Blog: Stories and Insights

  Alice Dunleavy entered Samaritan’s care as a beloved mother, wife, grandmother, and a caring nurse. She had ushered many into the world as a labor & delivery nurse for 16 years. After her time working at Virtua in Voorhees, … Continued

The Absence of Presence at Mother’s and Father’s Day Grief does not take a break on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. These special days may be especially difficult for children or adults who have lost a parent or other important … Continued

Grief During Spring Holidays  Grief, like the weather, can be ever changing and hard to predict. Spring brings the promise of warmer, longer, days with more hours of light and the blooming of spring flowers. It can be a welcome … Continued

Unexpected New Years Blues Many grievers exhale following the fall and early winter holidays, only to find that New Year’s celebrations and other special days in January, February and March can be a heavy lift, no matter what your loss … Continued

John D. was born with a love of music. “I’m a whiz on piano,” he tells me with a mischievous smile. We sit in the fifth floor community room of the local care and rehab center where John now lives. … Continued

We are often asked the question, should children attend funerals when someone close to them dies?   While there is not an easy answer to this question, we hope the following information and considerations will be helpful to you.   Adults often … Continued

The Threshold Choir sings at the thresholds of life in over 200 communities around the world, bringing songs of comfort with their words and music. Now, the South Jersey Threshold Choir has volunteered to share their songs with Samaritan patients … Continued

Bodhi Day, Sukkot, Diwali, Mawlid al-Nabi, Dia de los Muertos, Hanukkah, Christmas. This is a short list of some of the major religious holidays celebrated during the last 3 months of the year. There are also important cultural holidays that … Continued

Even though she battled kidney cancer on and off for 25 years, Tara Smith’s mother, Charlotte, was still feisty at 89, spending her days driving, dancing, and enjoying life. But in early 2021, Charlotte underwent a difficult surgery. When her … Continued

  Greetings, I am Phillip W. Heath, and I now have the privilege of serving as Samaritan’s President and Chief Executive Officer. While new to my role, I have been committed to Samaritan since 2018, as a Trustee and Board … Continued