| |  | | |  | Dear Adoray Volunteers, As Memorial Day approaches, we pause to remember the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. While this weekend often marks the start of summer, its true purpose is one of reflection and honor. | | At Adoray, we carry this spirit throughout the year through our Level 4 We Honor Veterans program. In 2024, we had the privilege of caring for 43 Veterans on our hospice service, and our Veteran Volunteer team provided 16 We Honor Veterans Pinning Ceremonies, moments of recognition and gratitude for their service. Thanks to our Veteran Volunteers, we also send personal cards to the families of Veterans we've lost over the past year during Memorial Day. It’s these simple, sincere acts of kindness that show what makes Adoray so special. We don’t forget. We carry the legacy forward. And that’s Compassion in Action. | | | | We are thrilled to share that we’ve officially set the date for the Grand Opening of our fourth Adoray’s Treasures from the Heart store, right in the heart of downtown Menomonie. This store is more than a storefront. It’s a symbol of growth, connection, and purpose. It represents a deepening of our mission in Dunn County, where every treasure donated, purchased, and shared helps fund compassionate care for patients and families when they need it most. We can't wait to open our doors to the community and build something beautiful together. | | | | Save the Date – Adoray’s 30th Anniversary Celebration! We’re excited to invite you to a milestone event that will celebrate the heart of Adoray, our people! | |  | 📅 Tuesday, September 30, 2025
📍 The Phoenix, Baldwin, WI
⏰ 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM This will be a very special evening of connection, gratitude, and reflection as we gather as one Adoray family to celebrate 30 years of meaningful service, community impact, and the love you’ve helped us spread. I truly hope you’ll join me to toast this beautiful legacy that you’ve helped shape.
Stay tuned - official invite and more details to come! | | Celebrating One Month of the Hospice Suite It’s hard to believe that a full month has passed since the Grand Opening of the Hospice Suite in Glenhaven, Glenwood City. In just a few short weeks, we’ve witnessed the deep and immediate impact this space has had on families in our community, and many of you helped make it happen. | |  | | | | | Thank you for being the soul of Adoray. Your dedication, time, and compassion help us deliver care that goes beyond clinical, it goes straight to the heart. You are an essential part of our Circle of Care, and I am so grateful to walk this journey with you. To those volunteering or on-call this weekend, thank you for continuing to serve with heart. And to those spending time with loved ones, may your weekend be filled with meaning and connection. Wishing you a peaceful and joyful Memorial Day weekend, one filled with remembrance, love, and purpose. With deep gratitude,
Christa Walz, PT, BS, MA PT
Executive Director, Adoray Home Health & Hospice | | | | | | | | | |  | Wishing a Happy Birthday to all our amazing volunteers who are Celebrating their big day in May! | | EMMA FOSS - May 1 ROBERT SHEPPARD - May 1 Rob O'Keefe - May 8 JOYCE NESVOLD - May 9 DELLENE HIRSTEIN - May 10 Lola Higgins - May 10 ALAN MERCURE - May 13 CAROLYN BRUMBAUGH - May 15 DEB WILLINK - May 16 ZIVA MCCARTER - May 16 | | | KELLI GALBRAITH - May 18 MARY LEIDLE - May 19 JUDY MERRITT - May 20 DIANNE ERICKSON - May 21 Joyann Wilson - May 21 MADISON KIRCHNER - May 21 AUBRIE BETTINGER - May 22 Blair Gunderson - May 24 ROBERT OLSON - May 31 | | | | | | | | | |  | Help Us Celebrate Audrey Brown and Her Beautiful Legacy of Storytelling At Adoray, we are honored to support our patients not only in comfort and care but also in helping them reflect on and share the legacy of their lives. Through our End of Life Doula program, we are working on a Legacy Project for Audrey Brown to reflect her lifelong passion for storytelling. As part of her Legacy Project, Audrey is sharing the stories she’s written over a lifetime, stories that have touched hearts, inspired imagination, and now serve as a beautiful reminder of the power of words. To honor Audrey’s enduring legacy and love for stories, we are inviting our Adoray staff, volunteers, and community to be part of it. 📚 Read Audrey’s Work
Copies of Audrey’s books are available at the Adoray Office (990 Main Street, Suite 1, Baldwin, WI 54002). We welcome you to pick up one and immerse yourself in her storytelling. 💌 Send a Card
Whether you’ve read one of her books in the past or just discovered them now, we invite you to send Audrey a card. Let’s flood her with love, appreciation, and encouragement. Your kind words will mean the world to her as we honor a lifetime of creativity and courage. Please bring cards to the Adoray Office to be collected and delivered to Audrey. | | Audrey’s story:
Audrey has been a storyteller her entire adult life. She enchanted her five children with many bedtime stories drawn from her youth. During this same time, she won several contests in the St. Paul Pioneer Press with her Christmas stories. When her children were grown, she began writing fiction in the mid-1980s. Her first short story, Dorothy and Anna, was published by COMPAS Literary Post in a collection titled Cellar Doors and Hollyhocks in 1988.
With more stories to tell, Audrey began working on her first novel, The Thinking Chair, and founded her own publishing company, Gently Press. Audrey self-published The Thinking Chair in 2002, with several reprints produced over the years. Her second novel, It Happened at Graystone Manor, was written and published in 2013.
Now nearing 99 years old, Audrey still enjoys a good story! She is very happy to know her books are being donated to so many people and places and hopes that her books delight many readers yet to come! | | | | This Legacy Project is a beautiful example of how our End of Life Doulas help patients find purpose, reflection, and joy in their final chapter. Thank you for being part of the heart of Adoray. Let’s come together to lift up Audrey and celebrate the legacy of a storyteller whose words have touched so many and will continue to inspire generations to come. | | | | | | | |  |  | Korean War Veteran John Jungmann received a Veterans Pinning Recognition from Adoray’s Veteran Volunteers Vicki Bolton and Jerry Pederstuen, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
John was presented with a Certificate, We Honor Veterans Pin, and a Patriotic Quilt as a thank you for his dedication and service to our Country in the United States Navy. | | |  | Korean War Veteran Richard "Rich" Jordahl received a Veterans Pinning Recognition from Adoray’s Veteran Volunteer Blair Gunderson, in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
After joining the United States Air Force at the age of 17, he served for 3 years in the Korean War. Rich was presented with a Certificate, We Honor Veterans Pin, and a Patriotic Quilt as a thank you for his dedication and historic service to our Country. | | | | | | | | | |  | More Than a Conference - It’s a Community of Care
Whether you’re a spouse, adult child, friend, or professional caregiver, or just wanting to understand more about Dementia. We invite you to join us for this 2nd Annual event. Lunch will be provided, and registration is completely free, thanks to the generous support of Adoray and its community partners.
Register Today!
Call Adoray at 715-629-1888 or Email a.bettinger@adoray.org | | | | | | You’ll leave with:
• Practical caregiving techniques
• Greater understanding of dementia
• New ways to improve communication and connection
• A renewed sense of hope
• Resources | | | Plus a chance to WIN a Joy For All Companion Pup | |  | | | | | | | | | Join us for another fun day at Mary's Park in New Richmond. Date: June 16th , 2025
Time: 3:30 – 5:30 PM
Mary’s Park - 401 N Green Ave, New Richmond, WI Hot Beef sandwiches, chips, water, and lemonade will be provided. Please bring your favorite salad or dessert to share! | |  | | | | | We are pleased to announce the 8th Annual Hands for Hospice Golf Outing on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at the beautiful Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax, WI. Last year, Adoray received $35,000 from the Hands for Hospice Golf Outing, and we are excited to see our community come together to raise funds and support Adoray again this year! Golf Outing Details:
10 am Registration | 11 am Shotgun Start | 4 pm Social | 5 pm Steak Dinner
*Lunch is available at the clubhouse on your own. Enjoy a day of golf, great camaraderie, and delicious food while raising money for a great cause. Featuring Hole Games, Fabulous Raffle and Silent Auction Prizes and $20,000 Hole-in-One.
Interested in supporting or playing? Reach out to Amber at a.bettinger@adoray.org
We are always looking for more raffle & silent auction prizes, or if you know a business that would be interested in sponsoring, we'd love to invite them! There are ways for everyone to join in and tee it up for Hospice! | |  | | | | | | | | | | |  | “April showers bring May flowers” – isn’t that a true statement? The days grow longer, and the sun starts feeling warmer, warming our bodies and our souls. Trees, flowers, bushes - everything is waking up from the long winter’s nap. In the air there is a feeling of renewed energy and a new start. Our newest volunteers, Toni Matz and Bob Owens, shared with us their reasons for volunteering with Hospice: Why do I volunteer for Hospice?
"I love to make people smile and do nice things, paying it forward, as others have done for me."
—Toni Matz, Bereavement Volunteer "To give back after benefiting from Adoray's services at the passing of my father-in-law."
—Bob Owens, Visiting Volunteer Paying it forward and giving back are two vital acts that all volunteers embody. Each of you contributes by offering your time, skills, supporting patients and their families, singing to, makes their worries less, offering listening ear with each visit you make. Your actions exemplify paying it forward and giving back. I witness your efforts, your kindness, your warm smile, and comforting touch. Your light shines in every visit you make, every story you hear, every tear you wipe away. I see you, and I am grateful to each one of you for making time to enrich someone else’s life. I look forward to seeing you on May 28th for our Volunteer connection at our Baldwin office and on June 16th for our Annual Mandatory Training, followed by Volunteer picnic. | | Martina😊
Hospice Volunteer Manager | | | | Dates to save on your calendar
May 28th - Volunteer connection
June 4th – 2nd Annual Dementia Caregivers Conference - Registration Required
June 16th - Annual mandatory training followed by Volunteer picnic | |  | | | | | | | | |  | Robert Owens
Hospice Volunteer
Where do you live/where are you from?
Live in River Falls. Originally from Milwaukee, WI. What unique skills, interests, or talents do you have?
Long professional career in IT Systems Management and Consulting. Very talented with computers. Also, love to read, travel kike and golf. What do you enjoy doing when you are not volunteering?
Currently involved in multiple house projects. Golf several times per week. Exercise and reading are also big time focus area. Why were you interested in Volunteering?
To give back after benefiting from Adoray services after the passing of my father-in-law.
Why did you choose Adoray to give your time?
Local to my area and positive experience. | | |  | Toni Matz
Hospice Volunteer
Where do you live/where are you from?
I live 6 miles east of River Falls, born in River Falls. What unique skills, interests, or talents do you have?
I like people, humor, sewing, and gardening. What do you enjoy doing when you are not volunteering?
I love my friends and being social Why were you interested in Volunteering?
I love to make people smile and do nice things - paying it forward as others have done for me.
Why did you choose Adoray to give your time?
I heard they could use my sewing talent. Great organization. | | | | Gracie
Pet Volunteer We are thrilled to introduce Gracie, our newest Pet Volunteer, and her devoted handler, Jenny Most, to the Adoray circle of care!
Gracie is an 11.6 lb, 3.5-year-old Teddy Bear breed who officially became a certified therapy animal in 2025. She’s full of personality and charm, with a love for all treats, a favorite stuffed giraffe toy, and a mischievous habit of stealing socks!
Together, Gracie (and Jenny) bring comfort, joy, and many smiles to our hospice patients through pet visits, helping to create moments of connection and brighten days in the most heartwarming way. | | | | | | Check out some of the heartwarming Remember Me Items our Volunteers Toni Matz and Kelli Galbraith have recently made for the family members of our patients who have passed and out of their clothing. Remember Me Items provide a beautiful way to hold onto your loved ones forever. Adoray offers each family involved with our hospice care the creation of a remembrance item made from their loved one's clothing. This is a comforting way to hold memories and an enduring connection with those who are forever in our hearts. We are so thankful to our amazing volunteers and sharing their sewing talents with us and those we serve. | | | | | | | | We are accepting New Volunteers to join our End of Life Doula Team!! If you have any questions or interested in learning more, please reach out to Martina. | | | | | | Martina Steltzner
Hospice Volunteer Manager Contact Information
Direct Cell: 715-928-9981
Email: m.steltzner@adoray.org | | | | | | | |  | | | Treasures Volunteer Drawing Winners Osceola: Robin Olson River Falls: Baldwin: | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  | Announcing the Adoray's Treasures From The Heart - Osceola store April volunteer attendance winner: Robin Olson She comes all the way from Grantsburg WI to volunteer at our store in Osceola. It's wonderful to have Robin as part of our volunteer team! The volunteer appreciation celebration in April brought us all so much joy! Bringing together the staff and volunteers from all Adoray's community Health outreaches. Osceola Treasures store volunteer, Karen Svoboda met Kathy Svoboda for the first time at the party. They figured they are "shirt-tailed" relatives! We also met our new Baldwin store manager, Rachel Renner. Such a delightful addition to the Adoray's Team! A huge Thank You to Adoray's Treasures From The Heart store Volunteer of the Year, Grace Bjorklund! She is an "original" and volunteers 2-3 times a week. Many thanks to all the volunteers that have filled in while others Wintered in the South! We are so grateful for Spring when the snowbirds fly back home to us! | | | | | | | | | | | |  | Let us take a moment to recognize Adoray Treasures from the Heart River Falls volunteer, Mary Lynn Wiskerchen. After retiring from the River Falls School District, Mary Lynn came into Treasures, and a conversation with a volunteer about our mission convinced her to join our team. Now,21 years later, she is retiring again. We have all enjoyed spending our Monday mornings with her, as she unpacks, washes, and prices kitchenwares and linens. The tallest of our Monday crew, she patiently hangs artwork and places items in spots to high for us to reach. All while being calm, funny, generous, supportive, and above all, kind. Thank you Mary Lynn, from all of us. | | |  | Mary Lynn Wiskerchen is to the right and her Monday volunteer coworker Judy Grimm is on the Left. | | | | | | | | | |  | Hello friends and valued volunteers! I’m excited to introduce myself as the new store manager here at Treasures from the Heart in Baldwin. It’s truly an honor to step into this role and become part of a team that cares so deeply about our organization & community. I look forward to getting to know each of you and continuing the great work that makes Treasures from the Heart & Adoray so special. As I begin this new chapter, I’m thrilled to highlight someone who embodies the spirit of service and dedication we strive for every day. Please join me in celebrating Mary Frey, our Barb Hess Volunteer of the Year! Mary’s warm smile, tireless energy, and unwavering commitment have made a lasting impact on our store and everyone who walks through our doors. Her efforts inspire us all, and we’re so grateful to have her as part of our family. Here’s to an exciting year ahead—and to the amazing people like Mary who make it all possible. See you in the store! - Rachel | | | | | | Virtual Suggestion Box Do you have ideas on how to make Adoray a better place to work and care for patients? Submit your ideas using the virtual suggestion box. This box will be monitored daily and will be forwarded to the appropriate manager for action. | | | | | |  | Adoray Home Health & Hospice
990 Main Street, Suite 1, Suite 1 | Baldwin, Wisconsin 54002
715-629-1888 | a.bettinger@adoray.org | | Get Social with Adoray Today! | | | | | | |
