The symbolism of the moment was both ironic and yet inescapable.
As I talked with Gretchen Lewis and Wanda Buchanon at an outdoor table on the CaroMont Health campus, a magnificent July sunrise was unfolding behind us, the eastern sky awash with brightening colors of red and purple.
Yet the two women with whom I spoke have dedicated their careers to helping men and women as they approach the inevitable sunset of their own lives.
Their goal is to help that transition occur with as much comfort, as much compassion, and as much dignity as possible.
Gretchen, a registered nurse, has worked with Gaston Hospice for six years, while Wanda, a certified hospice and palliative care nursing assistant, has worked with end-of-life patients for 16 years.
WILMINGTON Mildred “Micki” Shinault Quesada, 80, died peacefully Friday, July 2, 2021, at The Robin Johnson House.
She was born Jan. 14, 1941, in Ivanhoe, Virginia. Micki was the first in her immediate family to continue her education, graduating from Cape Fear Technical Institute in Wilmington with a degree in business administration. Many will remember her from the 30-plus years she worked third shift at Jimbo’s Breakfast & Lunch House in Wilmington. She never met a stranger and formed many friendships over the years.
Micki was a devoted mother, wife and friend. She lived her life with strength, humor and courage. Micki loved her family, her furkids, cross-stich and reading. She could be found sitting in her favorite chair, surrounded by her poodles, working on projects. such as a baby blankets for grandchildren or friends. She poured all her love into her needlework, and it was exceptional.