PORT ST. LUCIE — Director of Volunteer Services for Treasure Coast Hospice Lisa Gunggoll recently joined Board Chairwoman and former staff member Eileen Emery at the Gardens of Port St. Lucie Senior Living Facility.
There, they spent time with resident Gerry Cornell in what became a truly memorable occasion.
Cornell moved from Michigan for the sunshine of the Treasure Coast in 1956, where she worked as a nurse for many years. Her mom affectionately called her “Nurse Gerry” since she was three years old. Even at such a young age, she knew she wanted to work to help people heal and feel better.
In 2009, Cornell traveled back to Michigan to stay with her sister, who had entered hospice. There, she learned of a program in which hospice families could request a handcrafted teddy bear made from the fabric of their loved one’s favorite item of clothing.
Cornell requested the sewing pattern for the bear and brought it back to the Treasure Coast, determined to make a difference here. And so, her labor of love and giving back to the community began!
Over the years, Cornell handcrafted more than 100 Memory Bears for Treasure Coast Hospice patients and families. On the day of the visit at the Port St. Lucie Gardens, Cornell proudly presented an album filled with photos of those bears, each stitched with love, care, and compassion. The album is a beautiful gift, returning a piece of her legacy that had brought comfort to so many grieving families.
The number of hours Cornell invested over the years is immeasurable. In addition to sewing machine work, the meticulous hand stitching took countless hours.
”It was an act of love that gave me great pleasure,” said Cornell.
With tears in her eyes, she recounted creating a bear for a two-year-old’s family. She even made a small quilt for it to sit on. She also recalled the last bear that she crafted. “I made it from a red and white checkered shirt and stitched a designer label on the front.”
Ironically, that bear was made for Eileen Emery, who lost her son in 2015. “My son loved his designer labels, so it meant the world to me,” she said.
Today, thanks to the dedication of talented volunteers in the community like Gerry, the program remains an important source of comfort for Treasure Coast Hospice families.
For more information about the Memory Bear & Pillow Program or to volunteer, visit TreasureHealth.org.