Alum uses music to care for hospice patients

Before coming to Messiah, Lori Nowaczyk ’18 taught guitar, directed a choir and raised a family. “It had always been a lifelong dream of mine to have a college education. Once I started seriously studying guitar, I knew I wanted to serve God through it,” she said.

In her junior year at Messiah, the non-traditional student began serving with Compassionate Care Hospice in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

Nowaczyk knew plenty about hospice. Her mother-in-law spent her last week of life in a hospice care facility, so it’s Nowaczyk’s goal to care for patients with the same love and respect.

She visits patients once a week, beginning each session with a kind greeting. She picks up her guitar and plays anything from classical music to hymns and other familiar tunes patients would know from their childhood.

When I play guitar for patients, my spirit is filled with joy, because I know God has given me this ability to share with others,” Nowaczyk said.

She then reads a devotion and closes by reciting the Lord’s Prayer. “This can be one of the most moving times of the visit, for both me and the patient,” she said.

Obviously, music is her ministry. “During my visits, I have witnessed patients respond with rhythm movement, humming of musical pitches, singing along and responses of joy that is provoked from silence,” she said.

Randall Zwally, her guitar instructor at Messiah, says she reflected characteristics of persistence, unselfish dedication, strong character, integrity, commitment to service, noteworthy scholarship, fine musicianship, collegiality and a determined development of leadership skills as a student.

“Jesus loves you,” she says to the patients as she leaves. But don’t worry, she’ll be back next week, doing her part to help ease suffering through music.

— Jake Miaczynski ’20