KNOW MORE ABOUT US
THE STORY Of MARIGOLD
About Us
What is Hospice?
Hospice care focuses on living – not dying. Individuals are empowered to choose how they navigate their final journey, and families receive support in preparing for their loved one’s last stages of life. Marigold Hospice will provide free and meaningful care in a supportive, flexible and home-like environment. Residents will be cared for by an interdisciplinary team of health-care professionals and volunteers who will assist the medical team with comfort measures and pain and symptom management.
Once constructed, our facility will offer private rooms, free parking, unrestricted visiting hours and the ability to live freely, including flexible meals based on each resident’s choice. Residents will bathe/shower at leisure, enjoy the beautiful outdoor setting when desired, and access a wide range of non-medical service and program options including spiritual and emotional supports, arts and music and holistic healing practices. Pet visitors are welcome. Our residence will host family gatherings and celebrations, as well as quiet space for reflection, remembrance and mourning.
Vision: Building excellence in end-of-life care in our community
Mission: We provide support and comfort in a caring and compassionate, home-like environment to individuals and their families facing end-of-life illness
Values: Respect…Dignity…Integrity…Inclusion…Collaboration
From the beginning
Our History
In 2017 a small but determined group of volunteers from Clarington began their journey to build a hospice residence. Jill Richardson, Marian Timmermans, Willie Woo, and Donna Metcalfe-Woo began planning and working to gain Ministry approval and community support for a 5-bed hospice. Shortly after they began, they were joined by the legacy board members of Durham Hospice, who had been offering community based hospice, palliative and bereavement care for more than 20 years.
Chaired by Melodie Zarzeczny, the board and the community group joined forces, and began a 6-year effort to gain approvals, secure a site, raise funds, oversee architecture and design, and ultimately to begin building. Over the course of this time, the board asked for and received approval to add an additional 4 beds.
The 11-member board faced many challenges along the way, not the least of which was a massive pandemic, which interrupted fund raising efforts, curtailed all activity, and resulted in significant construction cost increases (40%). The board exercised caution and prudence, and undertook extensive re-design efforts over an 18-month period to ensure that the building would be affordable, without sacrificing any of the patient and family services and amenities.
After delays, business interruptions, cost increases, and more, we are excited to be very close to reaching our capital campaign goal.
Marigold Hospice is the result of passion, perseverance, many years of hard work, and a vision of hospice care that offers comfort, care and compassion for residents and families facing end of life.
Our Name
Behind Our Name
In 2019 we received our largest donation to date from Seven Developments Corporation, a property development and building company owned by Domenic Tassone. In recognition of their significant gift, the Tassone family was offered naming rights to the building. Rather than attaching a family name to the building, the Tassone family selected the name Marigold Hospice Care.
Marigolds are a reflection of grief and hope. Their vibrant colours evoke feelings of warmth and affection. Commonly referred to as “the herb of the sun”, marigolds symbolize positive emotions and energy. We associate the flowers’ fiery yellow, orange, and red hues with warmth, happiness, joy, and optimism. Yet, the marigold is also known to symbolize grief, despair, and mourning. Many cultures associate marigold flowers with resurrection and the practices of remembrance and honoring the dead.
We are grateful to the Tassone family for their generosity and thoughtfulness, and honoured to call our hospice residence Marigold Hospice Care.
