Debbie Davis, awarded Bethell Hospice volunteer, finds joy and purpose in hospice kitchen

September 4, 2025 · 0 Comments

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Bethell Hospice and Bethell Hospice Foundation marked their 15th anniversary at a joint

stakeholder meeting in August, celebrating dedication, compassion, and community.

At the event, the Debbie Davis Outstanding Achievement Award was presented.

The award honours an individual who exemplifies Bethell Hospice’s values through extraordinary service and commitment.

It was named after Debbie Davis, in recognition of the passion and dedication she has witnessed and shared at Bethell Hospice.

This year, the award went to Lisa Pecarski, a Bethell Hospice volunteer who has dedicated her time to the kitchen, reception, and as a resident support volunteer.

Bethell Hospice said her “warmth, kindness, and generosity have touched the lives of countless residents, families, and fellow team members.”

“Lisa embodies everything this award stands for,” said Margaret Paan, Executive Director, Bethell Hospice. “Her remarkable kindness, commitment, and compassion make her an extraordinary role model for our staff, volunteers, and community.”

Pecarski joined as a Bethell volunteer in 2022, following a 43-year career in childcare.

She shared that she was “fascinated with that caring and compassionate approach Bethell has” after attending a volunteer information session.

Pecarski says that one thing that was immediately evident when she joined the team was that they treat full-time staff and volunteers collaboratively as one big team.

Her favourite position at Bethell is in the kitchen, and she shared that it’s an “honour” to prepare food for Bethell residents.

Pecarski says often those coming to Bethell are coming from hospitals, “to see someone get excited about food again, it’s not a joyful experience in the sense that it’s fun, but when you see you make a difference in someone’s days.”

“Food is love,” says Pecarski. “If their loved one will eat something it makes such a difference to them,” she said about residents’ friends and family.

“I’m just privileged to be there and to make meals,” she says.

In our own homes, she said, the kitchen is the heart of the house, and the same holds true for the Bethell kitchen, which serves as a compassionate, warm, and loving place for residents and their families.

Pecarski shared that over the years she has seen the kitchen act as a place where people can not only share their worries and sadness, but also their beautiful stories.

She said often many families come back and thank them.

“It’s really quite beautiful that they don’t walk away from Bethell, now we’re all part of one family.”

“Cooking and listening and caring are the things I do the best,” says Pecarski.

She says she’s” just someone who puts on a hairnet and an apron and goes in and makes

omelets and oatmeal,” but Bethell Hospice shared that Pecarski always goes above and beyond to support others.

One of her favourite parts is mentoring new volunteers.

Pecarski often leaves her name and number with new volunteers, saying they can reach her anytime, even if it’s just to ask where the vanilla is.

“Anyone who comes into the hospice, I want them to feel welcome whether they’re a family member, a new staff member, a resident, especially new volunteers,” says Pecarski. “Volunteers are the most valuable assets; staff are hired, staff are paid, but volunteers, this is not your job. You have to sign up for a couple shifts a month; if we can get people to come more than that and really commit and work with other people, it just makes for a much richer and more enjoyable interaction for everybody when everybody is working together.”

Sometimes, Pecarski will even sit in the kitchen with new volunteers to let them know there’s someone there supporting them.

She shared that Bethell truly is her happy place, and even when she comes home exhausted, she feels enriched and joyful.

Pecarski often volunteers her time to spend Christmas at Bethell, as she says she knows the struggle it can be to get people to sign up to volunteer around the holidays.

“When you can go in and spend Christmas Eve with a family, that’s such a gift,” says Pecarski.

“I don’t know if I’m that deserving of Debbie Davis but I care enough to make sure everyone has a positive experience,” she says.

She said it was a huge surprise and honour to receive the award, especially as it’s named in Davis’ honour.

“This woman has been with Bethell through everything, and I look at her and I think that is really an outstanding achievement,” says Pecarski.

“Everyone should be honored for something they love to do, so this is my turn and I greatly appreciate it and I’m just delighted. I throw my heart into things that I feel passionate about so this is a big one for me.”

She encourages everyone to volunteer at Bethell, especially those early in their adult life, as Pecarski wishes she had joined sooner.

“I would love to have been here 15 years ago when it opened.”