What It Means to Care: A Wedding at the Leo Center
By Michael E. McRae
President & CEO, St. Ann’s Community
June 2nd, 2025
Meaningful moments unfold every day at the Leo Center for Caring—quiet acts of love and connection that leave a lasting impression. But every so often, one of those moments stands out in a way that gently reminds us why this work is so important.
At the Leo Center for Caring, we’re often part of deeply personal moments families experience. It’s a place where love shows up in everyday ways—like a reassuring smile from a nurse, or a family member sharing a favorite story at just the right time. And sometimes, those simple moments take us by surprise and stay with us.
Last week, the Leo Center hosted a wedding.
Kathy and Ken were married in the meditation room at the Leo Center, surrounded by flowers, music, friends and family – with Ken’s mother, Retta, there to share in the moment. In between caring for other residents, our nurses gathered supplies and set up the space for the ceremony, and our music therapy team added a special touch that made the moment even more memorable. In a place that’s often seen only through one lens, that day was a beautiful reminder of just how much love and life can exist within these walls.
Some might not expect moments like this to happen in a hospice setting. But the people who work there—and the families we serve—know differently. The Leo Center is a place of deep connection and everyday acts of love.
Hospice care takes compassion. It takes a kind of strength that doesn’t always announce itself, but is present in every conversation and every quiet act of love. And when families allow us to be part of their most sacred moments, as they did during Kathy and Ken’s wedding, it’s something we never take for granted.
The team at the Leo Center for Caring does far more than provide care—they witness some of the most powerful expressions of love and humanity. It’s that spirit, shown in everyday moments, that continues to inspire all of us across St. Ann’s Community.
