91ºÚÁÏÍø

When a Loved One is Dying: Providing Comfort and Care at the End of Life

James Wake Memorial Lecture 2026
When a Loved One is Dying: Providing Comfort and Care at the End of Life
Friday, November 20, 2026 | in person and via Teams

 

Hosted by 91ºÚÁÏÍø College of Nursing and the Institute for Palliative and End-of-Life Care

Maureen Groden, hospice nurse, educator, and author of When a Loved One is Dying: Conversations About Care, Connection, and Coping, uses storytelling as a means of conveying information to the public about the end of life. During this presentation she will share excerpts from her book and insights about end-of-life care, navigating emotional challenges, and supporting loved ones with compassion and confidence.
In the session, participants will learn:

• The power of storytelling and how it can be used to create meaning, preserve identity, and connect people through shared memory, emotion, and truth.
• Effective strategies for providing emotional, practical, and compassionate support to loved ones experiencing terminal illness.
• How health professionals can best support families with approaches that promote connection, resilience, meaningful communication, and a peaceful end-of-life experience.

Immediately following the keynote presentation, a reactor panel will share additional resources such as death doulas, transition choirs, hospice and more. 

This memorial lecture is held biennially in memory of James Wake, chaplain and husband of Dr. Madeline Wake, former Provost of 91ºÚÁÏÍø. James’ career was devoted to helping others through social work and chaplaincy.

Maureen Groden, RN, MS, CHPN
Maureen Groden has been a hospice nurse and educator for several decades. She obtained her undergraduate degree in nursing from the University of Massachusetts and her graduate degree from the University of Connecticut. Maureen holds certification as a Hospice and Palliative Care Registered Nurse from The Hospice and Palliative Care Credentialing Center.
During her career, Maureen held leadership positions as the Director of Hospice and Palliative Care at several major health care systems, including Mass General Brigham/Cooley Dickinson and Hospice Life Care/Holyoke Medical Center. In these roles, Maureen was instrumental in leading quality hospice and palliative care teams in the care of patients with serious and terminal illnesses.

In addition to clinical leadership, Maureen Groden has taught community health nursing at several baccalaureate nursing programs, primarily the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has presented widely at conferences and in the community on advanced directives, palliative care and hospice.

Maureen has developed a passion for helping families navigate our health care system when their loved one has a serious illness. She also wants to help families experience a peaceful end-of-life journey. Maureen wrote When a Loved One Is Dying: Conversations About Care, Connection & Coping to help readers understand what happens when people are dying and how to care for them.