When Dave Horzewski’s five-year battle with colon cancer was coming to an end and he transitioned to hospice care, his wife, Ann, and daughter, Lauren, had one wish: for Dave to be present at Lauren’s wedding.
They approached Aurora Zilber Family Hospice in Wauwatosa with their idea, and the care team immediately sprang into action. With only 12 hours to plan the ceremony, coordinate attire and decorations and notify family and close friends, the space was completely transformed into a wedding venue.
Lauren and her fiancé, Alex, were married the next day in Aurora Zilber’s Meditation Room. A family friend performed the ceremony, and the reception followed in one of the facility’s family gathering rooms.
“Dave was so happy that day, and he used every ounce of life he had left to be part of Lauren’s wedding,” said Horzewski’s widow, Ann. “In the days that followed, he could barely even open his eyes, and he passed away peacefully five days later. Aurora Zilber gave us the gift of having Dave at Lauren and Alex’s wedding, and I’ll never forget that. This was just part of the wonderful care he received from his care team every minute of every day.”
Thanks to a new $1.4 million donation from the Zilber Family Foundation, even more families will be able to experience care, comfort and peace with their loved ones.
The five-year grant includes $800,000 in funding for the first year, with $650,000 of the $800,000 earmarked for major facility upgrades inside and out that will enhance accessibility, safety and ambiance. Additional funds will support vital programs such as volunteer and bereavement services, dementia care, teammate well-being and community outreach.
“This generous grant from the Zilber Family Foundation is an investment in the future of compassionate care,” said Kayla Gritzmacher, Director of Hospice Specialty Services for Aurora Health Care. “These upgrades will ensure that Aurora Zilber Family Hospice remains a sanctuary of peace, dignity, and healing for generations to come. We’re building on a legacy of love and support, and this funding allows us to continue providing families with the comfort and care they deserve.”
Aurora Zilber Family Hospice is an extension of Aurora Health at Home Hospice, a leading provider of hospice and home health services in Wisconsin. Founded in 2005 with a $1 million lead gift from the Zilber Family Foundation, Aurora Zilber Family Hospice was the first in Wisconsin to offer end-of-life care to both children and adults. Since then, more than 13,000 patients have found peace and comfort within its walls.
“We are so grateful to the Zilber Family Foundation for their generosity, not only for this most recent grant, but their ongoing partnership over the last 20 years, donating more than $4.5 million over that time,” says Leslie Wininger, Aurora Health Care Foundation president. “Their support has not only made the hospice possible, but it has also been critical in enhancing bereavement services, clinical care, and team member education. Aurora Zilber Family Hospice continues to utilize charitable donations from grateful families and community members to provide outstanding hospice care for our community.”
Aurora Zilber will celebrate its 20th anniversary of service to the community with an event at The Wisconsin Club on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Get details about how you can attend and support and learn more about Aurora Zilber Family Hospice at aurora.org. For more information, contact Robyn Wohlfeil at robyn.wohlfeil@aah.org.