When Marilyn and Mark Gustafson learned about the expansion of services for Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, they chose to make a gift to an organization that has made a significant impact in both their lives.

Marilyn and Mark Gustafson made a transformational gift of $500,000 to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare toward the campaign for the Center for Supportive Care. The center will provide dedicated building space to support the needs of those in the community who are facing the end of life or need bereavement support. 

“I wanted to do something bigger for the community,” Marilyn Gustafson said. “We have been blessed, and I wanted to give back and make it better for someone else.”  In honor of Marilyn and Mark’s support of the mission of Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, the Center for Supportive Care will now bear their name as the Marilyn B. and Mark E. Gustafson Center for Supportive Care.

 “As we grow to meet the needs of our community, Marilyn and Mark’s gift allows Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare to continue to provide world-class care to our patients and families,” said Kurt Holmes, executive director of Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare. “We are truly honored and thankful for their support of our mission and commitment to serving our community.”

Marilyn Gustafson is a longtime volunteer with Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare. After she retired, she wanted to do something more with her time. She saw an ad in the paper for the organization needing volunteers and knew that volunteering was meant for her. Marilyn has served as a volunteer for more than 15 years with Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, directly serving patients and their families

Mark Gustafson is a retired dentist in Wooster. Recently, he completed training to become a volunteer with Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, joining the more than 200 volunteers at the not-for-profit hospice. “Through our volunteering, we have met so many wonderful patients and families,” Mark said. “It has been an honor to travel this end-of-life journey with them.”

The Gustafson family has been involved with Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare for many years. Mark’s mother was a volunteer with Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare in the 1980s. Later, she was served by the organization as a patient. In honor of her memory, the Gustafson family dedicated a room to their mother and father in the Stanley C. and Flo K. Gault Inpatient Pavilion.

“Marilyn and Mark truly embody the mission of Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare of helping your neighbors and your community,” said Katherine Ritchie, development director at Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare. “We couldn’t think of a better way to have a building named after two volunteers who are so integral to our mission and believe in us so strongly.” 

Support from the community is essential to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare’s ability to provide superior care and superior services to each patient and family it has the privilege of serving. “There are so many ways to help,” Marilyn said. “We encourage you to be a part of what we do here at Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare. If you are unable volunteer, please consider a gift so we can continue this important work in our community.” 

Marilyn and Mark are passionate about spreading awareness about the superior care and superior services Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare provides to its community. “Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare has amazing staff and people who care so greatly about their patients,” Marilyn said. “We were aware of the philosophy of hospice care, but it wasn’t really until we got involved personally that we became appreciative of just what a gem we have here in our community.”

Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare is repurposing an existing building on its Akron Road campus in Wooster to create theMarilyn B. and Mark E. Gustafson Center for Supportive Care. The center will allow Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare to expand its volunteer services, the Pathways of Hope℠ Grief Counseling Center, and the Mobile Care Unit transportation hub of service and support. The Center for Supportive Care is scheduled to open in January 2022. 

To learn more about the Marilyn B. and Mark E. Gustafson Center for Supportive Care or to make a gift, click here. 

Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, a not-for-profit organization established in 1982, is an affiliate of Ohio’s Hospice that serves communities in Wayne, Holmes, Ashland and Medina counties. It embodies the spirit of neighbors caring for neighbors with a commitment to relieve suffering, ease fears, and provide companionship along life’s last journey. Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare addresses patient and family needs wherever the patient calls home. Services also include access to the Stanley C. and Flo K. Gault Inpatient Pavilion, providing short-term patient care to manage acute symptoms, adjust medications, or stabilize patient condition.