For Judy Provo, volunteering at the Aultman Women’s Board Compassionate Care Center is a labor of love. On Monday mornings, you’ll find her in the Compassionate Care Center kitchen, baking goodies for families visiting loved ones in inpatient hospice.

As a former Aultman colleague and active member of the Aultman Women’s Board since 1985, Judy was involved in raising funds to build the Compassionate Care Center. She’s been volunteering there since it opened in 2011.

A Listening Ear

Judy began baking for the Compassionate Care Center because many families spend the night with their loved one over a series of days, and Judy wanted them to have something to eat in the mornings.

“I saw a need for families to have someone to talk to,” Judy said. “People come in while I’m baking, and they just want to talk. I can be that listening ear. Sometimes, family members feel as if they can talk with me about emotions and issues that are difficult for them to share with others.”

At other times, people open up to Judy about resources they are seeking for their loved one. “I’ve been here long enough to know which staff members to guide them to,” Judy said. “People are relieved to learn how much the staff knows about connecting them with the right resources and how much the staff can help them.”

Even small gestures make a difference. “Sometimes people come in, and they don’t know where to find things,” she said. “Something as little as showing them how the coffee machine works or where the ginger ale is stored can make the day easier for them.”

Judy has been actively engaged in the community since she and her late husband Frank moved to Canton from Canada in 1971 for his job at The Hoover Company. Judy connected with a Hoover vice president, who recruited her to chair a United Way committee.

From there, Judy’s community involvement blossomed, and she has served in many organizations, committees and boards, from the Junior League to the Canton Symphony to the Canton Art Museum.

The Comforts of Home

Judy loves to cook, bake and entertain guests. She taught gourmet cooking classes at the University of Akron and the College of Wooster – and she applies that expertise to her volunteer roles. “No matter where I get involved, I often end up cooking for people,” Judy said.

For many years, Judy has organized the Aultman Women’s Board Christmas dinner for families at the Compassionate Care Center. Each year, Aultman Women’s Board members volunteer to cook food for the meal and deliver it to the Compassionate Care Center.

“At Christmas, people are so appreciative that they can still gather together for a meal with all the trimmings, even with their loved one in hospice,” she said. “They think the Compassionate Care Center is incredible.”

Her favorite part of volunteering is meeting people. “The Aultman staff is like a family,” Judy said. “Especially as you get older, it’s important to get out and meet new people and experience new situations. I find that I like tasks that keep my mind working, such as trying new recipes.”

In fact, Judy spends every Sunday preparing for the next day. Each Monday, she bakes a breakfast casserole, muffins and cookies that she started the day before. She serves a fresh fruit dish, as well.

For Judy, the Compassionate Care Center feels like home. When Frank was diagnosed with a terminal illness, they chose the Compassionate Care Center to care for him in his final days. He passed away with his family by his side.

Judy and Frank have two adult children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. In her free time, Judy enjoys golfing, bowling and swimming. She loves to travel, and she has even golfed three times at St. Andrews in Scotland.

Most of all, she loves connecting with other people. “It’s important to meet other people to step outside of yourself and your own needs,” Judy said. “I think if everyone gave just a couple hours each week to help others, the world would be better.”

If you have a compassionate heart and a giving spirit, volunteering at Aultman Hospice may be the perfect fit for you. For more information, visit aultman.org/HospiceVolunteer.