A pace-setting gift—Karen Marshak

Gary Marshak was only 46 years old when he died of cancer in the Midwest CareCenter Hospice program in 2001. He had been married to his high school sweetheart, Karen, for 26 years and was a fun-loving, supportive dad to the couple’s two daughters, Marissa and Ali, then age 17 and 12. Karen described the untimely loss of her husband as “probably the most horrendous thing that has ever happened to me. Yet,” she noted, “I’ve been able to see the true meaning of embracing life and honoring Gary’s memory because of what hospice was able to do for me and my family. ... it was the kind of care that is so important when one is in a traumatic stage of life.”

From pain to dedication

Karen’s connection to Midwest CareCenter began with pain and hardship and, over time, has evolved into endless enthusiasm, energy and dedication. Today she is deeply involved with our friend- and fundraising volunteer boards—Service Board, Friends of Jewish Care Services and the Keeping Our Promise campaign. Karen also is a patient care and front-desk volunteer and, along with her daughters, helped out at CampCare, our summer grief support camp for teens and children. A longtime, generous donor, with sponsorships for Comfort Zone and the Midwest CareCenter 5K Challenge, Karen and her family have made a pace-setting gift to the Keeping Our Promise campaign with the naming of the new inpatient structure—The Marshak Family Hospice Pavilion.