Losing a loved one is always very hard but Sun West Bus Driver Tina Thompson has found some peace in supporting the organization that made her mother’s passing as comfortable as possible for her and her family.
Dianne Antoneshyn was a vital woman who was very loved by her family including her daughter Tina. “I loved my Mom. She was my best friend,” said Tina. Losing Dianne to cancer on March 1 this year was a hard blow but it was made tolerable by how she spent her final days at Hospice at Glengarda in Saskatoon. Tina felt that her mother was treated with dignity and that the care she received allowed her life to end surrounded by love. Tina also credits the stay at the Hospice for being: “. . . the reason that I am ok. There are special people who work in these places,” added Tina, “they treat people with such dignity.”
One of the most meaningful things that the Hospice did was that their Director of Music visits each patient and sings whatever songs the patient desires for the patient who can sing-a-long if they wish. The Director also recorded Dianne’s heartbeat and incorporated it into a version of Alleluia and The Rose that she sent to the family following her passing. “It was beautiful,” said Tina.
Every patient at the Hospice had access to a kitchen and Tina took full advantage of it. Dianne loved Tina’s baking and Tina loved baking for her mother. During her time there, Tina baked all of Dianne’s favourites that included cookies, cupcakes, cinnamon buns, pies, muffins and slices of every imaginable variety. “I’m a baker,” Tina simply said.
It was the loving care that Dianne received at the Hospice and the mutual love for baking that Dianne and Tina shared that led Tina to decide that in tribute to her Mom, she would hold a bake sale in her honour with all profits to go to the Hospice at Glengarda. “I want people to know my Mom,” said Tina, “and I want them to know about the amazing work they do at the Hospice.”
Tina is being assisted in organizing the bake sale by her niece Lindsay, who in Tina's words, ". . . was with me with everything with my Mom," and this will be no ordinary bake sale. It will take place at the Co-op parking lot, in Delisle right on Highway 7 between Saskatoon and Kindersley, on Saturday, May 27. Tina is already baking and it will have the full range of all her delicious items as well as donations coming from local churches and friends. There will be a barbeque with burgers, dogs and smokies as well as 50/50 draws and prizes. If you want to donate or support Tina’s efforts contact her at misspiggyoink@hotmail.com.
It won’t end with the bake sale for Tina. Once she is ready, she plans on becoming a Hospice at Glengarda volunteer.
We are all so proud of you Tina and we wish you peace and comfort during this difficult time.