Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Vivian Medley, and I am one of Stephen Medley’s daughters. My Dad was a resident at Carpenter Hospice from September 28 to October 28, 2024.
Dad was a true gentleman known for his wonderful humour and family love. A successful businessman, he was a proud third-generation Hamiltonian who had called Burlington home for 30 years.
While difficult, his final month was filled with family, connection, and care—more than we ever expected.
This is our story of how we challenged ourselves to help raise important funds for Carpenter Hospice.
Care and Compassion
When Dad came to Carpenter Hospice, we weren’t sure what to expect. But from the moment we walked through the doors, we were all embraced by kindness and compassion.
While we struggled daily to understand Dad’s reality, we were incredibly grateful for the many beautiful moments we experienced there. One that stands out is listening to the angelic voice of Avalon, the Hospice Music Therapist. Particularly moving for our family was her performance of Danny Boy during our Dad’s honour guard on the day of his passing.
Dad also had a lovely connection with Deborah, a volunteer from Belfast, which was the same place Dad’s mother came from before immigrating to Canada as a young woman. Deborah shared many light-hearted moments with him. One day, as she was going home, she told Dad that upon her return for her next shift, she wanted to hear about all the shenanigans happening in his room! We all laughed, particularly Dad. It felt so good to laugh.
Of course, the warm, welcoming volunteers whose friendly greetings and goodbyes at the front door and the delicious homemade treats fresh from the oven truly felt like a big, warm hug.
Our family was especially touched by the Thanksgiving dinner prepared for residents and their families and the opportunity to wheel Dad outside in his bed on a crisp and sunny fall day. He looked around and said, “It’s glorious.” That moment captured it all. It was a gift to all of us.
Around the Bay
On March 30 of this year, my daughter, Lily, and I challenged ourselves to run the 30 km Around the Bay Road Race to raise funds for Carpenter Hospice, which provided exceptional care when we needed it most.
We named the event “Running with Gratitude” in honour of my Dad, Mr. Stephen Medley- the husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.
The race passed through Hamilton and Burlington, both cities Dad called home, so it seemed most fitting that we chose this race to honour Dad.
Over the four months of training – Lily in Nelson, BC, and me here locally – we found the training provided focused time to remember Dad and Lily’s Grandpa, which made us feel close to him in our own ways. Although apart, it truly helped us process our grief together.
Dad’s passing has left a monumental hole in our hearts, and the grieving continues. We are so thankful for the compassionate care and support Dad (and all of us!) received during his final month. It made the worst situation more manageable, and we are forever grateful for the amazing staff and volunteers at Carpenter Hospice.
We are proud to share that the “Running with Gratitude” team raised over $5,600 to support other families at Carpenter Hospice! Thank you to everyone who supported us on this journey. We are forever grateful.
~ Lily Mark, Vivian Medley, and Family
