Angela’s Blog
Read the many stories on our people, our programs, and our passion for serving others.
Walking Together
June 1, 2023
One of the Grief Care groups at Angela Hospice is going on the road, well, on the sidewalk. Beginning June 2 – and running every
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A Beautiful Addition
May 30, 2023
Ryan with his dad, Thomas Angela Hospice was there for Thomas Phimister, providing compassion, comfort, and medical expertise as he spent his final days in
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A Day Well Spent
April 27, 2023
Jan Afonso playing her harp at the Angela Hospice Care Center. It starts, as so many things do, with an introduction. Jan Afonso walks into
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Is a Career in Hospice Right for You?
February 20, 2023
New nurses and nursing assistants — and experienced healthcare professionals looking for a change — may ask themselves, could hospice be right for me? It
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Capturing a Magical Moment
February 15, 2023
Mary with her daughter-in-law, Jill; and dog, Quinn, a three-legged Havanese. One of Lori Pimlott-Calvin’s last great moments with her mom, Mary, is now captured
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Celebrating the Good Samaritans
January 27, 2023
For nurse Beth Rini, helping Roger* reminded her of why she’s dedicated the last five years to working as a hospice nurse. “It was more
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Simple Steps to Start Your New Year Giving Goal
January 13, 2023
Happy New Year! Do you believe in making New Year Resolutions? Maybe you want to get in better shape? Read more? Eat out less? Or
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A New Way of Planning For A New Year
January 5, 2023
For many, early January brings fresh starts, motivation, and anticipation. We may hope that the year ahead is the best one yet (or at least
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End of Year Wrap Up
December 30, 2022
How to look back on 2022 – and the benefits of taking time to reflect You may be eager to ring in the New Year
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A Century Well Lived
December 16, 2022
Saying Benjamin Kovacinski has seen a lot throughout his life would be a vast understatement – especially considering he’s 105-years-old. Ben grew up on a
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Grief is Like Glitter
December 12, 2022
No matter what holidays you observe this time of year, you will be confronted with glitter. It’s in frosting, sprinkles, cards, Christmas ornaments, window décor.
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Getting Through the Holidays
December 12, 2022
The holidays can be hard enough without the added aspects from grief: from dodging grief triggers; to-do lists a mile long with a serious lack
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Celebrating Love’s Legacy at the Tree of Life
December 12, 2022
Marla (left) with her mom, Shirley, and sister, Cherryl. For some families, the Tree of Life has become a yearly tradition. For others, this is
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Pay It Forward
December 9, 2022
After seeing the care and compassion his wife, Jenny, received from Angela Hospice in 2019, Bob Langan knew he wanted to give back. And he’s
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Angela Hospice President & CEO Named One of Crain’s Detroit Business’s Notable Women in Non-Profits for 2022
December 5, 2022
Members of the Livonia community will see a familiar face in this week’s Crain’s Detroit Business, Angela Hospice President & CEO, Marti Coplai, who was
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Endless Opportunities
November 25, 2022
Dr. Terri L. Mack thinks the world is Angela Hospice’s oyster. “I think that whatever they decide to do, they can do,” said Dr. Mack,
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Angels in the Night
November 22, 2022
Lisa Udell has worked at Angela Hospice for over 17 years and is currently a night nurse in the Care Center. Nurses find light on
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Caring for the Caregivers
November 16, 2022
It’s easy to think about hospice and automatically go to the many ways it benefits patients, but there’s another group of people who benefit from
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National Philanthropy Day
November 15, 2022
National Philanthropy Day (NPD) on November 15 celebrates the endless daily contributions individuals and organizations across the world make to countless causes and missions, much
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The Heart of Medicine
November 9, 2022
It’s a dinner party full of light conversation, good food, and better company. Then someone asks Dr. Nadia Tremonti what she does for a living,
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Caring for Our Community: Promoting Health Literacy
October 26, 2022
Angela Hospice Director of Ministry Engagement, Diane Smith (center), addresses the crowd at the Health is Wealth event at Eastern Market in Detroit. October is
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Recognizing the Importance of National Estate Planning Awareness Week
October 17, 2022
It is estimated that more than half of Americans – 56% – do not have an up-to-date estate plan. Are you one of them? If
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Committed to Compassion
October 14, 2022
Najah Bazzy has many different connections to the Felician Sisters and now she can add one more, Angela Hospice board member. “It’s truly an honor,”
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Joining Together With Gold
October 12, 2022
The Japanese word “kintsugi” roughly translates to “joining with gold.” Kintsugi is a Japanese tradition and technique that is more than 500 years old, where
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Celebrating Mission & Heritage Week 2022
October 5, 2022
Diane Smith, director of Mission Integration at Angela Hospice, with a few of the many items collected during this year’s food drive. Each year the
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Heavenly Care
September 23, 2022
Thinking about the care her parents received, Anne Marie Hurley is pretty convinced their caregivers from Angela Hospice were heaven sent. “They were just some
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Full Circle
September 9, 2022
Dr. Deborah Dunn began her new role in September as Board Chair. This may be Dr. Deborah Dunn’s sixth year on the Angela Hospice board,
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Find Your Superhero at Camp Monarch
September 2, 2022
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Angela Hospice’s Camp Monarch! Taking place on Saturday, Oct. 8, Camp Monarch will help grieving kids and teens
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What I Wish I’d Told My Parents
August 22, 2022
Jennifer (left) with her parents. My mom died in May 2019. Mom had been a meticulous bookkeeper, business leader, and manager of the household “stuff;”
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Being the Change
August 10, 2022
Nikki Scott wants you to know that it’s OK to have a bad day. “We live in a really grief phobic society,” said Nikki, who
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Living a Life of Service
July 22, 2022
Betty with her husband, Harry. Harry Tatigian’s devotion to public service helped make Livonia what it is today. As a city attorney, Harry served his
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Angela Answers: When a Parent Loses a Child
July 18, 2022
Sometimes, all it takes is someone sitting down with you and giving you information to help ease your mind. When they take a few moments
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The Therapeutic Benefits of Gardening
June 29, 2022
“The day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.” Fabienne Fredrickson The month of June brings with it the summer
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Affirming Dignity
June 8, 2022
As a little girl, I loved when my grandma would come visit from New York. I’d wake up on those summer mornings to the sound
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Angela Answers: Caring for Someone with Dementia
June 8, 2022
On June 15, Jamie LaLonde – Angela Hospice Executive Director – will present Caring For Someone With Dementia, the next installment in the Angela Hospice
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Handing Off the Baton
June 6, 2022
For Peggy Cummins-Polinksi, after grieving the loss of both of her parents – who were cared for at Marywood then Angela Hospice – she knew
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Creating a Beautiful Place
June 6, 2022
For Kris Beers, his connection to Angela Hospice started with a phone call from Rory Moning, Angela Hospice Building Manager. “Rory called me out of
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Leap of Faith
June 6, 2022
When John Kanitra received a phone call from Teri Schmitchen, Angela Hospice Director of Integrative Therapies & Volunteer Services, asking if he had ever thought
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Songs of the Generations: Songs that Guide Us Through Coping
June 1, 2022
Every person is different and you have heard it before that there is no wrong way to grieve. Did you know, however, that the culture
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We Honor Veterans Achieves Level 4 Status
May 23, 2022
Volunteer John Stern and Teri Schmitchen work together on behalf of veterans. For almost a decade the Angela Hospice We Honor Veterans program has achieved
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One Love, Always
May 20, 2022
Even though he’s no longer with her, Myron will always be the love of Gloria’s life, just like he has been for the last six
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Honoring Our Earth
April 22, 2022
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” Psalm 24:1 Environmental justice is among the core values of Angela Hospice’s founders, the Felician Sisters. Not
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A Calling to Social Work
March 29, 2022
In honor of National Social Work month, we chatted with Angela Hospice’s Director of Social Work and Grief Care Services, Debbie Vallandingham, about working at
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The Prayer of Consecration
March 25, 2022
Given all that’s happening in the world right now, especially in Europe, Pope Francis has asked all people of faith to take a few moments
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Finding the Light
March 15, 2022
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5 As we practice living the value of COMPASSION, our
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Let’s Talk: Episode 2, Hook/Me/Up
February 24, 2022
Listen now On this second episode of “Let’s Talk,” a series from the Angela Hospice African American Church Empowerment Project, you’ll hear a conversation about
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From Family to Philanthropy
February 3, 2022
My mom was my best friend; my hero. When I lost her, my world fell apart. But through the care, support, and comfort I received
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Let’s Talk: Episode 1, I Didn’t Know
January 26, 2022
Listen now According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, although African Americans make up 13% of the population, only 8% of people who
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Written with Love
December 8, 2021
Angela Hospice home care nurses Joshua LaFave (left) and Eric Simpkins. “The bus came. Dad is at peace, with no pain, surrounded by so many
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The 12 Tips of Holiday Grieving
December 7, 2021
It’s a good bet that most of you are familiar with The Twelve Days of Christmas song. It’s that old English Christmas carol that adds
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Getting Through the Holidays Workshop
November 24, 2021
Our Grief Care team presented Getting Through the Holidays, a workshop designed the help make the holiday season easier for those who are grieving. You
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Children’s Grief Awareness Day
November 14, 2021
Sara Waters with 14-year-old Brandon Pfeiffer One in 14 children will experience the loss of a parent or a sibling before they reach the age
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Having That Hospice Heart
October 18, 2021
L TO R: MORROW SLAVIERO, SUSAN FERRIER, & SAMANTHA FERRIER Like Mother, Like Daughters When Susan Ferrier started as a nurse aide at Angela Hospice
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A Lifetime of Devotion and Care
October 14, 2021
John and Lucy, 2016 It shouldn’t be surprising that John Stern came to volunteer at Angela Hospice. After all, his wife, Lucy, a nurse who
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Know When It’s Time to Bring Cake
September 28, 2021
When the Waves of Grief Hit When grief hits, you may feel overwhelmed. It is every feeling you could possibly have and, unfortunately, most of
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National Grief Awareness Day
August 30, 2021
National Grief Awareness Day is celebrated every August 30th and seeks to raise awareness of those who are working through loss. It helps to provide
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A Calling for Compassion
August 23, 2021
Angela Hospice nurses on why they find their work so rewarding Kolby Reed has been a Home Care RN Case Manager with Angela Hospice since
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New Hope Kids Grief Camp
August 6, 2021
Angela Hospice Social Worker Sara Waters with a few of this year’s participants at New Hope Kids Grief Camp, which took place July 22 and
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Beloved Companion: Grieving the Loss of a Pet
August 3, 2021
Pets are members of our family Without question, the loss of a pet can be a significant loss in a person’s life. Pets are members
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Sharing Kindness
July 19, 2021
Sidney (right) teaching women how to sew on a sewing machine she gifted them. Sidney and Wayne Bonvallet have always been the kind of people
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A Man of Many Talents
July 19, 2021
Sue Tupakavich shares the legacy of her beloved father, Al Tupakavich. Seeing someone’s home can give you a great sense of who they are. This
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His Journey Home: Preparing for Heaven
July 12, 2021
Every night before he goes to bed, Father Richard Elmer gets wheeled down by the nurse on duty to the chapel inside the Angela Hospice
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The Greater Good
July 12, 2021
“I never expected to work with kids…but when the current pediatric social worker decided to take another position…I was at the bottom of the totem
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Collecting Memories
July 12, 2021
Previous Next Tom Hess’s infatuation with trains began seven decades ago. As a child, he lived in Dearborn on a street that deadended at the
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In the good old summertime…A memory adventure
July 8, 2021
Summertime can be magic. There is a feeling in the air of excitement, joy and relaxation. The heat of the sun as it strikes the
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Memorial Day: A Day of Mourning
May 27, 2021
To many, it’s the unofficial start of the summer season. Many people have an extra day off and plan picnics or escapes to the lake.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May 20, 2021
While 1 in 5 people will experience a mental illness during their lifetime, everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. This
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Angela Hospice Career Fairs
May 5, 2021
What if we stopped asking people “What do you do for a living?” and started asking “How do you make a difference?” or “What is
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“We cannot allow our seas and oceans to be littered by endless fields of floating plastic.”
April 22, 2021
“We cannot allow our seas and oceans to be littered by endless fields of floating plastic. We need to pray as if everything depended on
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Spring Flowers and Grief: Lessons from Greek Mythology
April 21, 2021
The calendar has officially announced that winter is at its end and spring has arrived. On those cold days that remain, it’s often difficult to
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National Healthcare Decisions Day
April 16, 2021
April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, when Americans are encouraged to take the time to consider their values and preferences in regards to their
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An Engineer’s Guide to Living with ALS
April 1, 2021
This list of tools and tricks was provided by Angela Hospice patient Matt McKeown. Matt worked as an engineer before he was diagnosed with ALS.
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Sweet Dreams! Sleep as a Key to Self-Care
March 26, 2021
If the last year has brought anything to our attention, it was the need to stress self-care. And one of the most often misunderstood and
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A Celebration of Black History in the Catholic Church
February 27, 2021
Reverend Diane Smith, the Angela Hospice Director of Ministry Engagement, spends each February educating employees on a few of the many heroes in Black History.
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Hospice Care During the Pandemic: What is different, and what has stayed the same.
February 25, 2021
As the month of March quickly approaches, a lot of emotions flood in with it. March is known for representing a time of re-birth, and
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Lessons from the Birds of Winter
February 1, 2021
When you see a red rose, you know it as an expression of love. Similarly, a white dove symbolizes peace. These images have been used
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A Prayer for Holocaust Memorial Day
January 27, 2021
Today marks International Holocaust Memorial Day, a worldwide day of remembrance to reflect on the persecution of Jews during the Second World War which resulted
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Employee Spotlight: Darlene Wiljanen
January 20, 2021
“Of all the nursing I have done, hospice has been by far the most rewarding,” said Care Center Nurse Darlene Wiljanen. Darlene has proudly served
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Hope For the Future
December 31, 2020
Yesterday was a momentous day for us at Angela Hospice as we received our first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. A team from CVS Pharmacy
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Employee Spotlight: Mike Conway
December 18, 2020
There are some people who understand their passions at a young age, and get it right the first time. There are others who need a
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Team Monarch
December 11, 2020
As a baseball player in the 1950s, Bill Hill was exceptional. But that doesn’t mean he was treated that way. He was first recruited by
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Grief and the Holidays: The Unique Challenges of COVID-19
December 10, 2020
This year, the holidays will be a little different. We grieve all year long, but there is something that is different at the holidays. This
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Helping children cope with the challenges & changes during the Holidays due to COVID-19
December 8, 2020
The holidays are often a time for traditions and family gatherings but with the current pandemic those traditions and gatherings might look different this year.
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Building Resilience Through Gratitude – Musically
November 25, 2020
The statement I say often recently is “We WILL get through this.” “This” obviously means the pandemic, but in addition, it means other stressors and
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2020 Virtual Holiday Workshop
November 24, 2020
This year, our Bereavement Team held their annual “Getting Through the Holidays” workshop for adults virtually. And now, with the recording posted below as a
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A Month of Thankfulness
November 20, 2020
As the little ghouls and goblins of October fade into the shadows, we turn our thoughts towards the upcoming holidays. Thanksgiving is going to look
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Volunteer Recognized for Service to Veterans
November 11, 2020
Angela Hospice volunteer John Stern was honored recently by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) for his dedication to meeting the needs of
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What my father taught me
November 10, 2020
My father was a military man in Uncle Sam’s segregated United States Navy in World War II. He was drafted so there was little choice
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Let the work we love, be what we do!
October 30, 2020
The celebration of Spiritual Care Week provides an opportunity for chaplains and spiritual representatives to share their story and to celebrate the education and practice
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What is the Day of the Dead all about?
October 28, 2020
The Day of the Dead actually takes place over several days and runs from October 31st to November 2nd. In contrast to the modern notion
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Employee Spotlight: Rory Moning
October 23, 2020
The Angela Hospice team is full of faithful individuals. These individuals are committed to making Angela Hospice the best that it can be, and you
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Virtual Holiday Workshops
October 15, 2020
With October in full swing, the holidays will be upon us before you know it. The holiday season is one of the most stressful times
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Celebrating Fall Blessings
October 9, 2020
Fall is a wonderful season that encourages us to celebrate the bounty in life. It’s known for enjoying the abundance of the harvest as we
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Phasic, Not Basic
October 2, 2020
As the days are becoming shorter and we no longer experience these heat waves, it is time to acknowledge the transition towards a new season.
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Loving and Loyal Supporters
September 23, 2020
The staff and volunteers at Angela House would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all those who participated in this year’s Walk of
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Conquering COVID
September 23, 2020
You might imagine this to be the toughest time to be a nurse. But for Nanette Davis, who has been a nurse for three years,
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