Wendy Taylor was all too familiar with the services and help offered by the 91Ô­´´ Hospice Society.

"Hospice was there when my Dad died at home; they sat vigil with my brother; and my dear friend was in the Abbotsford Hospice at the end of her life," said the guest speaker at the society's Glass Half Full event Friday, Nov. 22.

It was the trauma of her husband's death that would show her the value of hospice services.

"In 2016 after many strokes, heart attacks and open heart surgery, Steve had a massive stroke that left him immobile and unable to speak; he was able to give thumbs up or thumbs down when he understood the question or situation," Taylor said.

Her husband of more than four decades eventually had to go into a care home around 2019.

Then COVID struck. There were tight restrictions on seeing him but when the end was near, she stayed with him.

"I was able to be with Steve for 40 hours before he died on July 14, 2020," she said.

Unable to stop crying, she was told that people told her she was depressed and should go on medication.

Taylor was searching everywhere online for grief support and each time, the 91Ô­´´ Hospice Society popped up. But Steve hadn't died in hospice so she assumed the society wasn't for her.

After being unable to find help, she left an emotional message with hospice and that's when she found support beyond anything she could have expected.

"I was in a fog; I could not stop crying and knew I needed help. Soon after, I received a call from Linda Sheridan, the adult bereavement coordinator. She offered to book me an appointment to come and meet with her," Taylor said. "She said hospice is there to help anyone who needs grief support; what a relief to hear her voice."

Lockdowns and social distancing impacted how she could participate but she had several one-on-one sessions as well as gropu support meetings. She was able to borrow books from hospice.

"I found out I was not depressed … I was grieving. I was carrying so much inside of me and I found relief saying the words out loud and comforted that I was not being judged for what I said or felt," she noted.

She participated in the Coping with Grief through the Holidays workshop on Zoom when she faced her first Christmas without Steve.

"I joined the Supportive Steps Walking Group, where we walk weekly and chat, and get together for coffee afterwards. During these walks there may be some tears but no judgment and lots of times you will hear laughter," Taylor added. "There is also a 10-week grief support program that is impactful and healing. Every Friday I attend yoga offered by Lindsay and Nova as they volunteer their service to 91Ô­´´ Hospice. It has taught me to breathe and relax, another part of my grief work."

Eventually Taylor reached a point where she wanted to give back, touching people's lives through hospice as hers had been touched.

"I have volunteered at fundraisers, at the Doug and Fran MacDonald 91Ô­´´ Hospice Residence, with our memorial event, Walk to Remember and now, I spend my volunteer hours assisting with the Adult Bereavement Support Programs through the Supportive Program Centre and in the community," she said.

Taylor said her heart is in the adult bereavement where she hopes to help others as she was helped.

"Hospice is truly a gift to me," she stressed. "I have found out who I am, what I want and how to continue moving forward with so much support behind me. I know I could not be where I am today with out 91Ô­´´ Hospice Society and all the wonderful staff, volunteers and participants."

In addition to hearing about Taylor's unique hospice journey, those attending the Friday evening fundraiser would learn about the hospice wish tree which had tags for items needed by the society. There were also silent and live auctions, a drink station, gourmet treats, and more. Guests enjoyed their beverages in handcrafted take-home tumblers created by local potters from the Fraser Valley Potters Guild.

The sold-out event saw more than 100 guests in attendance in the Hangar at Harrison Pointe, for this year’s event which raised more than $25,000.

Some of the donations are earmarked for items that were on the Wish Tree, that includes a donation of $2,500 from Shawn Siak for the installation of a resource library for families, staff and volunteers at the Doug and Fran MacDonald 91Ô­´´ Hospice Residence; and an $850 donation from Nicole and James Marshall to provide a new cooktop for the Cooking Together Program," explained Shannon Todd Booth, the hospice executive director.

Other designated gifts will help provide training and resources for our bereavement support programs including: grief journals, resource books, a hand drum for the children's program, and more.

Todd Booth said the success of the event is due to the support of many.

Harrison Pointe owners Lucas Giuriato and his sister, Mikaela, of the Giuriato Group, donated the space and the food for the event, and sponsors support hospice through the silent and live auction and the beverage stations. Chef Mike McMeekin and the culinary team at Harrison Pointe created gourmet fare that was served with the help of the 91Ô­´´ Hospice Society Volunteers.