|
Hospice event brings joy to former Osage teacher
by Warren Haacke, Press-News Reporter
November is National Hospice/Palliative Care Month. There are 90 different hospice services available in the state of Iowa offering a wide range of services to patients and families dealing with "life-limiting or terminal illnesses."
Hospice organizations strive to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of patients and families in a variety of ways.
Iowa Hospice, one of the 90 services available in the state, organized a "special moment" for one of their patients on Tuesday, November 18.
Sarah Garbes, an Iowa Hospice social worker and Val Williams, Iowa Hospice Care Consultant and Marketing/Education Director collaborated with some special people to bring some added joy into the life of patient Phyllis Watson.
Watson, a former long-time Home Economics teacher in the Osage School system who has been a resident of Faith Lutheran Home in Osage for 2 1/2 years, had mentioned to Garbes on several occasions just how much she missed the school, her former workers and the children.
One of Iowa Hospice's goals is to provide services to help patients and their families cherish the goodness of each and every day and also appreciate the memories of the past.
With that goal in mind, Garbes set the wheels in motion with the help of Williams, to find a way to bring back some past fond memories of the school setting for Watson.
Garbes contacted Janean Kolbet, Osage Consumer Science teacher. Kolbet and Watson had taught together for eight years in Osage.
"She was my mentor and was there for me when I had questions about where to find things, how things were done, suggestions and advice concerning lesson plans, and how to handle discipline problems those first difficult years teaching," said Kolbet. "She also came back to teach for me when I was on maternity leave with our daughter."
Kolbet continued, "Val Williams contacted me on November 10th at home and wondered if Iowa Hospice could come to the school and take some pictures of the Family and Consumer Sciences room to show to Mrs. Watson. She was also wondering if I had any students that would like to spend time with her and some other people at the Faith Lutheran Home.
"I was then contacted by Sarah Garbes from Hospice and we set up a time for myself and my Homebase students to visit," said Kolbet. "I visited with my fourteen 7th grade Homebase students that I see everyday and asked them if this was something they would like to do," said Kolbet. "We all decided to go visit as part of our community service/special activity for the week."
"When we got to the Faith Home, Mrs. Watson's daughter told us how her mother was a Home Economics teacher for 30 years and I added how I taught with her my first eight years of teaching and how she was my mentor those first rough years of teaching," Kolbet related."
Kolbet continued, "I told Mrs. Watson how our name has changed to Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) now. Each student introduced themselves and told what their favorite area of FCS is or what their favorite activity in FCS has been. We then watched a DVD of the FCS department while I narrated. We showed both rooms that Mrs. Watson had taught in and viewed some of the activities that took place in each room."
"I can not say enough good about Iowa Hospice since my own family had experienced their kindness, expertise, and dedication earlier this year," added Kolbet. "They were available anytime day or night. They offered extended stays so family could have needed time away. They came to do physical checks, made recommendations to doctors, would help with bathing, medications, etc. They were also there to help with the grieving process."
"I think it was a wonderful idea to bring Mrs. Watson's former career back to her through pictures and current students," Kolbet said. "She was a wonderful teacher who taught many students how to live independently and balance work and family.
Talking with my Homebase students, we are now thinking of making our visit with Mrs. Watson a weekly event."
"Mom taught Home Economics for 30 years," said daughter Joan. "Mom and dad moved to Osage in 1967 so that both could teach in the same system. My dad, Norm taught Industrial Arts at Osage until he retired."
Joan continued, "Prior to that we lived as a family in Humboldt and mom and dad taught in different towns. Mom taught in Laverne and dad taught in Gilmore City and we as children attended school in Humboldt. It was kind of crazy."
"When my parents had the opportunity to teach in the same school system they jumped at the chance," said Joan.
"Mom was kind of a pioneer in some ways in the field of Home Economics," Joan stated. "She drove her own bus on field trips with students and she was the first Home Economics teacher in Osage to have boys take the class. She was very involved with school and loved her students and fellow teachers."
Joan continued, "We have been just overwhelmed with the support and kindness offered to mom by the Faith Lutheran Home and Iowa Hospice. For Iowa Hospice to do this for mom is really special."
"Iowa Hospice has not only offered mom and our family support in so many ways, they have offered some special touches too," said Joan. "They have done some things with music therapy and massage that have been especially meaningful."
"One day mom was involved in some music therapy and massage at the same time," said Joan. "Since we are a very musical family anyway, those two things created a little "heaven on earth" for her.
You could see the joy on the faces of Phyllis Watson and her daughter Joan. The opportunity to meet with Kolbet and her students did indeed bring back some good memories of the past.
Garbes and Williams were also beaming as they watched the interaction that was taking place between the Watson's and Kolbet and her students. Their mission of love and kindness was complete.
Story created Nov 25, 2008 - 11:11:25 CST.
|
