When the end of life approaches, families often find themselves in uncharted emotional territory, grappling with fear, confusion, and sorrow. Yet for one family, the final days that their beloved, Eleanor Hoffmann, spent in VNA Hospice House were filled with peace. “There was nothing we could have asked for and nothing more we could have expected,” Eleanor’s son, Bruce Hoffmann, said. “Everything was done to such satisfaction that the end of life went as easily as possible.” Those words, spoken from the heart, echo the gratitude that the family continues to feel for the care their loved one received from VNA Hospice.
The journey to VNA Hospice House began just a week before Christmas. Eleanor, a devout Catholic in her eighties, had been hospitalized at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital with severe, unexplained diarrhea. Doctors searched for answers, and when tests revealed a cyst, it was sent for pathology. Her condition worsened quickly, prompting her son Kurt to fly in from Arkansas after hearing that “something seriously wrong” was happening with his mother.
After the exploratory surgery, the pathology results came back: Eleanor had advanced cancer, likely undiagnosed for a long time. The diagnosis came as a shock, leaving the family stunned but resolved to focus on her comfort. “We didn’t ask any other questions,” her sister, Sappho Fredericks, recalled. “We just knew what needed to be done next.” Soon after, the hospital arranged for Eleanor’s transfer to the VNA Hospice House.
She arrived on Christmas Eve.
When Eleanor entered her room, she was fully aware — bright-eyed, observant, and immediately struck by the serenity around her. “Oh, what is this wonderful place?” she exclaimed. “I’m so happy to be here. This is beautiful.”
A priest soon arrived to pray with her. “How blessed I am,” she said softly. “The priest is here, and I’m in this beautiful place. How fortunate I am.”
Her family remembers that moment vividly: the relief in her voice, the joy that replaced fear. “We couldn’t have felt better,” Sappho said. “She was comfortable, she wasn’t in pain, and she felt cared for in every possible way.”
In the days that followed, the family witnessed what true compassion in care looks like. Every need was met with immediacy and empathy. “If you called anyone, they were right there,” Sappho said. “Eleanor said she was uncomfortable once, and immediately someone came and placed a pillow between her knees. Then she was fine.”
The hospice staff didn’t just tend to Eleanor — they also cared for her family. “They asked what we would like for lunch,” Sappho recalled, still touched by the kindness. “We were taken aback. They told us, ‘Please help yourself to the drinks in the refrigerator, and if you need anything, let us know.’ We felt so looked after.”
Music therapy was another unexpected blessing. A musician came in to play gentle tunes, filling the room with peace. “You could almost see her relax. It was so calming. She looked serene,” said Sappho.
Though Eleanor’s decline came quickly — she passed just a week after her arrival — her final days were marked by dignity and tranquility. On day two, she was still communicative, smiling and acknowledging her family. By the third day, her condition had worsened; by the fourth, she had slipped into unconsciousness. “She didn’t know we were there,” her sister said quietly, “but we knew she wasn’t in pain. She was at peace.”
On New Year’s Eve, surrounded by love, Eleanor took her final breath. Her family was with her, praying and speaking words of comfort. “I went over to her, and I said, ‘Eleanor, you know how much we all love you. It’s time for you to let go and go with God, to be with everyone who went before you.’ And you could see she was relieved,” recounted Sappho.
In the days following Eleanor’s passing, her family found comfort in gratitude. Kurt, one of her children from Arkansas, had been allowed to sleep at VNA Hospice House, staying by her side until the very end. “Fortunately, he was there,” his aunt said. “He didn’t have to worry. He knew his mother was safe and cared for.”
The family’s gratitude was so deep that they made a generous donation to the VNA Hospice House in Eleanor’s memory. “We couldn’t have been more thankful,” said Sappho. “Not only for the care shown to my sister but for the care and concern shown to us. It was wonderful.”
She often reflects on the staff’s quiet strength and empathy. “I don’t know how they manage to do what they do,” she said. “The compassion they show, it must come from the Lord. I prayed every day for those taking care of her because they needed as much of God’s strength as I did.”
Eleanor’s passing was quick, gentle, and filled with love, a blessing her family cherishes. “I say thank you, Lord, for taking us so quickly,” Sappho said. “She didn’t linger. She wasn’t suffering.”
Sappho’s experience has since inspired her to share a message with others who may face the loss of a loved one: “If anyone has to go through something like this, they couldn’t ask for more than what VNA Hospice gives. They help you through the most difficult time with such tenderness that it becomes a peaceful experience instead of a painful one.”
