Doris Lisenby was awarded the Heart of Hospice Lifetime Achievement Award by the Missouri Hospice & Palliative Care Association on February 6, 2019. Doris has spent more than 28 years volunteering with Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care. She has inspired the staff, other volunteers and the community with her positive outlook and dedication.

A Senior with Seniority

A few years ago, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of Doris Lisenby’s decision to come volunteer for Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care.

Doris has more seniority than most employees and only a handful of people have been with Kansas City Hospice longer. After the death of her husband, she decided to come help us out in any way she could. Week after week, year after year, good weather or bad, Doris arrives with a smile on her face. She is always on the lookout to find out what needs doing and what would most help.

Doris has worked in almost every department. And, her attention to detail and professionalism makes it hard to replace her. Doris frees up staff to concentrate on caring for patients.

Our “Office Mom”

Doris knows everyone’s name and has a kind word of encouragement for each person she sees. She is never content to just eat lunch with us and keep us laughing. No, Doris makes it a point to clean up the kitchen, do dishes, look for little things that might make our work lives a little easier, and generally, be our office Mom.

She does all this and more with complete humility and self-deprecation. The value of her work alone over the years would exceed that of our most generous donors. When new people first meet this tiny white haired lady, they wonder how someone who looks so frail can have such energy and passion. Her sharp wit and humor is only exceeded by the size of her heart.

She brings such a cheerful attitude to every task that just walking past her makes you smile. But, the most important aspect of Doris is her passion for hospice. Having received such wonderful care for her husband, she is an ambassador for hospice in the community. Doris wants everyone to have a beautiful end of life experience and has dedicated her time and energy for over 28 years to helping see that care is available to all, to spreading the  word throughout the community, and to sharing her experience with all she meets.

Doris inspires each of us to do our best!