California Caregiver Honored for Commitment to Community

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (April 4, 2017)—Fairhaven Memorial Services announced today that Sherrie Montgomery is the recipient of the March/April 2017 Oliver Halsell Care Award, a program recognizing local individuals whose kindness and dedication to serving others is inspirational.

Montgomery first learned about hospice care 20 years ago when a close friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. For an entire year, she spent Tuesday nights caring for her friend, developing what she describes as one of the deepest bonds she’s ever experienced. Week after week, Montgomery witnessed the incredible work of the hospice team who took great care of her friend by providing her comfort and dignity.

It was this life-changing experience that inspired a career change for Montgomery, who left her position as a marketing officer to work in the hospice field. Fast-forward 18 years, she is now Director of Market Development at Vitas Healthcare, where she oversees nine representatives, four community liaisons and, at times, the entire Orange County team. Montgomery frequently oversees triage, manages patients’ care and a staff that serves more than 400 terminally-ill individuals at any given time. She is often on-call during nights, weekends and holidays, and while her office is based in Irvine, her responsibilities take her all over Orange County. Nevertheless, she always can be found going above and beyond to make herself available to her staff and patients.

Additionally, the Long Beach resident enjoys donating her time and raising funds for charities close to her heart. She participates in numerous events throughout the year, including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk and the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

“Sherrie Montgomery is an exemplary human being, manager and employee,” says Michael Alarcon, Managing Partner at Fairhaven Memorial Services in Mission Viejo. “She is driven by her altruism and never misses an opportunity to be kind to the next person. Her passion for her work and her unwavering efforts to improve the lives of employees and patients alike makes her the perfect recipient of our Oliver Halsell Care Awards.”

“It’s an honor to be recognized,” says Montgomery. “I’m very grateful for my team who nominated me for this award, and I’m touched that they think so highly of me and see me as a valuable instrument in helping others, although I feel that they should be the ones rewarded. The medical staff and the people who are doing the hands-on work are far more valuable.”

Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary, which has facilities in Santa Ana and Mission Viejo, introduced the Oliver Halsell Care Awards honoree program in 2012 as a way to spotlight local residents who are making a positive impact in Orange County by showing care and compassion through work or volunteering.

In November 2017, Montgomery will be presented her award at Fairhaven’s Oliver Halsell Care Awards ceremony at its Mission Viejo facility. The Care Awards banquet will recognize six honorees’ accomplishments awarded during this year. Additionally, Fairhaven will make a donation on Montgomery’s behalf to Vitas Community Connection, a charity that supports the needs of hospice patients beyond hospice care by helping pay bills, buy groceries or help a family member travel to see a dying loved one.

Fairhaven is accepting nominations for additional 2017 Oliver Halsell Care Awards. For more information and to nominate an outstanding citizen, call (714) 633-1442 or email [email protected].

Visit dignitymemorial.com for more information.