To the Staff of Avow Hospice:

Thank you for your condolences regarding my mother’s passing. I would like to share some precious moments with you that happened on Sunday, October 21, 2007, my Mom's last day here, and about our last dance together.

 Years ago, my sister Cindy was Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” at our high school. Cindy brought tears not only to my family in the audience, but to all of those seated around us when she sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" on opening night.  Cindy has a beautiful voice and our mother always enjoyed listening to us sing to her in harmony. Throughout the time we were at the hospital and at Avow Hospice, not only did we read from the Bible to Mom, but we sang lots of songs to her, including "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."  In fact, on that Sunday, even my sister Tina and my girlfriend Bonnie helped out. I must say we had the four-part harmonies going strong and Mom got it all in surround-sound!

On Sunday afternoon around 4:00 PM there was a big thunderstorm here in Naples.  After the storm had passed, a beautiful rainbow appeared to go from the Avow Hospice House to our mother’s house.  Tina, Cindy, Bonnie and I stood at the window all in a big group hug and took our time soaking in the warmth of this beautiful rainbow. 

At around 7:00 PM, with all of us starving, we decided that Mom would want us to go have dinner at her favorite Italian restaurant. After dinner, we got back to Avow Hospice around 8:30 PM reeking of garlic, which I'm sure our mother enjoyed smelling!  We continued to read from the Bible and sing to Mom with my sisters Tina and Cindy holding Mom's hands, and my girlfriend Bonnie and I at the foot of her bed rubbing her feet. Our mother was totally surrounded with love.

At 10:10 PM our mother took her last breath and opened her eyes, a sign, according to the nurse, that she had died supported by her faith.  It was a very sad moment and we all hugged and cried at Mom’s bedside. As we promised we would do, we called other family members to notify them of Mom’s passing. The nurse lit a candle in the room and gently placed a rose in our mother’s hand.

At around 10:20 PM, very quietly out of the corner of the room on the local Naples light jazz radio station Cindy and I heard "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" start to play. Cindy quickly ran over to the radio and cranked it up so loud that I'm sure we woke up others in the Hospice House. I then reached out my hand to my sister Cindy and asked her, "May I have this dance?"

As Cindy and I danced around the room on the beautiful wooden floors, all of our tears of sadness instantly turned into tears of joy and laughter. As we danced, we commented that you could not write a movie more touching than this glorious moment. There was such a strong presence of our mother and her boyfriend, George (who had passed away six years earlier) dancing with Cindy and me -- we could practically see them. As the hair stood straight up on our arms, we danced one last glorious dance with our mother in the light of God. It was just like Mom not to let her babies worry for more than ten minutes that she was 100% happy and at peace.

Thank you for letting me share with you this most sad, but most beautiful and precious moment in my life. I don't ever recall hearing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" being played on the radio before, but if I do hear that song again in the future, I know it will bring only tears of joy to my eyes. 

May love & peace be with you always,

Jerry Chiappetta, Jr.

I am enclosing two checks…the second is from the Campbell family in appreciation for Harvey's year of tender loving care by your marvelous staff.

I especially want to mention Chaplain Jim Patten for his splendid sermon at the funeral and his visits to our home. They meant so much to Harvey and me. Jim is indeed a rare jewel. Everyone has commented to me how outstanding he was.

Fran Graham was our home visitation nurse for almost all of the year. She is another rare jewel. I don't know how we would have managed without Fran's upbeat visits and good advice.

The nursing staff at Georgeson House was excellent. I cannot single out anyone because we loved them all. I cannot say enough good things about Hospice of Naples.

Please thank everyone for me at your next meeting.

Sincerely,
Helen R. Campbell