Chaplain Mark Hensman of the Rotary Hospice House retires.
On September 20th, 2024, the Rotary Club of Richmond paid a visit to our friends at partners at the Rotary Hospice House to wish Chaplain Mark Hensman well on his next endeavor at his retirement party.
The Rotary Club of Richmond has a long history with the Rotary Hospice House, and Mark has been the long - time Chaplain. He has offered spiritual guidance to countless families here in Richmond.
Long time Rotarians such as Nancy Yurkovich spoke at the retirement party. Members such as Nancy were involved in the original development of the site.
The Rotary Club of Richmond has a special connection with the Rotary Hospice House. Over 27 years ago individuals in our community wanted to embrace a philosophy of hospice and palliative care. They initiated the idea of a community-based, free-standing, 10 bed hospice in Richmond.
This was based on the need for a safe and comfortable place away from the business of the hospital with the focus on “getting better”. Such a facility would be a place where there would be a gentle kind of closure and a “home away from home” for those at the end of their journeys.
This group of people forged a partnership between the Rotary Club of Richmond and The Salvation Army, based on a shared vision of the need for, and value of hospice care. The Provincial Government, through Vancouver Coastal Health, supported the initiative.
Members of the Rotary Club of Richmond shared a dream of building a hospice house in Richmond. This dream was fulfilled in September 2005 - 12 years of making. The Rotary Club of Richmond raised over $500,000 towards building a 10-bed Hospice House.
