During his last days, only Calvary Hospital was able to relieve our son Greg’s cancer pain with peace and dignity.
No parent should ever have to bury their child. But on October 14, 2014, our son Greg, only 35, lost his battle with cancer. Courageous throughout his entire life, with a love for adventure and travel, it was heartbreaking to see him suffer. But thanks to you and your expert staff, you relieved Greg’s physical pain, and the emotional pain of our entire family, as well. For Greg’s final week, our family alternated our overnight stays, so we would always be with him. In fact, his hospital room became a sacred place for us, filled with peace and serenity. Your combination of professional expertise and compassion was remarkable. We have never seen such genuine care and concern. Believe us, we know. I’m a physical therapist, and my wife is a registered nurse. Greg lived out his final days with dignity and peace, in a place like no other. –Thank you Calvary Hospital.

Your care for my Susan during her final days was life-saving.
I am grateful beyond words for the care that Calvary Hospital provided my beloved wife Susan at the end of her life. Your medical attention and palliative expertise were superior. Your attentive sensitivity to our needs as a Jewish family was remarkable. And your heartfelt love which we felt from every staff member was genuine. Calvary provided Susan with more than just a place for her to die, but also a sheltered, peaceful community to leave this life as she lived it – with her dignity undiminished. As soon as Calvary started caring for Susan, you lifted that heavy burden from us and allowed us to simply be a family once again. Because of you, my soulmate died in peace, which assures me that she will rest in peace. God bless you, Calvary Hospital.

There was only one place that could match my sister’s love for life during her final days: Calvary Hospital.
My sister Eileen possessed an incredible love and enthusiasm for life. With her keen sense of style, she loved fashion, shopping, traveling to Europe, and finding new and exciting restaurants. So when we realized that there was no cure for her terminal cancer, there was no better place that she spend her final days than where her quality of life would never be compromised: Calvary Hospital. The staff at Calvary – in fact, every employee who we were in contact with – relieved the pain, as well as the incredible stress that we were experiencing. Eileen was treated with the integrity, dignity, and grace that she deserved…even to her very last day. Her hair was kept properly coiffed, her nails done just right, and her nurse even applied her signature make up. Eileen said the pampering made her feel loved. The staff was extraordinary in their care, as if God had hand-picked them to work there. Eileen always believed that you should never give up on life as long as you have a breath in you. Well, Calvary Hospital celebrated her life until the very end in a way that only Calvary can. Thank you, Calvary. And God bless you.

My Aunt Mary loved her Catholic religion, her Irish legacy, and a place called Calvary.
My Aunt Mary lived life with extraordinary pride, passion and purpose. Nothing made her prouder than her loving family, her Catholic faith and her Irish heritage. She passed down to all of us a determination to always work hard and help those in need. When a terminal illness began to rob her of her life, we knew that she deserved a special place to give her the dignity and care that she so greatly deserved. Being the Chief of Counterterrorism in the NYPD, I knew the City well. So the choice for Aunt Mary was simple: Calvary Hospital’s Dawn Greene Hospice at Mary Manning Walsh Home on the Upper East Side. The special staff of nurses and doctors relieved her of the physical pain, and she was spiritually comforted daily by the Catholic nuns and priests. She was surrounded by angels who gave all of us a peace and serenity that we will never forget. Thank you Calvary Hospital.

After caring for his patients his entire life, all the kindness was returned to my husband at the very end… at Calvary.
My husband, Dr. Vincent Pacella, worked his entire career in Brooklyn – caring for his patients with exceptional compassion and warmth. This was the place he loved the most. So it was only fitting that he spend the final days of his life with your remarkable staff at Calvary Hospital in Brooklyn. We knew that this was the only place that could repay him with all the love he deserved. The moment he arrived, you relieved his anguish and pain. There was an instant calmness and warmth that we all felt. And you took care of every detail – keeping him free of pain and comfortable. You even provided a special bed for my six-foot-six Vinny. Being devout Catholics, your priests embraced our faith and never let go of our hands throughout his final journey, surrounding us with peace and comfort. We had heard about Calvary from our doctor friends, but never imagined how special your staff of angels really are.

Throughout their entire lives, our parents sacrificed everything for us.
Our greatest gift to them during their final days was Calvary. True to the culture of proud Italian-Americans, our parents worked hard all of their lives so that their five sons could have the education and opportunities that they didn’t. So it was only natural that when dad had terminal cancer, then years later mom, uterine cancer, we took them to only place on earth that could relieve their pain and suffering with the most expert end-of-life care – Calvary Hospital – in the place they loved the most – Brooklyn. Both times, their physical and emotional pain was totally relieved with constant comfort, compassion and non-abandonment. But Calvary’s unique care didn’t stop with mom and dad. They also gave my brothers and me a whole new life that was stress-free. They took away our roles as caregivers and gave us back our simple roles as sons. We were all able to live our lives as a family again. Calvary took care of the rest. At the end of the day, Calvary and my parents had a lot in common: they made the good times great, and the tough times easier. Thank you Calvary.

Calvary Hospital helped our dying mother receive a r’fuah sh’lemah.
The informal translation of this expression is, ‘Get Well Soon.’ But, how does one cure an incurable disease? Physically, you cannot. Emotionally and spiritually, however, Calvary’s Home Hospice proves that you can. It is a perfect healing that your magnificent program provided to Mother in her final year. Peter, a trusted family friend and EMT, who suggested that we consider inviting Calvary Hospital to come into her home and provide another kind of cure, was right. The expert staff of Calvary@Home alleviated her physical pain, as well as the mental anguish through which our family, particularly my nonagenarian father, was suffering. In fact, your staff cared as much for him as it did for my mother. Your nurse, social worker, and rabbi made sure that my mother and all of us, her family, were granted peace and serenity, free from pain, stress, and anxiety. It was a perfect healing that combined compassion and care. We witnessed firsthand how Calvary truly is Where Life Continues.

We were truly blessed the day Calvary Staff became involved in my mom’s care at the nursing home where she was a resident. The most supportive health care team I have ever met.

Absolutely wonderful place and people. I am in awe of the spirit and faith that maintains this staff.

Special thanks to the angels who provided the light for our brother Howard’s path. A truly exceptional staff.