As the region of Waterloo’s first and largest hospice residence, we are very pleased to share that we have achieved remarkable milestones this year: Innisfree House in Kitchener is marking its 10th anniversary, and Lisaard House in Cambridge will celebrate its amazing 25th anniversary. That’s over 35 collective years of serving our community for individuals living with – and dying from – a life-limiting illness.
In 1996, Sheila O’Donovan and several community members discussed the need for an alternative to institutional and in-home end-of-life care for individuals and their families when few choices seem available. Sheila and her husband Val advanced a significant gift, and began the process of establishing the first freestanding hospice residence in the region of Waterloo. Rather than putting an individual’s name on the organization, they opted to name the hospice after a beautiful hotel they’d visited in Ireland that provided them with peace and tranquility, where they felt comfortable and at home.
There were big community celebrations when the six beds at Lisaard House opened in Cambridge in 2000, and again when ten-bed Innisfree House opened in Kitchener in 2015. Since day one, support has been the foundational characteristic of our organization; it’s demonstrated every day by our employees, volunteers, Board, and reciprocally in community. And we’re going to take special time this year to celebrate all the remarkable support that we’ve been providing to – and receiving from – our community. We’ve got a gala planned in the fall, special employee and volunteer events on the calendar, and other special events along the way.
“I am incredibly proud of the legacy of exceptional care and compassion we’ve built within these walls,” says Sheila Ainsworth, Past Board Chair, “as part of the original committee to make Lisaard and Innisfree Houses a reality, and providing stewardship through the years in my work with the Board, it’s gratifying to see how wonderfully well-recognized we are for the intricate work we do supporting our community at such a difficult time in their lives.”
“It’s a privilege for me to lead this extraordinary team in this important work,” remarks Maria Empringham, Executive Director, “having started here as a nurse over 15 years ago, it’s been rewarding to see how we’ve advanced year over year, enhancing our services and programs to help families, while always maintaining the highest level of individualized care that respects each resident’s choices and decisions.”
We help individuals live the remainder of their lives as fully as possible, respecting their dignity and supporting their autonomy. Our care goals are aimed at relieving suffering and improving the quality of living and dying for those diagnosed with life-limiting illness.
Marty Dever, Communications & Marketing Coordinator, Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice
519.208.5055 ext. 255
