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Our Team
Heidi Griffith
Executive Director
Heidi first joined The Heart of Hastings Hospice initially as a volunteer several years ago, with a desire to help those in her community. With a background in psychology and palliative care experience, she brings a strong foundation to her role. Heidi provides a warm and welcome face to all, and a sensitivity to those we provide care for; people with terminal illness and their families. Heidi has been a resident of Centre Hastings since childhood and resides here with her children and dogs.
Favourite Quote: "We cannot change the outcome, but we can affect the journey." - Ann Richardson
Random Fact: History’s most successful pirate wasn’t a bearded, eyepatch-wearing man but a woman, the 19th century Chinese pirate Ching Shih.
Pauline Pietschmann
Fundraiser & Awareness Coordinator
Pauline is originally from Centre Hastings. She relocated to Ottawa to attend Algonquin College, for Business Marketing. When she completed her schooling, she moved to Toronto where she worked as a Professional Organizer while raising her two amazing children. In 2019 she decided to come back to her roots. Pauline has been very involved at her children’s schools, both here and in Toronto, acting as a Co-Chair on the parent council. Through this she has gained extensive experience organizing fundraisers and events.
Favourite Quote: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending” – C.S. Lewis
Random Fact: Sea otters hold hands when they sleep to keep from drifting apart.
Kaitlyn Erwin
Residential Care Manager
Kaitlyn is well rooted in the community. She has spent her entire life local to the area and has settled here with her husband, son, and fur babies. Her educational background in Nursing and her previous experience in long-term care is where she developed a passion for palliative care. She has been a compassionate and caring resource for clients and their families throughout their hospice journey since 2018.
Favourite Quote: 'Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere"- Albert Einstein
Random Fact: 15 minutes of laughter equals the benefit of 2 hours sleep
Tristan Lindsay
Bereavement Coordinator
Tristan joined the team after two Loyalist College Social Service Worker placements with hospice. It was during this placement that she fell in love not only with the inspirational work of hospice, but with the amazing, caring and compassionate volunteers and staff. Tristan lives in Tweed with her husband of 28 years and 4 beautiful children.
Favourite Quote: "If there is ever a tomorrow when we're not together
There's something that you must always remember; You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.
But the most important thing if we're ever apart, I'll always be with you."
- Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh
Random Fact: "Sleep literally cleans your brain. During slumber, cerebra spinal fluid flushes the brain of harmful proteins and toxins that build up during the day.
Maria Langley
Administrative Assistant
Having experienced the kindness and support of staff/volunteers who tended to her brother in Kelowna, BC, Maria understands how important hospice services are to the community. She considers it an honour to be part of The Heart of Hastings Hospice team, doing so since 2016. Maria spent the previous 7 years in various financial and administrative roles for the RCMP with the last two being as Executive Administrator for their Chief Financial Officer.
Favourite Quote: "Life's too short"
Random Fact: Dogs aren't colorblind but their eyes don't have receptors for red. They see in shades of black and white and also in shades of blue and yellow.
Rachel Fleming
PSW
Rachel spent many summers and holidays in Madoc with her grandparents as a child. She decided to put down her roots here and raise her kids in the community. She lives in Madoc with her husband, 2 sons, and 2 dogs.
Rachel graduated from Loyalist College Personal Support Worker program in 2008 and has always had a commitment to health care. At the start of her career, she worked at a retirement home in Belleville for 2 years, spending the last 13 years in Long Term Care. Rachel has a passion for providing the best care she possibly can and to be a good advocate for those who need it.
Favourite Quote: Life is too short to wait.
Random Fact: Kids ask 300 questions a day-- Rachel knows this because she has 2 boys who ask 300 questions per day.
Christina Telewiak
RPN
Christina is originally from the Oshawa area, and moved to Centre Hastings in 2009 with her husband and fur babies. She completed her Practical Nursing diploma at Loyalist College in 2014, and worked as an RPN in the hospital environment for 6 years. During this time, Christina found her true passion was in Hospice Palliative care nursing, and since, has provided bedside nursing care to those who are terminally ill and nearing end of life in a residential hospice setting. Currently, Christina helps members of the local community and their loved ones navigate through their own unique end of life journeys, while providing compassion, empathy and support along the way.
Favourite Quote: “Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable” –Mary Oliver
Random Fact Owls cannot swivel their eyes. Instead they move their heads completely around to see straight behind them. They live on every continent except Antarctica. Soft fringes on their wings make their flight essentially silent.
Anita Palaszynski
RPN
Moving to Center Hastings 2 years ago was one of the best decisions Anita said she has made! "The community, the people, and the over all kindness and care for each other goes beyond words". As a nurse with many years of experience in different fields, Hospice holds a special place in her heart. Anita believes that palliative nursing is more than just patient care, it's empathy, compassion, kindness, and support for families and their loved ones as we care for them during their end of life journey. We are extremely blessed and appreciative to have her as part Heart of Hastings Hospice clinical team.
Favourite Quote: “Sometimes people come into your life for a moment, a day, or a lifetime. It matters not the time they spent with you, but how they impacted your life in that time.” –Unknown
Random Fact: There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on the Earth's beaches.
Susan is very active in the Madoc community. In the past, she worked in health care for 21 years, she also owned her own business which offered end of life care as one of her services. She has always been passionate about caring for clients during their final transition. Susan is a compassionate and caring individual, focused on providing the best quality care and support for both clients and families. She enjoys her work at Hospice, with the amazing team who pave the way for exceptional care.
Favourite Quote: "Not in doing what you like, but liking what you do is the secret to happiness" ~ J.M. Barrie
Random Fact: The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is believed to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.
Sue Hetherington
PSW
Marissa Taduran
PSW
Marissa arrived in Canada in 2015, hoping to continue her education and start a new life. She enrolled in a Personal Support Worker course and successfully graduated in 2018. Since then, Marissa has been working diligently, providing personal support to local agencies in her community.
In 2021, Marissa joined The Heart of Hastings Hospice, where she has been able to pursue her passion for providing compassionate care and support to those in need. Her dedication to her work is reflected in the care she provides. She also loves to travel, outdoor activities and food from home.
Favourite quote: "Being a caregiver is not just about what you do for someone else, it's about who you are as a person."
Random Fact: Marissa is multilingual, speaking Tagalog, English, Arabic, and Greek!
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