In hospice care, time takes on a different meaning. Moments become precious. Conversations deepen. And what matters most often comes into clearer focus.
At St. Paul Elder Services, our Hospice team believes that even at the end of life—especially at the end of life—there is room for joy, meaning, and connection. That belief is at the heart of the D.R.E.A.M Project, which stands for Delivering Rewarding Experiences and Memories.
The D.R.E.A.M Project was created to honor the unique wishes of individuals receiving hospice care by helping bring one meaningful, personal request to life. These wishes are not grand gestures for the sake of spectacle. They are deeply personal moments shaped by a person’s memories, relationships, values, and hopes. In fulfilling them, the Hospice team supports emotional, social, and spiritual well-being—care that tends not only to the body, but to the whole person.
Turning Compassion Into Action: The Dream Bank
To make these moments possible, the Hospice team established a Dream Bank, a dedicated fund created solely to support patient wishes. The first gift came through the Community Foundation, allowing the team to officially launch the project. Continued community support helps ensure that every dream—no matter how simple or complex—can be honored with intention and care.
Since launching in September, the Hospice team has already fulfilled three dreams. Each one has left a lasting impression, not only on the individuals receiving care, but on the families who walk alongside them. The feedback shared by participants and loved ones speaks to the profound emotional impact of being seen, heard, and honored during such a vulnerable time.
A Night of Music, Presence, and One Last Gift
Shared by Sandie Miller-Schreiter and Deb Sieth, daughters of a hospice participant
One patient’s dream was to hear Steve March Tormé perform live at the Performing Arts Center—music she had loved for years. As her health declined, the possibility of attending a concert felt more and more out of reach.
But the Hospice team believed it was still possible.
Not only did she attend the performance, accompanied by her daughters, but Steve also made a private visit to her apartment the day before the concert—spending time with her one-on-one, sharing music and conversation.
“When the team helped fulfill my mom’s dream, it brought out a joy in her that we hadn’t seen in so long,” her daughters shared. “Even though she was nearing the end of her journey, she was completely present—soaking in every second. It felt like we were given one last gift.”
The team thoughtfully removed every barrier. Transportation was arranged so she could remain comfortable. The focus was never on how long they would stay—only on what she wanted in that moment.
“Micki, our hospice nurse, kept reassuring us, ‘We don’t have to stay for the whole thing. We can leave after one song.’ But my mom stayed for the entire concert—and the encore.”
“For my sister and me, this wasn’t just a dream for our mom,” they said. “It was quality time we never thought we’d get. In the middle of a really hard season, we shared laughter, music, and joy together. That memory will stay with us forever.”
Pictured above: Janice Miller, SPES hospice patient (right), with her daughters Sandie (top middle) and Deb (left).
A Day of Love, Remembered and Renewed: Shared by Darlene Wyngaard, hospice participant
Another dream centered on love, history, and togetherness.
Darlene’s wish was to celebrate her 55th wedding anniversary surrounded by her entire family—something she was unsure would ever be possible. With careful planning and the support of community partners, the Hospice team helped bring all twenty family members together for a day that honored her marriage and the life she built with her husband.
“Celebrating our 55th wedding anniversary all together was something I never thought would happen,” she shared. “But the team made it possible in the most meaningful way.”
When she was presented with her wedding bouquet—yellow roses and birds of paradise, recreated exactly as she carried them decades ago—she was overcome with emotion. Then, as a volunteer from the Franciscan Music Center began singing Beautiful Brown Eyes, the couple’s first dance song, she placed her head on her husband’s shoulder, took his hand, and danced with him in their living room.
She later called it “a day of love.”
“It was incredibly special,” she said. “Having all of us together, celebrating our marriage and our life—it meant everything.”
When asked what she would say to other patients or families considering the D.R.E.A.M Project, her answer was simple and wholehearted: “Do it.”
Pictured above: On the left, the recreated bouquet of yellow roses and birds of paradise. On the right, Darlene and her husband, Junior, dancing to their wedding song in their living room.
Helping More Dreams Take Shape
The D.R.E.A.M Project is a reminder that dignity, joy, and meaning do not disappear at the end of life. With compassion, creativity, and community support, these moments are still possible—and profoundly impactful.
If you are interested in supporting the D.R.E.A.M Project, donations can be made at www.stpaulelders.org by clicking “Donate” and specifying D.R.E.A.M Project in the comment box. Gifts may also be made through the Community Foundation to the D.R.E.A.M Bank for St. Paul Hospice.
Together, we can continue honoring lives, relationships, and final wishes—one dream at a time.