Emily’s House Family Advisory Council
Emily’s House Family Advisory Council
Bruno Geremia (Chair), Father of Matthew
Marlene Geremia, Mother of Matthew
Amy Manning, Mother of Baby Grace
Christina Ciuffetta, Mother of Ava
Domenic Ciuffetta, Father of Ava
Schevaune Parchment, Mother of Ayden
Melissa Mielkie, Mother of Ethan
“As a Family Advisory Council, our goal is to bring the family voice to Emily’s House and enhance the already outstanding services and programs provided by the staff by partnering at all levels within Emily’s House. We feel it is vitally important to keep everyone connected.” ~ Bruno Geremia, Chair, Family Advisory Council
Parents of children with a life-limiting illness have been sharing their experiences since the origin of Emily’s House children’s hospice, and even in the pre-opening planning years.
After years of informal sharing, journeying and consultations with client parents and families, a formalized committee was established, and their first official meeting was held October 9, 2019, as the Emily’s House Family Advisory Council (FAC).
On several occasions, our founding CEO, Rauni Salminen, has acknowledged the invaluable contributions of our family advisors. More recently, during the Emily’s House 10th anniversary celebration, she said: “Thank you to our teachers … the adults, children and families, who have invited us into their lives, entrusted us in sharing the care of their loved ones. Their voices and journeys have GUIDED us to where we are today. Thank you to the Family Advisory Council for your continued support of Emily’s House, even after your children have passed away – you have stayed to support other families.”
Today, as Emily’s House continues to innovate and to respond to the evolving hospice care needs of families, the lived experience of our Family Advisory Council parents is an invaluable resource for our clinical and client services teams to draw on. They can serve as a sounding board for pilot programs in development, as responses to care gap/needs are evaluated, and as newer families are engaged for respite and end-of-life care. Through memorial, fundraising and media events, we’ve witnessed how these leadership client families offer encouragement and hope for peer families who are on a similar journey. Thank you to all our current Family Advisory Council members who share their insight, experience and love for Emily’s House.
Recruitment: Looking for New Members
The Emily’s House Family Advisory Council is assembled to engage past families in candid feedback for program and service development. If you want to have your voice heard, the Family Advisory Council is looking for members. Share your voice to help improve and mold the care experience for all families. For more information, or to let us know you may be interested in applying to join, please email us at: [email protected].
Accomplishment Highlights Over the Years
TVOntario Interview with Steve Paikin
Bruno and Marlene Geremia, Matthew’s parents, were interviewed in-studio for TVO’S The Agenda with Steve Paikin. The segment on Emily’s House and paediatric palliative care also featured Rauni Salminen, CEO/Founder and Nicole Albay, PSW.
To view the TVO in-studio interview:
Memory Tree at Hike for Hospice
Our Emily’s House Family Advisory Council hosted a Memory Tree at Hike for Hospice in 2023 – inviting participants to bring a photo of their loved one to hang on the tree, in memory of their special person.
Every year, these families bring a team to Hike in memory of their beloved child.
Speakers at Gala Fundraising Events
Amy and Chris Manning, parents of Baby Grace, have been featured speakers (a.k.a. “rockstars”) at our Emily’s House gala fundraising events, inspiring donors by generously sharing their story.
Annual Holiday Gift Drive: for Emily’s House Children’s Hospice in Memory of Ava
Christina and Dom Ciuffetta started the Holiday Gift Drive: for Emily’s House Children’s Hospice in Memory of Ava in 2014, mobilizing friends, family, neighbours, schools, realtor colleagues (Frank Leo & Associates, Spectrum Realty), and a local baker. Over $60,000 have been raised in total, plus 20 large vehicles/ SUVs full of toys and gifts for our hospice families. Generous gift donations brought holiday spirt to our clients through gifts for special events and activities, such as the Emily’s House Family Holiday Party, Pop-up Toy/Gift Store pickups, and/or home deliveries in support of our client families this December.
Please read Ava’s Story at: Ava’s Story
To read about the most recent FRANK LEO & ASSOCIATES Gift Delivery and Ribbon-cutting in Emily’s House Snoezelen Room: Click Here
Hockey for Grace
In memory of Baby Grace, Amy, Chris, Carter, family, sponsors, volunteers, hockey players, referees, donors, bakers, emcee, social media, VIPs, media, and even the Mayor of Bradford have hosted an annual hockey tournament and charity social in Newmarket!
For more on Hockey for Grace: Click Here
Emily’s House Annual Garden Memorial
Our Family Advisory Council participates in the annual Emily’s House Garden Memorial, held in our hospice gardens. As families place an engraved stone in the garden, and witness other families, they are reminded that Emily’s House is a source of deep joy, healing and resilience for these families and children throughout and long after a palliative care journey.
For more on the Garden Memorial: Click Here
Emily’s House “Thank You Letter” Video
Three of our FAC families are featured in an Emily’s House “Thank You” video, that features Emily’s House parents, staff and volunteers reading a “Thank You” Letter:
In memory of Ayden, Schevaune continues to support Emily’s House
Ayden’s mom, Schevaune Parchment, continues to support Emily’s House, by sharing her story at memorial events, and participating in the Family Advisory Council to give voice to our families. The love for Ayden, his spirit, and his life never waivers. It is through that love that his incredible family and friends continued to support us and impact the children and families we care for. Ayden’s loving Godmother, Shailene, participated in Celebrity Family Feud Canada with the incredible cast of Diggstown and won $10,000 for Emily’s House children’s hospice in honour of Ayden! It is beautiful to witness how one precious life can continue to impact so many others.
Melissa’s Legacy Work – Fingerprint Charms, Anniversary Visits and Fundraising
Melissa Mielkie is one of the newer members of the Family Advisory Council. Melissa and her husband have been fundraising annually for Emily’s House in memory of Ethan, mobilizing family members, and colleagues. They visit Emily’s House on special anniversary dates, and participated in the Emily’s House community tile art mosaic, a legacy project. When Melissa visited Emily’s House in December to drop off some gift donations, I noticed she was wearing a Dimples sterling silver thumbprint charm from our Emily’s House Legacy Work Program. She wears baby Ethan’s fingerprint every day and keeps him close in her heart.
To read more about Melissa Wears Baby Ethan’s Fingerprint on her Dimples Thumbprint Charm: Click Here
Testimonials Helped Inspire Donations for Replacement Hospital Beds
When the time came to raise funding to launch the Emily’s House at Home pilot program, and to replace the original Stryker hospital beds at our Emily’s House children’s hospice, Family Advisory Council members gave testimonials for the potential benefits of these special projects, based on their lived experiences.
Bruno, Marlene and Amy’s hospital bed testimonials are included in this web article:
Click Here
