows, 2 pigs, 3 chickens, 1 turkey and a dog. His activities include spending as much time as possible with his wife and family, biking and fishing.

“I came to Hospice nursing on a one day assignment to “follow a Hospice RN”. I rode with a great nurse and went with her to several patients’ homes that day. After seeing the care provided to the patients and their families, I was sold on Hospice. It has been my passion ever since, and I’ve loved every single day that I’ve been fortunate enough to be a Hospice RN.”

Merilee Webster, BSN, RN

Merilee has been an RN for 38 years. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her experience includes nursing on Indian Reservations, Home Health, and Hospice. She has been providing Hospice nursing for over 12 years. Merilee is married with two grown children. Merilee loves swim, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.

“Hospice is my passion, and I love working with patients, families and co-workers. It is an honor and privilege to be able work with all the wonderful people that I have met, and those to come. May God bless. ”

Betty Williams, BSN, RN

Betty received her LPN from Portland Community College and her RN from Oregon Health & Science University. She has been a nurse for over 30 years including a hospital nurse providing cardiology, kidney, urology, ophthalmology and plastic surgery patient care. She has also worked as a Home Health Nurse and hemodialysis nurse. Betty enjoys gardening in the spring and summer and skiing in the winter. Her favorite activity is playing with her Goldendoodle “Jak” who makes her laugh with his zest for life.

Designated Official Greeters (D.O.G.S.)
Whidbey and Scout greet visitors, patrol the fields behind our offices looking for skunks, and make sure everyone pays close attention to meal times.