Our Directors
Barb Willemsen
Board Chair
Barb was born and raised in Pembroke, On and moved to Ottawa to attend university. She spent 32 years with Bell Canada and has a deep financial background to bring to the hospice board. Over half of her career with Bell was in management which has taught her much about teamwork and being goal oriented. Relocating to Madoc 6 years ago, she and her husband enjoy this small community and the opportunity to give back as a volunteer on the hospice board is very fulfilling. Barb is the proud mother of two boys and she has 3 fantastic grandchildren to complete her family.
Judy Farrimond is a Registered Nurse who started her career as a labour and delivery nurse and then as an operating room nurse prior to moving to Ontario from her home province of Newfoundland and Labrador. She, with her husband, moved to Madoc Township in 2011.
For the last 20 years she has been employed in the disability management field. She holds a Post graduate diploma in Community Nursing and is certified to do Life Care Plans for those seriously ill or catastrophically injured which has led to her interest in end of life care.
Judy Farrimond
Secretary
Sharon Abraham
Director
Sharon grew up in and around Port Perry Ontario. She attended Durham College studying communication arts- journalism and public relations. She pursued further business education at Ryerson and The University of Toronto. She had an over 30 year career in the corporate Insurance world in Toronto in various roles mostly at the senior national management level.
Sharon and her husband bought their retirement home on the lake here in the Madoc area in Spring, 2019 and officially became full time residents in the summer of 2020.
Sharon looks forward to becoming involved in the community and supporting Hospice both as a volunteer and member of the Board of Directors.
Dr. Janet Webb
Medical Director
Dr. Webb is a family physician practicing in Madoc with the Centre Hastings Family Health Team. She has a special interest in hospice and palliative care and has been a member of The Heart of Hastings Hospice for several years.
As well as bringing her valuable skills to the Board of Directors, Janet was an enthusiastic and passionate leader for the Residential House Campaign.
Presently she lives in Tweed with her husband and well loved cats.
Joanne Albert
Vice Chair
Jo-Anne Albert is a retired elementary school teacher with 32 years of experience in education. She served as a dedicated municipal politician in the Municipality of Tweed from 2006 to 2022, holding the role of Mayor for 16-years Throughout her public service, Jo-Anne contributed to numerous Hastings County boards and committees. She also served as Chair of Hastings Prince Edward Public Health for six years and is a Director with the Central Hastings Support Network, demonstrating her strong commitment to community health and support services.
Anastasia Bennett
Director
Stasia Bennett (she/they) lived in rural northern Ontario after graduating from Queen's University with her BNSc in 2007. She completed a MSc and then her Nurse Practitioner certification in 2012. Stasia moved to Stirling-Rawdon in 2018 and was quickly introduced to Heart of Hastings Hospice as part of her role working in Community Palliative Care. With her desire to strengthen her local community, she began volunteering with hospice and later joined the Board of Directors as her professional work returned to Primary Care. She brings extensive experience working with various boards advocating for social welfare, lived experience and community growth.
Noreen Pigden
Treasurer
Robynn Snape
Director
In the summer of 2019, Robynn and her family relocated from Toronto, ON, to the picturesque Madoc area. She brings with her a wealth of experience as the Director of HR and Finance at Tuor Networks Inc. Robynn has also devoted over 17 years to volunteering in local schools, making contributions to providing valuable support to both students and educators.
Her commitment to community service has been further enriched by her involvement with the Heart of Hastings Hospice, where she continues to extend her compassion and dedication. Robynn is excited to bring her professional expertise and her unwavering dedication to volunteerism as a Director.
Laurie Osborne
Director
Laurie is proud to have grown up in the Quinte area and has always felt a strong connection to community. That deep-rooted local knowledge is a true asset in her work as a real estate agent. She knows the area well and cares deeply about helping her her clients achieve their goals.
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Before beginning her real estate career, Laurie spent three years as the Fundraising and Awareness Coordinator at the Heart of Hastings Hospice. During that time, she developed a deep respect for her colleagues and was continually inspired by the impact the Hospice has on so many people in the community. Feeling strongly connected to the organization and its mission, Laurie was excited to return by joining the board, allowing her to continue supporting the important work of hospice.