Brady Levola died from cancer at Maison McCulloch Hospice in 2023. Today, his family, grateful for the compassionate care their son received, is leading a Christmas wishlist campaign to support the region’s only palliative care facility
Maison McCulloch Hospice holds a special place in the hearts of many people in the region. As the only palliative care facility in the area, many local families have said goodbye to their loved ones inside the walls of the building overlooking Bethel Lake.
Now, one Sudbury family who was touched by the compassionate care their child received at Maison McCulloch is hosting a Christmas wishlist campaign to secure much-needed supplies for the facility.
“Many people are unaware that hospices rely heavily on community generosity to provide small but meaningful comforts — such as blankets, toiletries, and general items — that make a real difference to those spending their final days in care,” Anita Levola told Sudbury.com. “Our goal is to ensure that every item on the hospice’s wishlist is fulfilled.”
Levola knows first-hand the kind of care people receive at the hospice. Her son, Brady, was just 22 when he died from cancer in 2023. He spent his final 38 days at Maison McCulloch Hospice.
“Before Brady’s admission, our family had no experience with hospice care — and, like many, we carried the weight of the negative stigma that so often surrounds it. What we discovered, however, could not have been further from that misconception,” Levola said.
“From the moment we arrived, the hospice opened its arms to Brady and our entire family. The care he — and all of us — received was truly incomparable. They created a space where he was not just a patient, but still Brady. The doctors, nurses, and staff went above and beyond in every way — caring not only for Brady’s medical needs but also for his spirit, his joy, and his identity. They allowed him to continue being himself, even at the very end.”
Sudbury.com also asked Levola to tell readers a bit about her son.
“Brady was young and vibrant — the living version of a rainbow stretched across a quiet sky,” his mother said. “There was something unmistakably magical about him, as if colour followed wherever he went. In his presence, ordinary moments brightened, heavy days felt lighter, and people found themselves believing in little wonders again. Brady didn’t just enter a room; he illuminated it, a soft, shimmering reminder that beauty can appear in unexpected places and that some souls are simply born to brighten the world.”
You can read more about Brady Levola in a story Anita wrote for Sudbury.com last year. You can read that here.
Because of the care they received and the constant need the hospice has for community support, the Levola family have launched a wishlist campaign to gather much-needed supplied the hospice relies upon.
“Palliative care matters because no one should face their hardest moments alone. In Sudbury, where our community is close-knit and our families often care for loved ones across long distances, palliative care becomes even more vital,” she said.
“Strengthening palliative care in Sudbury means honouring our neighbours, parents, partners, and friends. It means ensuring that every person, no matter where they live or what they’re facing, can receive compassionate support rooted in dignity, comfort, and community. Because at the end of life, what matters most is being cared for — and cared about.”
Ashley Bertrand, the director of the Sudbury Hospice Foundation, said the campaign launched by Anita and her family is very needed and much appreciated.
“On behalf of the Sudbury Hospice Foundation, I want to express our profound gratitude to Anita for her continued courage and compassion in honouring her son Brady’s memory,” Bertrand wrote. “Despite the immense loss her family has endured, she has remained a powerful advocate for hospice care in our community. Her efforts to raise awareness about the Hospice’s Christmas Wishlist — along with the need for monetary donations — shine a vital light on how deeply we rely on community generosity.
“We are humbled by her dedication, and we extend our heartfelt support to her and her family. Initiatives like this truly help ensure that every resident and family receives the warmth, dignity, and comfort they deserve during life’s most difficult moments. Wishing you all a joyful Holiday Season, and with heartfelt thanks for your generous contributions and dedication to Hospice.”
Levola said businesses can join firms like Weaver Simmons which fundraises internally for the hospice every November.
“We are forever grateful to Maison McCulloch Hospice, and we will continue to support them however we can as a thank you for everything they did for Brady and for our family,” Levola said. “We want our community to know just how incredible this hospice truly is and to help bring awareness to the importance of palliative care. Maison McCulloch Hospice is not a place of despair — it’s a place of compassion, dignity, and love, and it changed our lives.”
The Levola’s wishlist campaign for Maison McCulloch Hospice runs until Dec. 31. An image in the photo gallery at the top of this story contains the complete list.
People can drop off donations at the hospice from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Donors are also invited to contact the hospice to make other arrangements if those times are not convenient. Email [email protected].