News Articles

Hospice receives donations for library

Date: 01/28/2008

VNA Hospice has recently held a dedication for the opening of the Bob Schmieler Memorial Library.

Butler, PA, January 28, 2008). VNA Hospice, Western Pennsylvania has recently held a dedication for the opening of the Bob Schmieler Memorial Library. The library consists of over 200 books for adults and children on a variety of grief and loss issues and on coping with serious illness. The library is open to the public and is housed in the VNA Hospice Building at 160 Hindman Road in Butler.

The Library was made possible through a generous contribution from Claire Schmieler of Harrisville in memory of her late husband, Bob. A retired school teacher, Claire states, “Bob was a husband, father, and pappy who valued life, family and education. When the opportunity arose to earmark donations for a library, I knew it was the right thing to do.” The contribution enabled VNA Grief Specialists to purchase carefully selected reading materials covering a wide range of loss subjects.
The construction of the library was taken on as an Eagle Scout project by 14 year old Neal Skibiki of Chicora. The project included planning, designing, and building library shelves, raising funds for supplies, organizing friends and volunteers to assist, and decorating the area. The library space and was completed in late December.

Members of the community are welcomed and encouraged to utilize the library to review or borrow books. Guidance is available to assist adults, teens and children in selecting reading materials. The library is the most recent addition to a long list of grief and bereavement services, including support groups, education, and consultation, available through VNA, Hospice. Anyone wishing to use the library should contact Bereavement Coordinator, Jolene Formaini, at 724 431-3520 to schedule an appointment.