When Michael Paré and Pam Shaneyfelt of Fayetteville wanted a place to celebrate their new life as a married couple earlier this year, they bypassed the traditional house of worship or catering hall and exchanged their vows at a place known more for the end of life – a Riverdale hospice.

Accompanied by family, friends and hospice staff members, the couple formally exchanged their wedding vows on Feb. 22 in the foyer of Healthfield Hospice at 34 Upper Riverdale Road, a facility which provides inpatient healthcare to the terminally ill. Hospice administrator Kay Smith and her staff decked out the area with bows and flowers, and saw to it that the couple and their guests had cake and other refreshments, as well as a photographer.

The Parés exchanged their vows at the hospice to honor Michael’s mother, Janis, who passed away there earlier in the month. Just hours before she died on February 4, at age 75, she was able to see the couple – clad in jeans instead of wedding garb - married at her bedside in an impromptu ceremony hastily arranged by Healthfield staff members.

“Because of the care she received and the fact that she could see us married before she died, we realized that the hospice was a perfect place for us to return and formally celebrate our marriage,” said Michael Paré. “We’ve seen that hospice isn’t only about the end of life, but also about positive outcomes in life.”

“The ceremony was beautiful and it showed us that a hospice can be a place for peace, joy and love,” Healthfield’s Smith said. “In some ways, the celebration reminded us of recent news coverage of the late columnist Art Buchwald. He showed us that a hospice doesn’t have to be grim, but can be a place to laugh and live life to the fullest.”

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