Connecting in Our Community

Leaves Falling Gently with Dr. Susan Bauer-Wu

We are pleased to cosponsor a Book Talk at New Dominion Bookshop with Susan Bauer-Wu, author of Leaves Falling Gently, as she shares insights on mindfulness, compassion, and connection during times of illness and caregiving. This free, in-person event is ideal for caregivers, healthcare professionals, and anyone seeking meaning, healing, or a sense of presence in life’s most challenging moments.

Date: Saturday, May 31
Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Location: New Dominion Bookshop, 404 E. Main Street, Downtown Charlottesville
Price: Admission is free and open to the public. We recommend arriving early for the best seating.

Wine & Wishes – LGBTQ+ Edition at FIREFLY

Sip, connect, and plan with pride at Wine & Wishes—LGBTQ+ Edition. Enjoy your favorite beverage while an LGBTQ+ affirming panel shares practical guidance for crafting a dignified, self-defined final chapter. Whether you identify as LGBTQ or are an ally who may someday care for an LGBTQ loved one, you’ll find clear answers in a welcoming space.

Date: Monday, June 9
Time: 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Location: FIREFLY Restaurant, 1304 E. Market St., Charlottesville
Price: Admission is free. Drinks are up to you.

The conversation will cover:

• End-of-life medical care – hospice, palliative options, and honoring identity in care settings
• Funeral planning – inclusive services, respectful language, and cost-smart pre-planning
• End-of-life legal documentation – wills, powers of attorney, and protecting chosen family
• Home burials & body preparation – legal rights, natural burial, and meaningful rituals

Bring your questions, raise your glass (or coffee mug), and together we’ll prepare thoughtfully for the future.

Please note: This is not a Grief Support Group. If you are grieving and seeking help, please visit our Grief and Healing page for upcoming support groups and other resources.

Death Over Donuts at Augusta County Library

We’re not going to sugar coat it—talking about death can be hard. But at Death Over Donuts, we make space for honest conversation. Join us for an afternoon of community, connection, and curiosity about life’s final chapter. Forget lectures; this is a round-table chat. In small groups, you’ll explore thought-provoking questions hand-picked by our Hospice of the Piedmont Death Doulas, swapping stories and insights in a space that feels as warm as a fresh cup of coffee.

Date: Wednesday, June 11
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. (Please arrive by 2:15 to settle in)
Location: Augusta County Library, 1759 Jefferson Highway, Fishersville, VA
Price: Free admission. Coffee & donuts provided.

Trained Death Doulas will guide the discussion—no agenda, no judgment, just honest talk about living well, dying well, and everything in between. Bring your questions, your sweet tooth, and maybe a friend.

Please note: This is not a Grief Support Group. If you are grieving and seeking help, please visit our Grief and Healing page for upcoming support groups and other resources.

Film Screening and Discussion: Being Mortal

Based on Dr. Atul Gawande’s bestseller, Being Mortal, this documentary follows families, clinicians, and the author himself as they navigate tough choices about serious illness and the end of life. It cuts through medical jargon and invites viewers to focus on goals that bring meaning, comfort, and autonomy. Watch the trailer here.

After the film, a local panel—Pastor Ingor Manchester, retired general surgeon Dr. Bill Faulkenberry, Hospice of the Piedmont team member, and an end‑of‑life doula—will lead an open discussion and answer your questions. Whether planning for yourself, caring for a loved one, or simply curious, you’ll leave with practical questions to ask your doctor, language to start family conversations, and a fresh perspective on living fully.

Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Time: 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
      Social Hour: 9:30–10:00 am (coffee & light bites)
      Film + Panel: 10:00 am–12:00 pm
Location: Tuckahoe Clubhouse, 37 Stone Orchard Drive, Nellysford, VA 22958
Price: Free and open to all Wintergreen neighbors and friends

Hospice of the Piedmont is pleased to partner with HereToStay in Wintergreen on this special community event.

Hospice and Palliative Overview at Waynesboro Public Library

Got questions about hospice care, but not sure who to ask? Join us for a clear, candid overview of hospice and palliative care, led by Nurse Mina Ford, our Director of Education. In just 60 minutes, Mina will walk you through:
• Who qualifies and when to ask for help
• How these services are covered
• What families gain—at home, right away

You’ll get straight answers and real-life insight from a Nursing Professional Development Specialist who trains hospice teams every day. Ideal for caregivers, older adults, and community professionals. Free and open to the public—bring your questions!

Date: Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Time: 10:00 – 11:00am
Location: Waynesboro Public Library, 600 S Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro

No RSVP required.

Hospice and Palliative Overview at Augusta County Library

Not sure what hospice really means—or when it’s the right time to ask about it? Join Hospice of the Piedmont for a practical, judgment-free conversation led by Dr. Simran Mann, a board-certified hospice and palliative care physician. Drawing on her experience as both a hospitalist and hospice medical director, Dr. Mann will break down:
• How palliative care can start early, alongside treatment
• What hospice looks like day-to-day
• How both can ease stress for patients and families

If you’re caring for a loved one—or planning ahead—this hour is for you.

Date: Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Time: 2:00 – 3:00pm
Location: Augusta County Library, 1759 Jefferson Highway, Fishersville, VA

No RSVP required.

Death Over Donuts at Panorama Natural Burial

Donut fear the reaper. Talk about him instead. Join us and our friends at Panorama Natural Burial for Death Over Donuts, a relaxed, small-group conversation about what it means to plan for the end of life. Over coffee and donuts, trained Death Doulas will guide thoughtful discussions that are honest, open, and anything but gloomy. No lectures, no pressure—just a chance to ask questions, share stories, and connect with others who are curious about what comes next.

Date: Wednesday, September 11
Time: 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. (Please arrive by 2:15)
Location: Panorama Natural Burial, 3550 Reas Ford Ln, Earlysville, VA
Price: Free admission. Coffee & donuts provided.

Trained Death Doulas will guide the discussion—no agenda, no judgment, just honest talk about living well, dying well, and everything in between. Bring your questions, your sweet tooth, and maybe a friend.

Please note: This is not a Grief Support Group. If you are grieving and seeking help, please visit our Grief and Healing page for upcoming support groups and other resources.

Signs and Symptoms at End-of-Life at Waynesboro Public Library

What does dying actually look like—and how can families know what to expect? Join Hospice of the Piedmont for an honest, informative talk led by Dr. Alina Fomovska, a dual board-certified physician in Emergency Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine.

Drawing on years of clinical and academic experience, Dr. Fomovska will explain:
• Common signs and symptoms in the final weeks, days, and hours
• What’s normal—and what’s not
• How families can provide comfort and support

This is a compassionate, plain-language guide to a natural part of life. Free and open to all—ideal for caregivers, professionals, and planners alike.

Date: Monday, September 29, 2025
Time: 2:00 – 3:30pm
Location: Waynesboro Public Library, 600 S Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro

No RSVP required.