Nov. 18, 2025: When Sherry Frisk and her husband, Greg, moved back to Motley in 2011, she was simply looking for a way to get involved. A conversation at church changed everything.
“Linda Townsend was a hospice volunteer and mentioned how meaningful it was,” Sherry recalled. “I said, ‘Okay, I’ll try it.’ I took the classes. And honestly, when I finished, I didn’t know if I could do it. The thought of being there when someone dies felt so hard. But once I met my first patient, I realized I could. It wasn’t about dying. It was about being there.”
That first visit opened a calling that has now lasted 11 years with Lakewood’s hospice program.
The power of presence
Over the years, Sherry has sat beside countless patients, some alert and talkative, others quiet and near the end of life. Every encounter, she says, is different.
“Sometimes they’re awake, and we visit for an hour. Sometimes they’re sleeping, and I just sit, hold their hand, rub lotion on their arms, and talk,” she said. “Even when they can’t respond, I know they’re listening.”
She treasures the small details that bring comfort like decorating a room for Christmas, calling a daughter so a patient can hear her voice, or setting out a little holiday decoration on a door that might otherwise stay bare.
“They just need that connection,” Sherry said. “They need to know they’re not forgotten where they are.”
Moments that stay
Some patients stand out in her memory, like the woman who loved Christmas music. “Her daughter asked if we could play Christmas songs for her mother,” Sherry recalled. “I went home, gathered up my CDs.”
Other stories bring quiet joy, like the woman who loved to color during Sherry’s visits.
“Her family gave me her crayons and a Dairy Queen gift card after she passed,” Sherry said with a smile. “Now her daughter is a hospice volunteer too. She told me recently, ‘I thought you looked familiar.’ Maybe I helped plant that seed.”
Listening without correcting
Through experience, Sherry has learned how to meet each person where they are.
“With memory loss, I’ve learned not to correct them. You just go with the flow,” she said. “It’s about dignity. You just listen.”
That same philosophy extends to family members, who often need comfort and reassurance as much as the hospice patient.
“Sometimes people will share more with someone who isn’t family,” she said. “It’s amazing what they open up about.”
Finding balance and fulfillment
When asked how she cares for herself emotionally, Sherry shares her therapeutic escape.
“If you saw my sewing room, you’d know,” she said with a laugh. “That’s my therapy. That, and volunteering with the Motley Historical Society and my many years as the Motley Food Shelf director [and now an active volunteer]. It keeps me grounded.”
Her church, Motley United Methodist, also helps her connect with others through community projects and outreach. “There are so many lonely people,” she said. “Anything that brings people together matters.”
Why Lakewood’s hospice is special
For Sherry, Lakewood’s hospice program stands out because of its team members.
“Dr. Julie Benson has such passion for hospice,” she said. “And Lindsay [Kirk, social worker] and Madeline [Revering, social worker], they’re all so dedicated and caring. They make sure volunteers are supported and patients are truly cared for.”
Each month, volunteers meet for training and fellowship, sometimes sharing a meal first. “We laugh, we learn, and we support each other,” Sherry said. “It’s a good balance before we get into the serious part of the work.”
Why it’s rewarding
After 11 years, Sherry still believes the simplest act of showing up can change everything.
“It’s just rewarding,” she said. “It’s the fulfillment of knowing you helped someone feel comforted and not alone. You’d be surprised how many people don’t have family nearby. There’s nothing lonelier than dying alone.”
And she hopes others will consider joining her.
“You don’t need special skills,” Sherry added. “You just need to care. And to be there.”
If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a Hospice volunteer (because there is a need), please contact Madeline Revering at (218) 894-8288 or madelinerevering@lakewoodhealthsystem.com.