SHARE:  
Donate Now
Facebook  Youtube  Twitter  Instagram  Linkedin  
A Message from
David Selberg

Dear friends,


Many of us who have lost a loved one look for ways to manage our immense grief. Hospice of Santa Barbara helps clients to navigate this often-painful journey in a variety of ways. This may include grief counseling, support groups, and healing modalities such as poetry and art. 

 

With this in mind, Day of the Dead (Día De Los Muertos) has become an increasingly popular holiday in Santa Barbara and around the world as it is seen as a valuable way to reconnect with those who have died and relieve grief. Día De Los Muertos is a two-day holiday, November 1-2nd that reunites the living and dead. Families create ofrendas (offerings) to honor their departed family members that have passed. These altars are decorated with bright yellow marigold flowers, photos of the departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of the one being honored. The offerings are believed to encourage visits from departed souls as they hear the prayers, smell their foods and join in the celebrations! 

 

Once again, we have created a Día De Los Muertos altar in the Hospice of Santa Barbara office entryway. We invite all of you to place photos or any other items on the altar to honor your loved ones who have died.


Be well,

David Selberg

Please join us for our 41st Annual

Light Up A Life Ceremony

Join us for our 41st annual Light Up A Life ceremony! Each year, Hospice of Santa Barbara brings the communities of Santa Barbara, Montecito, Carpinteria and Goleta together for a ceremony of light, love, remembrance and unity.


The holiday season can stir up a range of emotions, including joy, stress, sadness, and everything in between. For those preparing to navigate the holiday season without cherished loved ones, this time of year can be even more difficult and HSB honors them every year with Light Up a Life. Light Up A Life is an opportunity for all to join together as communities unite to remember and honor the many that are missed this holiday season. 


This year, we hope you join us at one or more of the locations listed below:



  • Montecito (Upper Village Green) - Thursday, December 5
  • 5:00 pm - Stars sales & music, Program starts 30 min later


  • Goleta (Camino Real Marketplace) - Sunday, December 8
  • 5:00 pm - Stars sales & music, Program starts 30 min later


  • Carpinteria (Seal Fountain) - Saturday, December 14
  • 5:00 pm - Stars sales & music, Program starts 30 min later


  • Santa Barbara (Lobero Theatre) - Sunday, December 15
  • 5:30 pm - Stars sales & music, Program starts 30 min later


Click Here to Learn More




Fall Song

by Joy Harjo

It is a dark fall day.

The earth is slightly damp with rain.

I hear a jay.

The cry is blue.

I have found you in the story again.

Is there another word for ‘‘divine’’?

I need a song that will keep sky open in my mind.

If I think behind me, I might break.

If I think forward, I lose now.

Forever will be a day like this

Strung perfectly on the necklace of days.

Slightly overcast

Yellow leaves

Your jacket hanging in the hallway

Next to mine.


Volunteer Spotlight:

Trish

Trish was born in Minneapolis but grew up in Oregon. She was the youngest of eight children. Her father was a hospital controller, and his career brought the family to California when Trish was just twelve. She attended UCSB to study business but was not feeling that as a career, and consequently switched to SBCC and became a nurse. Together with a fellow RN, she became a travelling nurse which allowed her to live and work in many different states, eventually returning to California working at Cottage Hospital.

 

Trish has suffered many family losses in her life, including her parents, two brothers and a young niece. When her brother was dying of AIDS, he moved to Santa Barbara to be close to family; Trish took a leave of absence to be his primary caregiver. Stemming from her career in nursing and in her role as a caregiver, she always had it in mind to volunteer for a hospice organization. Luckily for us, she joined the Patient Care Training program in the Spring of 2022 and has helped several patients since completing the training.

 

Trish feels that volunteering with HSB is a true honor and a privilege; it “fills her up” and gives her an extra spring in her step to be giving support to our patients in this vulnerable time of their lives.

 

Trish has been happily married for over 27 years and has a 24-year-old daughter with whom she has a special bond and relationship. When needed, Trish also helps out at her husband’s dental practice. In her spare time, Trish likes to spend time with her family and close friends, as well as walking and reading.


Happy work anniversary to Michael, Noelle and Chris!

Thank you to Michael Cruse, Noelle Clearwater, and Chris Davis for all of your contributions to Hospice of Santa Barbara! We are eternally grateful for the dedication and passion of our staff.


To learn more about our wonderful staff, please visit our website.

Michael Cruse, LCSW, Bereavement Services Manager, celebrates his 15-year anniversary.

Noelle Clearwater, M.A., Registered Associate MFT, Bereavement Counselor, celebrates her 8-year anniversary.

Chris Davis, Public Relations Director, celebrates his 25-year anniversary.

Letter from Julia Barrera, Team Member at Get It Done SB! and Mi Regalo: Living Loud with Advance Care Planning 

“One thing I can say about my family is, like the way they talk, the way they live is loud.”


I grew up in a proud Sicilian-American family, the Lumias, which meant every kitchen was alive with raucous conversation, every dinner filled with petty bickering and sincere compliments, and every hug a long tight embrace that let you know “I will love you no matter what.” Every emotion, positive or negative, was expressed loudly and intensely, without shame or censorship. This included feelings about disease, aging, and death. Read More


Join us for an Advance Care Planning Workshop in November or schedule an appointment with one of our fabulous volunteers! To RSVP, or for general questions please call Jaqueline Avelar at (805) 705-0546 or email CommunityACP@hospiceofsb.org.

Upcoming ACP Workshops 

November 12th & 19th  

6:00 - 7:30 pm

Eastside Library

1102 E Montecito St

Santa Barbara,CA

Get It Done SB! and Mi Regalo are HSB’s Advance Care Planning (ACP) programs, focused on bringing awareness and education in English and Spanish to ensure that all of our community members have a completed Advance Directive before they need one. For more information on Advance Care Planning, upcoming workshops or to request one-on-one help from our experienced volunteers, visit Get It Done SB! or Mi Regalo. You can also call us at 805-563-8820 or email us at CommunityACP@hospiceofsb.org.



Thank you for all that you do to support our work!
 
It is a remarkable privilege to witness the difference we make for those we serve on a daily basis. It is only through your generosity that we can accomplish all that we do and will in the future.
Donate Now
Phone: (805) 563-8820
Fax: (805) 563-8821
Facebook  Youtube  Twitter  Instagram  Linkedin  
Newsletter Sign-Up
Do you know someone who might enjoy our newsletter? Please forward and have them click the link below to be added to our mailing list.
Sign-up Now