Editor’s note:This is the first in a three-part series on Omega House’s “Final Journey” Seminar

HOUGHTON — On March 27, community members from Houghton, Hancock, and the surrounding counties packed into the community room of the Portage Lake District Library. The event was was the first of three presentations in the series “Final Journey: An Exploration of End of Life”, presented by Omega House of Houghton.

As attendees took their seats, they shared their stories with those around them. One woman had lost her husband, one man shared how his wife had passed, and many in the group had experienced grief themselves, in the form of cancer diagnoses, hospice care, and other difficult situations.

“We’re here tonight, united by what’s going to happen to each of us in this room; death, and dying.” said Kathleen Johnson, the chaplain for Aspirus hospice and the first speaker of the night. Johnson explained that many of us don’t know what to do when a loved one passes, and that Omega House aims to provide that vital education.

Caroline Peterson, another speaker, added “People don’t like to talk about death stories much, but we all have death stories!” For Peterson, this is especially true. She’s been a hospice volunteer for years, and developed this presentation course with a friend.

Raymond Weglerz, a nurse and founding member of Omega House, also spoke. Weglerz graduated from Michigan Tech’s nursing program and went on to work at several hospitals in Michigan. He was recruited to help start the first Medicare-based hospice facility in the Western Upper Peninsula. Now, Weglerz works with Omega House as a board member, volunteer, and donor.

Weglerz discussed the different aspects of “personhood”: physical, emotional, spiritual and social, all of which must be considered during the dying process. He also addressed many of the fears often associated with dying, such as loneliness and pain.

“People stopped going to visit them because they’re scared of what to say or what to do, which just compounds the loneliness,” Weglerz explained, when discussing loneliness in hospice patients.

He added that there are many misconceptions of pain in the dying process. According to Weglerz, “When I really question people, the pain is in their heart, not their bodies.” According to Weglerz, there are things family and friends can do to ease the emotional pain of loved ones going through the dying process. These include expressing love, reconciliation for past hurts, and giving them permission to die.

Weglerz told the audience that while it may be difficult, “When hospice is done right, it’s beautiful.”

At the end of the presentation, Mike Lutz, executive director of Omega House, provided a few updates on the facility. According to Lutz, new floors and boilers were recently added, and there are plans in the future to add up to 50 percent more beds.