"Tom and Fran Libous had been through plenty of rough rides in their 40
years of marriage and his 14 terms in the New York State Senate. But
nothing matched what confronted them in April 2016, the seventh year of
63-year-old Tom’s battle with prostate cancer. . . .
"A nurse herself, Fran protested that surely she could take Tom home and
care for him - until a doctor escorted her into the hallway and out of
Tom's earshot. He quietly explained that now was the time to let trained
hospice professionals manage Tom's pain and ensure his comfort. Fran
should spend her remaining time with him as his wife, rather than as his
caregiver. . . .
"Hospice accommodations could be found near the hospital in New York
City, but the extensive Libous clan lived hours away in Upstate New
York. Fortunately, a new residential hospice facility called Mercy House
of the Southern Tier had just opened one month prior in the Binghamton
area, and it had a room for him. . . .
"Housed in the former St. Casimir's Roman Catholic Church, Mercy House
opened three years ago, its name echoing Pope Francis' designation of
2016 as the 'Year of Mercy.' It's a community care shelter that offers
10 beds to people of all faiths who need end-of-life accommodation.
"The structure's previous purpose as a place of worship foreshadowed
its current function. St. Casimir's stained glass windows remain as part
of Mercy House, some depicting the corporal works of mercy."
A recent U.S. Catholic article profiled Mercy House and its ministry.
To access the complete U.S. Catholic article, please visit:
U.S. Catholic: In Upstate NY, an old church becomes a new home for hospice patients (August 2019)
Background information:
Mercy House of the Southern Tier (Endicott, NY)
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