Doris Delventhal has helped bring many lives into the world as an obstetrics nurse. Devoting herself to helping families grow, this petite woman lives by the example provided by her father. "Being a pastor's daughter, I grew up watching our church members go through life cycles. My dad had a special way of handling life and death. He taught me an awful lot and that's what led me to volunteer with Arbor Hospice," Doris says.

Thirty-five years ago, Doris came to Arbor Hospice and told us she wanted to volunteer. She began to visit with patients in the same hospital where she was committed to bringing forth life. She's been with us ever since, well past retirement and well into the inevitable challenges that come with age.

Doris has lived life's full circle with many patients - it's what attracted her to volunteering with Arbor Hospice. "I thought that helping people through their last journey in life was so different from when I was delivering babies." It had special meaning for her and she thought it important to continue the legacy that her father had begun - giving back and teaching the next generation to do the same. So, she began to bring her granddaughter, Caleen, with her on visits when she wad just five years old.

Caleen remembers making colorful cards with patients and chatting with them when she was a little girl. She entertained the patients with the same charm as her grandmother. Through the years, Caleen helped her grandmother on and off, and became an official Arbor Hospice volunteer two years ago, after she completed training. She has inherited her grandmother's spirit of giving back to her family and community.

When Doris became legally blind, Caleen began to drive her to visits. It's a precious, wonderful time the women share together and with their patients.

Working in tandem, patients welcome their multi-generational visitors with smiles. Doris doesn't want the attention drawn to her lack of vision, so Caleen will comment to the patient, "What beautiful flowers, did you have a birthday?" Then, Doris starts an easy conversation with the patient about the flowers. Caleen scouts the patient's room for more topic fodder, Doris picks up the thread and conversation begins anew. Soon, the patient tires, and the ladies bid their patient goodbye to make another visit.

Caleen says, "I know that I'm making our patients' last weeks more meaningful. I never expected to have this amazing feeling of fulfillment. It's miserable that many patients don't have family close by and just by talking to them and letting them know people still care about them makes them so happy. I love learning things from different people and listening to them talk about the experiences they have been through."

Doris gets in the last words, "Volunteering is such a blessing for me. The busier I am, the less affected I am by blindness; it takes my mind off it. I hold patients' hands because touch is very important and it's a tremendous comfort. I am sure this is going to be carried on through Caleen and her children. It is so satisfying to share this time with my granddaughter and to know my father's legacy of giving back lives on."

Caleen will be married this summer, a celebration in the circle of life to which both she and her grandmother are looking forward.