The recently dedicated Kathy Pierce Memorial Park blooms with love, remembrance and renewal on the grounds of the VNA Hospice House in honor of Pierce’s unrelenting devotion to the VNA & Hospice Foundation.
“Thank you for coming out today to honor Kathy Pierce and her family,” said Michelle Deschane, VNA director of development, welcoming the gathering of friends and family to the tranquil sanctuary.
“I would like to thank all of you, the donors to this project. Your financial support made it possible for the VNA to purchase this incredibly important piece of property in order to protect the future of the VNA Hospice House,” said Deschane.
Referencing the Pierce family legacy of support, Deschane explained that while Leo and Peggy Pierce had been longtime supporters of the VNA and Hospice Foundation, it wasn’t until Peggy’s health began to decline that Kathy became involved in earnest after seeing the amazing hospice care Peggy received.
In 2002, when VNA founder Ann Marie McCrystal reached out to Leo Pierce asking for his support of a Promises Made Promises to Keep Hospice House Endowment Campaign, Deschane said it was Kathy who convinced the family to donate $1 million from the Leo and Peggy Pierce Family Foundation, providing the lead gift to the campaign.
Pierce soon joined the VNA and Hospice Foundation Board as a director and served on several committees.
“Whenever there was a need, Kathy stepped in to fill it,” said Deschane.
When the opportunity arose to purchase the piece of property they had been leasing from the district, she said Pierce was passionate about ensuring that enough money was raised to support the cause.
Although Pierce passed away before seeing the VNA take ownership, her husband, Michael Pierce, turned his efforts toward fulfilling her wishes. Leading the way with a donation of $1.7 million, Michael called on the Pierce Family Foundation, friends, family members and others to support the land purchase.
“Thank you for taking the time to come out and celebrate this wonderful day, honoring Kathy and all the work she did with the VNA over her 20 years of service. I think she’s smiling down upon us today because she gave us a Chamber of Commerce kind of day for this celebration and dedication,” said Michael Pierce.
“Just prior to her getting sick, she said it was vital to make sure we can purchase the land the VNA Hospice House sat upon, because she wanted to ensure the future of the Hospice House and to make sure they were going to be able to carry on and be safe and own the land that they sat on,” he added.
Before adjourning for refreshments, everyone gathered at the front of the VNA Hospice House.
There, a TurtleTrax sculpture, part of a campaign for another of Kathy’s favored charities, the Mental Health Association, has been erected. The turtle was painted by Barbara Sharp with imagery reflecting Kathy’s varied interests.
Reflecting on some of the images, Michael Pierce admitted that while researching Kathy’s life, he discovered a few things he hadn’t previously known, such as her 12-year perfect attendance record in school and that she played the violin.
The VNA provides compassionate care for patients and caregivers needing home health, hospice and community health services, including the uninsured and underinsured, ensuring healthcare access to all.
For more information, visit vnatc.com.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
