(FOND DU LAC) What started as a way to give back has turned into something more for three Fond du Lac area women — friendship, purpose and a shared mission to support people at the end of life.
Ann Schob, Lynn Moon and Judy Michels volunteer with SSM Health at Home Hospice, where they spend time with patients and families at the Hospice Home of Hope. Over the years, their connection with each other has grown alongside the work they do.
Schob and Moon first signed up more than eight years ago after retiring and looking for a meaningful way to help. Michels joined later after reconnecting with Moon through an exercise class and deciding to get involved herself.
Together, they serve meals, offer comfort and spend time with patients — small acts they say can mean everything in someone’s final days.
They describe the experience as both humbling and rewarding. Patients and families often express deep gratitude, something the volunteers say stays with them long after their shifts end.
While hospice care can feel intimidating, Schob says the Home of Hope is anything but. She calls it a warm, welcoming place — both for patients and for those who volunteer there.
The group hopes their experience encourages others to consider getting involved. SSM Health says it’s currently looking for more volunteers in the Fond du Lac and Green Lake areas, offering training for a range of roles from companionship to meal service.
Photo caption: For three SSM Health at Home Hospice – Fond du Lac volunteers – Judy Michels, Ann Schob, and Lynn Moon – a shared calling to serve became the foundation for a friendship that strengthens both their work and their lives.
