At 90, Glenice English isn’t slowing down. She’s still showing up, still listening, still offering cups of tea and quiet moments of comfort to those who need it most. Her journey as a hospice volunteer didn’t start with a desire to help—it started with grief. And from that grief came a deep understanding of what it means to truly be there for someone.

Four Days in April: A Lesson in Compassion

“Four days in April of 1995 taught me the power of compassion and the comfort held in a cup of tea. They were the last days of my son’s life. Each time I left his room, there was someone there to listen, to hold me while I cried, and to ask, ‘cuppa tea, love?’ The power of this compassion sustained me through the weeks and months that followed. It was then that vague thoughts became a reality. It was then I knew that if there was a hospice in Burnaby and if they would have me, that was where I wanted to be.”

Loss has a way of shaping us, redirecting our lives in ways we never expected. For Glenice, grief didn’t just leave a void—it created a purpose. The kindness she received in those painful moments became the foundation of her work as a hospice volunteer.