Before he drew his last breath, Francis “Bud” Greune received a gift—to die with dignity surrounded by family.
“He was 89 and living at River’s Run when he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer,” says his daughter, Debra Dewey, senior financial assistant at RIT’s Center for Recreation and Intramurals. “We were told he had three weeks to live and a social worker at Highland Hospital mentioned Serenity House, a United Way-funded comfort care facility in Victor."
“I have always supported United Way but never thought I’d benefit from their services.”
Greune was a Purple Heart WWII veteran who lost his lower right leg on a landmine in France at the age of 22. “Dad didn’t let anything stop him; he became a lawyer, a toastmaster and taught speech and communication courses,” says Dewey. “He was also a member of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.”
Dewey says the cost to give her father around-the-clock care would have been astronomical. “Serenity House was a blessing. Two days before Dad died last March we rolled his bed outside to the deck and had a party. It was just like being home.”
Live United…2013
