05/09/2026
For Fred, one of our patients at the Hospice, being able to visit his beloved wife Jean’s grave was a deeply personal and important final wish.
Jean sadly died last year, and since then Fred had been living alone. He never expected to have the opportunity to visit her grave again. Fred was admitted to our In-Patient Unit through the Hospice Rapid Access Service, and after sharing his memories and photographs of Jean with our team, it became clear just how much this visit would mean to him.
On 1st September, with a collective effort from our teams, we helped Fred make the journey to Jean’s grave in South Ockendon. Ken, from our Corporate Services team, drove Fred and Health Care Assistant Pauline to the cemetery, where they spent time together in quiet reflection and prayer. It was an incredibly emotional and meaningful moment.
Speaking about the visit, Fred said: “I am so grateful for this as it’s the last thing I can do for Jean."
Reflecting on his time at the Hospice, Fred also shared: “There have been so many good things coming here but being with people is lovely and I don’t feel so lonely now.”
Fred’s experience is a beautiful reminder that hospice care is about the whole person - listening to what matters most, supporting independence and helping people make precious memories with the people and places they love. 💙
