Matt Evans of Duncannon lived his life with passion and purpose. He enjoyed rooting for the Tennessee Volunteers football team, making his famous chili for family and friends, and playing golf and video games. Undeniably, his greatest love was his wife Kathy, son Brady, age 12, and daughter Taryn, age 13.

Matt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in August 2017 and died in February 2018. After spending much of December 2017 in the hospital, Matt came home on New Year’s Eve under the care of Homeland Hospice, a hospice program that serves communities throughout Central Pennsylvania.

Through Homeland Hospice, Matt received nursing care and assistance, medical equipment and message therapy to help manage his symptoms. This support helped Matt spend every precious moment with his family.

“Our family created a strong bond with Matt’s nurse Brianna Schriner,” Kathy says. “We couldn’t have asked for a better person to support our family during this difficult time.”

Homeland Hospice Bereavement Counselor, Brian Medkeff-Rose with Brady.

A month before Matt died, Homeland connected the Evans family to pre-bereavement counseling with Brian Medkeff-Rose, M.Div., M.A., Bereavement Counselor at Homeland Hospice. Brian continued to meet with Brady and Taryn after the death of their father.

“Brian makes it easy to talk about our dad,” Taryn says. “He let’s us know that its okay to cry.”

During their conversations with Brian, Brady and Taryn enjoy talking about topics they once shared with their dad like sports, video games and books.

“Grieving young people are attempting to cope with so many changes in their lives,” Brian says. “I have always been impressed with their courage, and consider it a privilege to be part of their lives along their way toward healing.”

Before his death, Matt passed along treasured gifts of significance to his children. He gave Taryn DVDs of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, a collection of documentary-style sports stories. For Brady, he bestowed his cherished golf bag. These gifts serve as reminders of precious memories Brady and Taryn made with their father and the valuable life lessons they learned from him.

Two days prior to Matt’s death, he was able to participate in a rite of passage for his son. Brady had completed his Cub Scout requirements and was scheduled to officially “bridge over” to Boy Scouts in the spring of 2018. Brady’s den leaders organized a special bridging ceremony at the Evans’ home so Matt could personally pin Brady with his Boy Scout pin, marking this important crossover in Scouting.

“It was surprising to see my dad cry,” Brady says. “It’s a special memory I will never forget.”

Homeland Hospice’s bereavement support program is available to the bereaved of Homeland’s patients as well as anyone in the community who is experiencing grief. Bereavement support is available through phone calls, mailings, one-on-one consultations and support groups up to 13 months after the death of a loved one. Pre-bereavement counseling is also available for children and teens.

To learn more, please contact Brian Medkeff-Rose at Homeland Hospice at (717) 221-7890.

Among his countless accomplishments, Bob Poiesz of Mechanicsburg was a proud father and husband with a quick wit and contagious sense of humor. His belief in living each moment to its fullest created an atmosphere of love, laughter and hope during his end-of-life journey.

Rhonda Rush, LPN, with Homeland Hospice, connected with the Poiesz family during the final stages of Bob’s battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Her first day, Valentine’s Day of 2016, became an important anniversary for Rhonda and the Poiesz family. Bob insisted they mark the occasion with anniversary parties each month.

“Bob was a social guy who loved to tell stories,” says Bob’s wife Cathy. “He felt respected and connected to Rhonda and the Homeland staff.”

During their time together, Bob frequently shared photos of his three children with Rhonda and told her about their activities and successes. As Bob’s illness progressed and he became unable to speak with the many friends that visited, he would give Rhonda “the look” so she could show the photos and repeat the stories he had once told her.

“We grew to think of Rhonda as family,” says Cindy Poiesz, Bob’s daughter. “Her presence helped create a sense of normality for us. We needed this support as the rest of our world was changing.”

The special bond Rhonda and the Poiesz family created helped sustain the family during the progression of Bob’s disease and the final days of his life.

“Homeland helped Bob keep his dignity,” Cathy adds. “Rhonda was my rock. She helped us find our way through some very dark days.”

More than a year after Bob’s death, he continues to have a positive impact in the lives of others. At Bob’s urging, Rhonda is pursing her degree to become a registered nurse. She keeps a photo of Bob on her desk to motivate her when she is overwhelmed by the coursework.

“Bob became a mentor and cheerleader to me,” Rhonda says. “He encouraged me to grow my career and take on new challenges.”

Rhonda also uses the experiences she learned from caring for Bob to help other Homeland patients battling ALS.

Homeland provides a full continuum of services to care for patients, and to support families, as their needs change.

Homeland Hospice teams are comprised of a registered nurse case manager, hospice medical director, attending physician, volunteer coordinator, social workers, counselors, home health aides and others. All team members are patient and family-focused.

For more information, call Homeland Hospice at (717) 221-7890.