PICTON, June 20, 2023 – The loss of a loved one is always a difficult experience, but investing in the care and compassion patients and their families receive at their local hospital has provided some comfort during a distressing time for a local family.

These thoughts were on the minds of the Hineman family of Picton when they decided to make a memorial gift in honour of their late husband, father, and grandfather, Clayton Hineman. The gift to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) will help purchase priority medical equipment and help Back the Build for our new County hospital.

Approximately 15 members of Clayton’s family, including his wife Marg, presented Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMHF with a $5,000 donation in his memory on, what would have been, his 90^th birthday on June 20. Clayton died on February 25, 2018. Clayton was a retired staff member at PECMH, having worked in the housekeeping department for 17.5 years.

About a year ago Clayton’s family started to consider how to perpetuate his memory. The family thought it would be appropriate to memorialize Clayton with a donation to the place where Clayton spent so many of his working years. A collection was taken up by the family to raise $5,000.

“Clayton loved his work at the County hospital,” said his wife, Marg Hineman. “He also loved his co-workers…so much so that when he retired, he did so to make room for the younger generation to continue in his path. He had such a big presence in so many people’s lives, whether they were staff members or a patient at the hospital. Our family had a desire to recognize the doctors, nurses, and staff of the hospital for the incredible work they do and for being such wonderful colleagues to Clayton.”

The patriarch of the family, Clayton, spent his career caring for others and keeping our County hospital clean for patients and their families. In addition to looking after the facility, Clayton raised his six children while working long hours. His strength, perseverance, and giving nature was instilled in the Hineman children, who are proud to honour their father with this gift.

PECMH continues to be close to the Hineman family’s heart. Clayton’s grandson, Nic Sensenstein, follows in his grandfather’s footsteps through his work at PECMH as a Medical Radiation Technologist (MRT) in the X-Ray Department.

“Commemorative donations like this gift from the Hineman family remind us why Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital is so important to our community,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “Without the generosity of the community, and families, like the Hineman’s coming together, we would be unable to fund the vital tools our physicians and staff need to treat our patients.”

Clayton had such an impact on the people who knew and loved him. Giving a donation to the hospital foundation to honour your loved ones has a tremendous positive impact on the future of health care at PECMH.

“Tribute and memorial gifts are an enduring legacy for our County hospital and an easy way to let someone know you are thinking of them,” said Coull. “Thanks to our donors, including Clayton’s loved ones, our dedicated medical team continues to have access to the equipment and tools they need to be able to provide you and your loved ones with the care you deserve, close to home. Community support is so important because medical equipment is not paid for by the government.”

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the patients of the hospital and the people of Prince Edward County.

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Photo: Members of the Hineman family gather in front of PECMH with PECMHF Board Chairperson, Barbara McConnell and PECMHF Executive Director, Shannon Coull.

Photo credit: Sue Vincent