For nearly four decades, Barbara Wyatt has worked as a manicurist, so she's no stranger to holding the hands of others while providing a listening ear. However, it wasn't until a conversation with a Parkview chaplain that she considered how those same gifts might console individuals nearing the end of life.
A nudge toward serving.
Barbara's first introduction to hospice care was in 2022 when her mother became ill and transitioned to the Supportive Care Unit at Parkview Randallia. “They were so wonderful with my mom. That's when I learned about the program." Barbara confesses she hadn't thought much about hospice after that, but noted she wishes that level of care had been available 20 years ago when her husband was sick.
A few years later, when Barbara's mother-in-law also needed end-of-life care, she met Michael Deter, a chaplain. After witnessing Barbara's natural ability to comfort others while caring for her mother-in-law, Michael recommended she become a hospice volunteer. While hospice patients often have a well-rounded team of medical caregivers, volunteers offer a distinct form of complementary care that involves companionship and emotional support.
Despite hesitations on whether she could commit enough time to the role, Barbara felt compelled to apply. Within a day of submitting her application, Barbara received a call from a volunteer coordinator. Three weeks later, she attended orientation.
At the orientation, Barbara decided to share one of her favorite pastimes. "I do stained glass as a hobby," she said. "And you can only make so much of it at home before you're putting it everywhere."
She brought four of her stained-glass angels to give to members of the hospice team. They eagerly accepted the gifts and her offer to make similar keepsakes for hospice patients and their loved ones. From that point on, Barbara would have no trouble finding new homes for her handcrafted guardians.
Though they be small, their impact is mighty.
Barbara believes that although not everyone is religious, many people are spiritual. In her experience, angels serve as a universal symbol of guidance and peace. Each figure she creates features a heart and a butterfly, which represent eternal life. While these themes remain constant, Barbara tries to make them all a little different, customizing patterns and colors to reflect each patient's character. "I believe we all need a special angel in our lives to bring us comfort, joy and hope," she said.
Since starting her volunteer role in 2024, Barbara has created more than 250 stained glass angels to share with patients and their loved ones. She makes it a habit to always carry a small box of them with her, never knowing when there may be an opportunity to offer someone a trinket or to give to those working in the Supportive Care Unit.
Barbara shared an instance when a patient and her granddaughter were deeply touched by receiving matching angels. Later, when it was time for the grandmother to transition to the Supportive Care Unit, they were not only greeted by the attentive staff but also by one of Barbara's angels displayed near the reception desk. The granddaughter later told Barbara how meaningful it was to see a reassuring symbol in an otherwise unfamiliar setting.
May angels watch through the night.
A top priority in hospice care is ensuring patients live as comfortably as possible for the remainder of their days. For many, solace is often found less in material possessions but more in how they spend their final moments and with whom.
In addition to creating the winged figures, Barbara's other volunteer duties involve socializing with patients, listening to their stories and offering companionship or respite for caregivers.
Although she can recall several instances in which she has comforted patients during her time volunteering, one in particular stands out. "My first patient wanted a friend. She had cancer, but she still had days left. Her one request from me was to read to her," Barbara recounts. "The book was Goodnight Moon. I don't have any children, so I didn't know what it was."
The beloved literary classic follows the wind-down rituals of a young rabbit, seemingly prolonging bedtime by addressing every object and creature in the green room before gently drifting off.
Over the few months Barbara spent with her patient, they read, exchanged personal stories and had many laughs. They were even together on Christmas Eve, sharing pizza, cheesecake and watching seasonal movies. However, soon after the holidays, her friend's health began to decline.
"We made a pact that I would be there when she passed, and I was able to fulfill that wish for her. I read the book, and as I finished, it was clear her breathing changed. I said to her, 'Are you ready to take your nap? Because you know your mom and your daughter are waiting on you.' She raised her head, took her last breath, then she was gone."
Barbara described the experience as gratifying and nothing more rewarding than being a hospice volunteer. "She went so peacefully, and if you can believe it, it was beautiful. I was able to do something for her that I normally wouldn't do for someone who wasn't family. That's why I volunteer."
Parting words.
Reflecting on how volunteering has influenced her views on life, Barbara shares these three lessons:
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If you touch something in their room, you'd better put it back where you found it, because that's their space! They're still human beings even though they're sick.
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People often think hospice care is all about death, but it also allows patients and their families to continue living day to day.
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Life is very short. You can't put a value on kindness or time, but it doesn't take much to give them away to others.
Become a volunteer.
Do you have a special interest or skill? Consider sharing your time and talents with patients and loved ones of those in hospice care.
Parkview Hospice is currently seeking new volunteers to fill a variety of roles, including patient companionship, caregiver relief, bereavement support, or assisting with administrative tasks. Opportunities to volunteer are available in Allen, Huntington, Noble, Wabash, Whitley, Steuben, DeKalb, and LaGrange counties. To apply online, visit parkview.com/hospicevolunteer. A volunteer coordinator will contact you with information about upcoming training dates.
For more information, email Alison.Eckert@parkview.com or call 260-373-9800.
