If Claire were here she would say that sometimes being remembered is all that’s needed to die well.

Claire was an elderly patient in a local nursing home when Hospice was called in on her case. Her husband had died a few years earlier and her only remaining relatives – her mother and aunt – lived eight hours away and were too sick to visit. Claire was, essentially, alone – and dying.

When Barbara, the Hospice volunteer coordinator, made her first visit to Claire she explained that volunteers would stop by on a daily basis just to visit and offer companionship. With that, Claire began to cry. Concerned, Barbara asked if the idea of having visitors disturbed her.

Claire shook her head and spoke through broken sobs, saying, “I’m not afraid of dying. I’m afraid that I will die and no one will know that I’ve lived.”

Claire’s pain at the thought of being forgotten tugged mightily on the heart strings of the Hospice team undertaking her care, so extra effort was expended to make sure that as many volunteers as possible would visit the gentle woman every day. In addition, nurses, chaplains, and, of course, Barbara, made it a point to drop in whenever they were in the neighborhood, and it seemed they were in the neighborhood more often than usual.

Claire smiled a lot, and her smile, agreed her Hospice “family,” was something very special.

As Claire grew weaker and weaker, her death being imminent, Barbara began to schedule the “light brigade” – a steady stream of volunteers who each spend a period of time with a patient to ensure that they are never alone as they journey toward death.

Audrey was a new volunteer and first-time “light brigader” when she began to visit Claire at the nursing home. Since Audrey and Claire were both of the same faith, Audrey thought it might be comforting to say some prayers. As she began reciting them, she realized she had forgotten most of the words. But the prayers jogged her memory of childhood days and brought back the melodies and words of some favorite hymns.

Bending close to Claire’s ear, Audrey began to sing softly. Though Claire was nearlycomatose, an engaging smile spread across her face. Cupping Claire’s face softly between her hands, Audrey said slowly and lovingly so Claire could hear, “You have the most beautiful smile. I will never forget you as long as I live.”

With those words, Claire died peacefully.