"Audrey's Room" dedicated in former Hamlin resident's memory
"Audrey's Room" dedicated
in former Hamlin resident's memory

On July 23, 2001, a large, newly renovated room was dedicated as a hospice suite in the Livingston County Mt. Morris Skilled Nursing Facility. This happened due to the short stay of a woman from Monroe County, Audrey Schildt. Mrs. Schildt lived on Walker Road in the Town of Hamlin most of her life, only moving down the road from her parents homestead when she married. She devoted her life to being a farmer's wife and mother to two daughters, Donna (Avery) and Beverly (Verschage), grandmother of eight and great grandmother of 15.

In recent years, after deaths of her parents and husband, Luther, former transportation director at Hilton Central School, she lived alone. Notably, she donated the land, in memory of her parents, to the Walker Fire Department for Hiler Park located on Walker Road.

In 2000, in poor health for many years, she was receiving hospice care and 24 hour care in her home. With her consent, her daughters, Beverly who now resides in North Carolina and Donna who is Town Supervisor in the Town of Conesus, arranged for her to spend the winter months in the Mt. Morris Facility nearer to Donna, who as a Livingston County Board of Supervisors health committee member said she felt comfortable with the choice.

Mrs. Schildt was getting wonderful care and was doing quite well, when complications arose and for several days, her daughters stayed with her at the facility until her death on December 1, 2000. During that time, they realized the need for a dedicated hospice suite in the facility so other families could spend the last days with their loved one. Working with the nursing staff, hospice staff, facility administration and the Board of Supervisors, "Audrey's Room" became a reality and was dedicated in memory of Audrey Schildt. Items from her home were donated to be part of the decor. Several family members attended along with daughters Donna and Beverly.

A plaque located outside the room commemorates the donation and Mrs. Schildt.