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Retired RN, Coast Guard Veteran Honored to Serve as Hospice Volunteer

For Marc Reiss, a retired nurse and Coast Guard veteran, caring for others has always been second nature. These days, his service continues through VNA Care’s hospice program, where he volunteers his time – often with fellow veterans nearing the end of life.

“I’m the son of an Iwo Jima Marine,” he said. “That’s one of the great honors of my life.”

The opportunity to spend meaningful time with and support terminally ill patients and their loved ones has become another. Marc began volunteering at VNA Care more than two years ago. Having overcome his own life-threatening health issues, he missed his lifelong nursing career and responded to a notice in his local newspaper about volunteer opportunities at VNA Care’s hospice program.

Marc brings comfort and companionship to those in his care. Among his patients was a United States Navy veteran whose wife had recently passed away and was now facing his own terminal diagnosis. Marc remembered the man was experiencing crippling grief, but was unwilling to talk to his children about this shared loss.

“We had a rapport as vets, and it allowed him to speak freely of his great love for his wife as well as his great grief,” said Marc. “It was an unburdening for him. I was a therapeutic ear and could offer him a real catharsis.”

The patient’s grief eventually lifted, and he was able to once again enjoy time with his children and grandchildren.

Other visits are quieter but no less impactful. Marc spends his time reading aloud from biographies of artists for his current patient. While she may be unresponsive for weeks, other times she’ll suddenly look up, smile at Marc, and say, “Marvelous!”

Marc’s time as a hospice volunteer has been deeply life-affirming and a way to “contribute a little positivity to the world.” He believes veterans, in particular, deserve special care and understanding.

“Those guys stepped up and did whatever was asked of them,” said Marc. “You can’t ask much more of a person. It’s my pleasure to be able to spend time with them now.”

Learn more about becoming a hospice volunteer.