Ed Ellis has served as a chaplain at Ohio’s Hospice for more than 30 years. During that time, he has helped patients and families facing end-of-life care and provided spiritual guidance for their well-being. He has announced that he is retiring in May, and we are proud to honor him for his dedicated service. 

Ellis decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was a United Methodist minister, that paved the way for him to join Ohio’s Hospice and provided spiritual support that respects the religious and non-religious needs of our patients and families. 

“Patients and families facing end-of-life care have strong foundational needs to be supported in their exploration and practice of spiritual well-being,” Ellis said. “Accompanying others along a path that leads to peace is a very rewarding journey.”   

Senior Vice-President of Operational Excellence, Beth Helke, says that if anyone deserves to enjoy retirement, it is Ellis. 

“As a social worker on the team with him, I had the privilege of hearing directly from our patients and families about the impact he had on their lives,” she explained. “His gentle presence and kind words brought peace and comfort to so many. Ed had a way of knowing exactly what each situation needed, whether it was a prayer, a gentle squeeze of the hand, a joke or even offering to wrangle the family bunny that escaped his cage.” 

Helke noted that Ellis would do whatever was necessary to meet the needs of our patients and families.     

Ed was always a sounding board or source of wisdom and support. He is truly a gifted individual.

Lora Wilcher, director of care

“This care and compassion extended to his hospice teammates as well, and we were blessed to have him as part of our family for so many years,” she said. “While he will truly be missed by us, others will now get to enjoy the benefits of his time and energy. I’m certain he will continue to provide peace and joy to many in his future endeavors. Congratulations Ed and best wishes!” 

Director of Care, Lora Wilcher, said she first met Ellis in 2006 when she joined Ohio’s Hospice.  

“As part of my orientation, I spent the day with Ed traveling the territory and observing him with patients and families at homes and facilities. It was clear to me on this very first meeting the amount of kindness, support and compassion that Ed provided to our patients and families,” Wilcher said. “Ed consistently would go the extra mile for our patients and families and was always there to provide comfort and spiritual support during their times of need.” 

Wilcher noted that Ellis would often enter a stressful situation for patients and families, and his mere presence and kind words would bring a sense of calm to the situation.   

“Ed was always a sounding board or source of wisdom and support for the team,” she said. “He is truly a gifted individual and has positively affected numerous patients and families for decades in our communities.”    

Thank you, Ed, for more than three decades of dedicated service to our mission of providing superior care and superior services to the patients and families we have the privilege of serving! 

To reach a chaplain, call 800.653.4490 or click here for more information.