About Us
Our mission
Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County provides free, confidential, non-medical support and assistance to those at the end of life, their families, and the bereaved, and offers education on these end-of-life decisions and bereavement within the community.
Staff
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Three decades ago, I moved to this beautiful part of Maine from the UK and made Monroe my home.
For the past 20 years at HVOWC, I have had the deep privilege of helping hundreds of people in their final days, and to witness the journey of bereavement of those left behind.
As a community organizer, I have been lucky to wear many hats, whether it is arranging for a patient’s bedside vigil, listening to a heart-wrenching story of loss, organizing support for nursing home staff in the pandemic, or arranging for a long-lost son to fly in and reconcile with a parent. This is all made possible by our deep bench of gracious volunteers who accept the challenge. We share the understanding that death afflicts us all, but it brings us closer in what really matters in life.
I am continually inspired by the strength of our community expressed by the hundreds of volunteers I have been fortunate to train with. Every day I see their generosity, kindness, and creativity as they go about their daily acts of compassion and caring in the service of the people of Waldo County. This is what keeps me going.
Board
Jane Beers
Board President
Jane moved to Belfast eight years ago and has been active with Hospice Volunteers since the first week she moved here. Professionally, she has been the Volunteer Coordinator for two different hospice organizations in Maine and Maryland. She has also served on several non-profit boards and before moving to Maine was the director of a free clinic in Indiana. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo College and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management from the University of Maryland.
Jane has been the President of the Board for six years and is active as a hospice patient volunteer as well as supporting the organization administratively. She is active in the community, is the host of the High Street Little Free Garden and works part time at the Belfast Free Library.
Amy Smith
Board Member
Amy is from Lincolnville and is married to her highschool sweetheart. Together they have three children and four grandchildren. Professionally, she has worked for Goodwill Workforce Solutions, a program that helps youths with barriers find employment opportunities. She was the assistant director of the Hutchinson Center where she served as an academic advisor. She currently works at the University of Southern Maine as a Senior Lecturer in History. She holds a Phd in History from the University of Maine and a master’s degree in Writing and Literacy from the University of Maine.
Amy is new to the Board this year. She has been active in the community through the Midcoast Leadership Academy, and currently enjoys serving as a Meal on Wheels volunteer.
Rae Ann Beach
Board Treasurer
Rae Ann Beach and her husband, Kevin Dean, moved to Stockton Springs from Denver, Colorado in 2017. Rae Ann holds bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry from Metropolitan State University of Denver and an MBA from University of Phoenix. Her professional career began as the prenatal supervisor in the cytogenetic laboratory at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. In 2016 Rae Ann retired from Compass Bank where she was a risk management officer.
Prior to relocating to Maine, she volunteered for several non-profit organizations including Habitat for Humanity and Neighborhood Partners. Currently Rae Ann serves as a district leader for the AARP Tax Aide Program. She has been the Treasurer of the Board of Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County for three years.
Polly Shyka
Board Member
Polly Shyka has been a volunteer with HVOWC since 2017 and a board member since 2021. She is a farm business owner (Villageside Farm of Freedom) and works on a federal grant addressing farmer mental health. She will be ordained in spring 2023 by the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine as an Interfaith Chaplain and is looking forward to a second career in spiritual care in institutions and the Midcoast Maine community.
Sandy Mattson
Board Secretary
Sandy has lived and worked as a Registered Nurse in the Waldo County area since 1989. Prior to that, she was a nurse in the Air Force for 10 years. She recently retired from Waldo County General Hospital after working as a Nurse Supervisor for 27 years. She has always had a passion for hospice nursing and is a strong advocate for hospice care for patients and their families in Waldo County.
She enjoys reading and spending time out in nature: particularly hiking and kayaking. She is an active hospice volunteer and patient advocate offering her perspective and experience with those she has served in her role as a nurse.
Jean Ashland
Board Member
Jean Ashland is a hospital chaplain at Waldo County General Hospital and a resident of Belfast. She has been a board member of Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County since 2016. Jean frequently assists with training our hospice volunteers and is our volunteer Spiritual Care Coordinator. In addition, Jean is a member of the Greater Bay Area Ministerium (GBAM) and currently serves on the Waldo County Recovery Committee as the GBAM representative.
Grant Funders
Our work is made possible by the generous support of the following:
Partner Organizations
Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County believes strongly in the power of community and relationships. We are honored to partner in service with the following organizations:
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Partner Organizations (A - L)
Aging Well In Waldo County
Belfast Area Chamber of Commerce
Belfast Area Friends Meeting
Belfast Area Rotary Club
Belfast Bay Fiddlers
Belfast Coop
Belfast Flying Shoes
Belfast Free Library
Belfast Lions Club
Belfast Police Department
Belfast Public Health Nurse
Belfast United Methodist Church
Carver Memorial Library
City of Belfast
Department of Veterans Affairs
First Church in Belfast
First Congregational Church of Searsport
Friendship Sampler Quilters
Greater Belfast Area Ministerium
Hammond Lumber Company
Harbor Hill Center
HeartSong
High Street Graphics
Liberty Library
Little River Redemption
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Partner Organizations (M - Z)
Maine Hospice Council
Paddling the Rapids, Deb Burwell
Palermo Community Center
Penobscot Shores Retirement Community
Pica
Riposta Funeral Home
RSU 71
RSU 3
RSU 20
Sandy Point Congregational Church
Senior College at Belfast
St. Francis of Assisi Church
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church
Stockton Springs Community Library
Tall Pines Health Care Community
Towns of Waldo County
UCC Lincolnville
United Methodist Church, Belfast
Unitarian Universalist Church, Belfast
University of Maine at Orono
Unity Barn Raisers
Unity Area Rotary Club
Villageside Farm
Support our work
Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County is an independent non-profit organization funded by the generous donations of our community.
Volunteer companions in times of illness, dying and grief.
Talk with us
In Waldo County, no one need die or grieve alone. Please reach out to us so we can support you. We will try to get back to you within 24-48 hours.
207-505-4434 | Email
HVOWC, PO Box 772, Belfast, Maine 04915