The entrance is dominated by a sky-colored stained glass window. On the other side is the chapel, which looks out on a courtyard. The wing to the right has six patient rooms and two living room areas, where patients can spend the last weeks of their lives with their families in homey surroundings. The other wing has offices and meeting rooms for counseling and chaplaincy services. The 39th patient was admitted Friday morning.
Rooms are vacant only when a patient dies.
Then, for 24 hours, a candle shines in the room so family and staff can grieve. It is the state's only nonprofit hospice center east of the Cascades. Thompson, the retired former owner of Thompson Mechanical in Pasco, said the volunteerism is just one example of the many ways Tri-Citians work together. The Tri-Cities Chaplaincy was one of about 55 nominees for the spirit award. The Midland Reporter-Telegram published summaries of the three finalists.