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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.
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