Did you know we have a married couple who work side by side as chaplains? It's not something you see every day, and their story is one worth telling.
Their path began years ago, when each felt a calling to walk with people through life's tender moments. That sense of purpose carried them from early days in ministry overseas, through seminary, and finally to Florida, where they found their home in hospice care. Their faith has always been a source of strength for them personally, but in their work, they serve people of every belief and background with the same compassion and care.
Today, they serve together at Trustbridge, a member of Empath Health, supporting patients and families in Palm Beach and Broward County. For them, chaplaincy is not about giving answers or speaking for one tradition. It's about presence. It's about listening, comforting, and creating space for peace.
What Is Spiritual Care in Hospice?
Just as doctors and nurses care for the body, and counselors care for the mind, spiritual care in hospice tends to the spirit. It is a kind of care that honors each person's beliefs, values, and life story.
For some patients, that may mean prayer or sacred readings. For others, it may mean music, storytelling, reflection, or simply sitting in silence. Families often lean on chaplains for comfort, guidance, and the reassurance that they are not walking this road alone.
Spiritual care is not about imposing beliefs or providing quick answers. It is about being fully present. Hospice chaplains meet people where they are, helping them find peace, meaning, and dignity in whatever way matters most to them.
Serving side by side has its unique blessings for our chaplain couple. They often lean on each other after a hard day, sharing lessons and encouragement before setting their work aside to focus on family. That rhythm helps them stay grounded and ready to care for others with full hearts.
One memory they carry with them is of a patient who was fearful of what lay ahead. Through a calm presence and quiet reassurance, the patient found peace. Her family later shared how much that moment meant to them. For this couple, moments like that are reminders of why they were called to this work.
Their story is about more than marriage. It's about a shared devotion to walking with others through life's most vulnerable times. And it's about the belief—rooted in their own faith and lived out inclusively through their care—that everyone deserves dignity, compassion, and comfort.
This Spiritual Care Week, we are grateful for this special couple and for all our chaplains at Trustbridge and across Empath Health.