By Nancy Kennedy

Friday, May 20, 2011 at 9:27 pm

photos by DAVE SIGLER/Chronicle

INVERNESS – When Suzanne Weldon and Donald Morr were married Friday, the moment was bittersweet.

As two violinists played “Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and “Canon in D” by Pachabel, Morr stood beside his bride, a bouquet of calla lilies in her lap, her body riddled with terminal cancer, and promised to love, honor and cherish her “until we are parted by death.”

Suzanne Weldon and Donald Morr were married Friday at HPH Hospice care at the Hospice unit at Citrus Health and Rehab in Inverness. Rev. Mark Whittaker, Weldon’s pastor at First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, performed the service.

Currently under HPH Hospice care at the Hospice unit at Citrus Health and Rehab in Inverness, it was one of Weldon’s final wishes to marry her sweetheart of 34 years legally and with a Christian service.

“This is a beautiful thing today,” said the Rev. Mark Whittaker, Weldon’s pastor at First United Methodist Church of Homosassa. “We’re here, celebrating with this couple – and it’s about time.”

About 20 of the couple’s friends squeezed into Weldon’s Hospice room and even spilled out into the hallway. Before Whittaker pronounced them husband and wife, everyone sang “Amazing Grace” and “The Lord’s Prayer.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. The bride and groom, both age 71, met in Fort Myers in 1976. His wife had died and she was divorced. Because of financial reasons the couple never legally married, but lived together in a common law marriage.

That always bothered Weldon, Morr said before the wedding. “This will ease that pain for her. I’m just sorry it had to be this way.”

In March, they had returned from an idyllic vacation to Alaska where they saw the Northern Lights and rode a dog sled. Over the years, the two have traveled to all 50 states, which Weldon said are her best memories of their life together.
By May 3, they discovered Weldon had cancer throughout her body. That’s when they decided to get married.

“It’s been 34 years in the making,” Weldon said Friday morning. “We’ve taken wonderful trips together, we’ve had companionship together, even through our ups and downs we’ve always worked things out – and we’ve loved each other. That’s the most important part.”

Weldon said her dream had come true, to be an “old married couple.” She said she never liked that they weren’t legally married. They would refer to each other as “close friend,” but that wasn’t accurate either. She wanted to be husband and wife, in the eyes of the law and especially in the eyes of God.
Morr said he especially thanks the Clerk of Courts office and Judge Yerman for expediting their paperwork.

“It gives me great comfort to know that we’ve done something to make our relationship legal,” she said. “There was always something that wasn’t there but it’s there now. I don’t have to be ashamed.”

Weldon said being married takes a weight off her shoulders, although it doesn’t change the way she feels about Morr. If anything, her love is stronger, she said.
Wendy Hall, HPH Hospice community liaison, said Weldon has been a “bright spot in our community.” Until a few years ago, Weldon was Betty Belle, one of God’s Clods clowns, and brought therapy dogs in to visit Hospice patients.
“She’s absolutely remarkable,” Hall said. “She’s so positive, through all she’s been through.”

“I know it’s going to be rough going down the road,” Weldon said, “but I look at it this way: Even though we’ll only be married for a short time, we’re doing this to celebrate a lifetime of 34 years together and to say to each other, ‘I love you as much today as I did back then.’”

The South and Central West Pasco teams celebrated the beginning of National Hospice Month by toasting one another with coffee, tea, cocoa and baked goods. The event was organized by the team’s Wellness Committees and recognized the work that every discipline entails to provide the very best care for our hospice patients and their families. Pictured here is the crew from the Rowan office with mugs raised in salute to hospice workers everywhere.

HPH Hospice Chaplain, Brian Baggs presided at the wedding ceremony of HPH patient Jerry Fout last Friday. Jerry and his bride Karen had met at a young age, went separate ways but reconnected through the internet. Jerry and Karen consider every day a gift and are grateful to HPH Hospice for Jerry’s excellent care.

Paige, 8, a student at Shady Hills Elementary School in Pasco County, was one of 44 young children who attended HPH Hospice’s (HPH) Children’s Assistance Program (CAP) bereavement camp on Thursday, June 10, at the New Port Richey Recreation Center. Paige felt better after talking with counselors, HPH volunteers, and children her own age. Paige’s grandfather died under HPH care about a year ago and she has been receiving grief counseling at no charge through the CAP. This is one of three camps HPH will be holding for bereaved elementary age children this month. Special thanks to the United Way of Pasco County, the Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation, other businesses, community organizations and individuals for their support of the CAP.
Click Here to view our CAP Camp photo gallery!

HPH Hospice recently hosted the monthly meeting of the Networking Group at the Hospice House at Barrington Place.  Thirty individuals from local health care agencies attended the event.  For information on this exciting group of professionals, call Wendy Hall at 527-4600.

Sharing a joyful moment at the Brown-Cunha wedding were from left the bride’s maternal grandmother Jean Tomblyn; groom Josh Cunha holding the couple’s son Evan; Jeannette Brown-Cunha; mother of the bride Karen Brown and her husband, Greg; Tom Brown, Greg’s father; and the newlyweds’ two other children Ethan, 3, and Kali, 8.

Days like Saturday, April 3, are what make the local Chambers of Commerce proud and full-time residents realize that it’s worth withstanding the formidable summer heat to live in on Florida’s gulf coast. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and spring was everywhere to be found. So was the promise of new beginnings as Greg Brown, 52, a patient at the HPH Marliere Hospice Care Center, dressed in suit and tie, walked his eldest daughter, Jeannette, through the French doors leading from his resident suite and through the courtyard to the gazebo, where groom Josh Cunha was waiting.

Jeannette and Josh met in their early twenties and started a family. The everyday responsibilities of caring for their children plus work, meal planning and paying bills quickly took over. However, the couple never doubted their decision to marry, it was just a matter of when. After  Greg was admitted to HPH Hospice (HPH), Jeannette and Josh wanted to solidify their commitment to one another through marriage.

In less than a week, dresses were bought and preparations were made. Karen Brown, mother of the bride along with Jeannette and her younger sister, Joanne, notified extended family and friends of the big event. Light refreshments and wedding cake were served on the Care Center’s verandah immediately following the ceremony while Jeannette and her dad sat hand in hand listening to the song ”Butterfly Kisses.” Greg felt too weak to dance, but the love that father and daughter feel for one another was clearly evident.

HPH Hospice believes in making every day count and considers it an honor that Jeannette and Josh chose to be married in the courtyard of the Marliere Hospice Care Center. We thank them, their family, and friends for allowing us to be part of this very special day, and hope that their future together is filled with the greatest happiness.

Click here to view the Wedding Photo Gallery

Hernando Care Center staff gathered in the courtyard on Tuesday, March 23, to honor Dr. Joe Wheeler. This time of reflection gave staff the opportunity to celebrate the life of their dear friend “Dr. Joe.” Members of Dr. Wheeler’s family were present to hear many fond memories that were shared through laughter and tears.

Fondly regarded for his unique sense of humor and gentle, caring spirit, each story about Dr. Wheeler brought special meaning to the lives of those he touched. Dr. Wheeler’s family sincerely thanked everyone at the Hospice Care Center for their love and kindness. At the conclusion, granddaughters Ana, Ava and Amy were overjoyed when asked to take part in the balloon release.

The first time Audrey Potter presided as queen, her city was so small the police chief’s daily duty included turning the street lights on and off.

Crime didn’t exist in this quaint village. The chief took some grief for using tax dollars to build a fountain in front of the station, but it provided great fun for the only kind of mischief kids got into during those days of innocence. Tide made big bubbles.

Audrey was a 15-year-old ninth-grader at Gulf High in 1946 when she won a beauty pageant and the title Miss New Port Richey. That automatically meant she would also wear the crown as Queen Chasco in a fledgling community celebration heavy on Native American themes but loose on historical accuracy.

Retreat gives support to grieving children