Claire Cummings—Office Manager
Claire graduated from Columbia Gorge Community College with a Business Degree and Oregon Transfer Degree, and had previously worked for 25 years for a hospital-based home health agency before coming to work for Heart of Hospice. Her former boss, who currently works for Heart of Hospice, requested that she apply to work with these wonderful people when she heard that Claire may be looking for a new position. She loves the caring attitude of the staff and wanting to make the last days of a person’s life as comfortable as possible.
Claire’s hobbies include spending time with her family of three children and five grandsons, crocheting, sewing, boating, and singing.
“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”—Jimi Hendrix
Destiny Whitaker—Administrative Assistant, Clinical Services
Destiny joined Heart of Hospice in February 2010 and provides administrative support to clinical services. Her thoroughness and enthusiasm for tackling the necessary, behind-the-scene tasks allows the clinical staff to focus their efforts on patient care.
Destiny and her husband Richard have five sons ranging in age from 3 to 15. When time allows, she enjoys knitting, scrapbooking, and reading.
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”—Eleanor Roosevelt
Peggy Menasco—Human Resources and Constituent Relations
Peggy comes to us with over 20 years experience in Accounting and Human Resources; she joined the Heart of Hospice family in October 2010.
Peggy and her husband, David, have two adult children. They enjoy motorcycle rides together and have toured all over the Northwest, Midwest, and as far east as the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her other interests include golfing, baking, sewing, scrapbooking, and spending time with family and friends.
“Faith goes up the stairs love has built and looks out the window which hope has opened…”—Charles Spurgeon
Tama Hepner—Education and Safety Coordinator
Tama received her education from Portland Community College and Columbia Gorge Community College, then her nursing at Clark College and Washington State University. She spent half of her nursing career working in education and program development, including managing volunteer programs at the hospital level. She has 12 years experience as a Hospice nurse. She especially loves fulfilling a medical need in the community that is holistic in nature, appreciated by patients and families while being satisfied personally and professionally.
After two decades in Trout Lake, Tama and her family recently moved back to Hood River. Her hobbies include playing hide and seek, arts and crafts, jumping on the trampoline, tag, riding bikes, swimming, gardening, and hanging out with her husband, three children, and two dogs.
“I feel one of the greatest uses of my time is to use my energy on things that will outlast my life.” —Author Unknown