50 years of artwork: How one family’s tradition finds home in Hospital’s palliative unit

The art of engraving, cutting and polishing stones and gems – also known as lapidary – has been a Weltner family tradition for more than 50 years. The results are stunning – rare stones and colours pieced together with precision and skill to create timeless stained glass artwork.

Hildegard Weltner's fascination with rocks started when she was young and was quickly adopted by her husband Heinz. The two made a hobby of creating stained glass artwork together from the vibrant gems collected and polished from their travels across North America. The couple's artwork hangs proudly in their family members' homes and in their church.

Leaving a legacy

That's why the stained glass piece now hanging in Michael Garron Hospital's Complex Continuing Care Garden Room holds special meaning for Hildegard – a tribute to her late husband Heinz who spent his final days in the Palliative Care Unit at MGH in March and April 2017.

“The decision to donate the art to MGH was made by my mom on the day dad died. It's what she wanted for her memory of him,” says Jürgen, son of Heinz and Hildegard.

“Our family's travels were based around rocks. Taking trips was more about the rocks than the trip itself for my parents. For my siblings and I the trips were about enjoying the adventure. We always appreciated the end result.”

The family donated the piece in appreciation of the care Heinz received during the last months of his life. The palliative care team at MGH provides psychosocial, emotional and spiritual care support for patients with life-limiting illnesses.

‘They treated my dad with respect and dignity'

“The MGH Palliative Care unit is world class. They treated my dad with the respect and dignity that everyone deserves. I was absolutely amazed at how well they looked after him,” says Jürgen.

“We couldn't have asked for more. Little things, like writing out what was important to him on white boards by the bedside. He was always treated as a person, not someone who was dying.”

For the staff on the Palliative Care Unit, the stained glass artwork is a special reminder of their responsibility to provide person-centred care during some of the most difficult and vulnerable moments faced by patients and families during their time in Hospital.

“Staff were extremely touched that the family put so much effort into an expression of gratitude,” says Karina Wulf, Palliative Care Specialist.

Now everyone who visits the MGH Garden Room can appreciate and enjoy the artwork, and for the Weltner family, their tradition can be shared with future families at the Hospital.