Cedar Valley Hospice

05/01/2026

Grief can be heavy to carry alone. Pull up a chair and join us for Cups of Comfort, a monthly gathering for coffee and camaraderie with others who have experienced a death of a loved one. This isn't a support group - but a supportive group.

The first Cups of Comfort group will be Friday, May 15 from 10-11:30 a.m. Locations will vary in Cedar Falls/Waterloo.

Please RSVP to Clark at 319.272.2002 one week in advance. Once confirmed, you'll receive the location.

04/30/2026

As we wrap up National Volunteer Month, we would like to extend a sincere "thank you" to all our wonderful volunteers! Cedar Valley Hospice volunteers are an important part of our organization and fill an array of volunteer roles.

We recently held our annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. It was a wonderful night at the Hilton Garden Inn - Cedar Falls. We celebrated all our volunteers, including our annual award winners, and enjoyed entertainment from Magician Eric Michaels. Thank you to all our volunteers - we cannot do the work we do without you!

Annual Award Winners:

Hospice & Palliative Care Association of Iowa Award Winners
🧡 Tyann Rouw, Waterloo
💚 Rosetta Anderson, Independence
🧡 Shelly Hook, Grundy Center
💚 Karen Ryan, Waverly
🧡 Ashley Utley, Friends Committee

2026 Mayors Volunteer Award Nominee
💚 Mary Shollenbarger

04/26/2026

Volunteering at Cedar Valley Hospice is meaningful work. It's even more special volunteering with friends and family. 💚

Two of these dynamic duos are Carol McCombs and Ashley Utley and Janet and Jeff Duggan. Carol has been a Cedar Valley Hospice volunteer since 2008, and encouraged her niece Ashley to join her on the Friends Committee in 2023.

"After losing my grandpa in January of 2018, I attended events and donated money, but I wanted to do more. I've found a place where I can put my love of crafting and party planning to good use. It's very fulfilling, and getting to volunteer with Aunt Carol is one of the best things ever! Getting to support such an amazing organization with someone I greatly love and admire makes it so much better."

Janet and Jeff Duggan are a husband-wife duo who knew that they wanted to spend their retirement volunteering at Cedar Valley Hospice. The two are patient-family volunteers who occasionally help with mailings. Janet also volunteers at the Hospice Home.

"Cedar Valley Hospice was the number 1 agency we wanted to volunteer with," the Duggans said. "It was so comforting to have them involved in some of the most difficult times of our lives. We wanted to give back to an organization that has given so much to so many families."

Thank you to all our volunteers for the work you do!

04/23/2026

Happy World Book Day!

Whether you read for pleasure or to learn something, books are a great tool. Today, we're highlighting a book that is very important to our grief department: "It's OK That You're Not OK" by Megan Devine. This book is used often in our closed groups. Grievers meet to talk about the book, grief and their loved one,

Other popular books our team recommends about hospice are "The In-Between" by Hadley Vlahos, hospice RN, and "Being Mortal" by Atul Gawande, MD, MPH. If you'd rather listen, Anderson Cooper's podcast "All There Is" helps shine a light on grief and the importance of acknowledgement.

04/22/2026

This morning, we were honored to be included in the Breakfast of Light Resource Fair hosted by the . Laura and Annika talked about our no-cost grief support, which is available to everyone in our community who has experienced a death loss, regardless of if it is a hospice-related death. 💚

Members of our grief team also had the opportunity to hear Keynote Speaker Jim Schmidt, stepfather of Gabby Petito and co-founder of The Gabby Petito Foundation. While Jim shared Gabby's story and the importance of providing support to those who are experiencing domestic or sexual abuse, he also also talked about grief and the importance of acknowledging all the emotions that come with it.

04/21/2026

UPDATE: The Teen Grief Support Group has been postponed. If you have already registered, our grief team will be contacting you. If you are interested in attending a future Teen Grief Support Group, please call 319.272.2002.

There is still time to register for the Teen Grief Support Group! Please RSVP to Danejia, Eucalyptus Tree coordinator, by calling 319.272.2002 or emailing dlobdell@cvhospice.org

Who: Ages 13+ (limited availability)
When: Tuesday, April 28 | 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Where: Hawkeye Community College, Tama Hall (Waterloo)
Cost: Free
To RSVP, call Danejia, Eucalyptus Tree Coordinator, at 319-272-2002 or email dlobdell@cvhospice.org.

UPDATE: The Teen Grief Support Group has been postponed. If you have already registered, our grief team will be contacting you. If you are interested in attending a future Teen Grief Support Group, please call 319.272.2002.

When a teen loses someone they love, it can be hard to put those feelings into words. 💚

Our Teen Grief Support Group offers a place where they don’t have to. Through connection, shared experiences, and guided activities, teens who have experienced the death of a loved one can spend time with others who understand what they’re going through while remembering and honoring the people they miss.

Parents and guardians are invited to a separate supportive discussion led by our Grief Team Lead to connect, share and explore ways to support your child. Siblings are welcome as well and will be supervised by volunteers available. Dinner will be provided for all.

Who: Ages 13+ (limited availability)
When: Tuesday, April 28 | 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Where: Hawkeye Community College, Tama Hall (Waterloo)
Cost: Free
To RSVP, call Danejia, Eucalyptus Tree Coordinator, at 319-272-2002 or email dlobdell@cvhospice.org.

04/19/2026

👋🏻 Stop by and say hello at the KWWL Health Fair today!

We will be at the Waterloo Convention Center until 3 p.m. talking about hospice, grief and dementia care resources. See you soon! 💚

04/18/2026

Our Cedar Valley Hospice team recently took part in Planting Positivity, a special event hosted by our SWAT (employee engagement) committee. 🌱 Team members painted pots before planting seeds. It was a great opportunity to slow down and enjoy great company and conversation 💚

Moments like these remind us that caring for each other is just as important as the care we provide our patients and families. If you're looking to grow your career in a supportive, purpose-driven environment, Cedar Valley Hospice is currently hiring for multiple positions, including nurses.

Join a team where compassion takes root every day and apply now at cvhospice.org/careers🌼

04/16/2026

Today, April 16, is National Healthcare Decisions day - a meaningful reminder to pause and consider your future care wishes. Ask yourself - have you completed your advance directives? If so, when was the last time you reviewed them?

Advance directives are written documents that outline your healthcare wishes in the event you are unable to speak for yourself. They are a powerful gift to your loved ones, offering clarity and easing the emotional burden of making difficult decisions during stressful times.

If you have completed your advance directives, it is important to review them each year and whenever you experience a significant change in your health or life circumstances.

If you haven't completed them yet, Cedar Valley Hospice offers no-cost consultations to help guide you through the process. Advance directives are important for every adult—they ensure your wishes are clearly documented and thoughtfully shared with the people who matter most. Call us today at 319.272.2002 to schedule your consultation today.

04/16/2026

UPDATE: The Teen Grief Support Group has been postponed. If you have already registered, our grief team will be contacting you. If you are interested in attending a future Teen Grief Support Group, please call 319.272.2002.

When a teen loses someone they love, it can be hard to put those feelings into words. 💚

Our Teen Grief Support Group offers a place where they don’t have to. Through connection, shared experiences, and guided activities, teens who have experienced the death of a loved one can spend time with others who understand what they’re going through while remembering and honoring the people they miss.

Parents and guardians are invited to a separate supportive discussion led by our Grief Team Lead to connect, share and explore ways to support your child. Siblings are welcome as well and will be supervised by volunteers available. Dinner will be provided for all.

Who: Ages 13+ (limited availability)
When: Tuesday, April 28 | 5:00–6:30 p.m.
Where: Hawkeye Community College, Tama Hall (Waterloo)
Cost: Free
To RSVP, call Danejia, Eucalyptus Tree Coordinator, at 319-272-2002 or email dlobdell@cvhospice.org.

04/14/2026

Happy 1-year to Melody! Thank you for in your role as spiritual care counselor for the last year - we're glad to have you on our team!

04/07/2026

It's been 365 days since Chasity started with us, and today we're celebrating her 1-year ! Thank you for for our patients and their families, Chasity!