A pioneering nurse who was there when East Cheshire Hospice opened is remembered on the Hospice’s Memory Tree.
Deputy matron Jean Stevenson described her time on the Hospice ward as the ‘jewel of her nursing career.’
Jean died last December, aged 83, just four months after losing her husband Christopher who was 77.
Jean was a key part of the Hospice’s development. She spent five and a half years on the staff from 1988 after spotting an advertisement for the role of assistant head of nursing.
It was her last job in a nursing career which spanned more than 30 years.
Son Simon said: “Mum adored the Hospice – there’s no two ways about it. She regarded it as a privilege to work there and made some lifelong friends.
“I don’t think it was a job to her, but something she did naturally. She spoke about her role with such warmth and held the Hospice in high esteem.
* Flashback to the Hospice early days. Jean Stevenson (third from right, front row) with Claire Jones (second from right, back row).
“She enjoyed working with a collection of highly skilled staff who had the right temperament and created an atmosphere of warmth and happiness with a desire to help people out.
“Mum was heavily involved in the church. Our parents had a strong faith and the bereavement aspect had a big part in her role and outlook on things.”
Family friend Randall Gray, who lives in Florida, bought a leaf dedicated to the couple’s memory.
Simon and brother David – they also have an older brother Michael – visited the Memory Tree where they met Claire Jones, a nursing colleague of Jean.
Simon said: “I now live in Abersoch and returning to the Hospice back brought a lot of memories. We were given a tour and as soon as we saw Claire recognised her and gave her a hug.
“Mum kept in touch with the Hospice when she retired and was keen on fundraising.
“We were blown away that Randall, whom we met on a family holiday when we were young, wanted t0 buy a leaf. We had no idea he was doing it.
“The Memory Tree has rekindled our connection with the Hospice and is a wonderful legacy of our mum’s involvement.”
The metal tree is in the gardens behind the main Hospice building. Subscription is £10 a month or £120 for a year.
* To sign up to the Memory Tree visit www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/memory-tree.
For queries, contact amy.williams@echospice.org.uk or call 01625 665688.