A STORY OF
T
LOVE TO THE END
houghts of death and dying tend
to overwhelm the minds of those
considering hospice care, but the
true focus of Scotland Regional Hospice is
to ensure quality of life and to align patient
care with the priorities and goals of those
that the organization serves. When hospice
patient Lisa Bodnar shared one such goal,
the hospice staff could not let her down.
The relationship between John Morazan
and Lisa Bodnar was unconventional by
traditional standards. The loving couple
had been together for an amazing 25 years,
but they had never tied the knot. Bodnar
brought it up from time to time, but the
idea of marriage never really appealed to
Morazan.
“I have never been the marrying kind,”
Morazan said to hospice personnel at his
home in Pembroke. “I loved her and would
have never married anyone else.”
Bodnar, a nursing supervisor by profession,
loved Morazan and their two wonderful
sons, Cody and Matthew. She loved God and
expanded her family to include members of
her church and her coworkers. Both through
her work and by nature, she genuinely cared
for others.
Bodnar’s life was turned upside down when
she was caught up in an on-again, off-again
battle with breast cancer. Over the course of
ten years, the fight took its toll on her body,
but never her spirit. Morazan stayed by her
side – always asking if there was anything
that he could do for her. Then came that one
request that had come a few times before
she wanted to get married.
With her condition worsening, there was
no longer any hesitation for Morazan. He
lovingly agreed. “I wanted to do it for Lisa
and our sons,” Morazan said of her request.
“I just really wanted her to be happy.”
Unfortunately, the day before the couple
planned to get married, Bodnar’s symptoms
became uncontrollable and she was
transferred to Morrison Manor, Scotland
Regional Hospice’s inpatient facility.
30 • PROGRESS 2020
Hospice nurses
Patty Williams and
Karen Hammonds
informed
Bunny Hasty,
SRH volunteer
coordinator, of the
couple’s derailed
wedding plans.
Hasty then recruited
the assistance of
Tanya Williams,
Director of Family
Services and the two
sprang into action.
With the help
of Bodnar and
Morazan’s families,
Hasty and Williams
quickly put together
an impromptu
wedding. In just a
few short hours,
the Morrison
Manor chapel was
decorated with
flowers, candles,
pink and silver
candy, confetti, and
a cake. Bodnar’s
patient care room
had been converted
into a parlor where
family members
helped to transform her into a beautiful
bride.
Family, friends and hospice staff gathered
to watch the couple exchange their vows.
Bodnar, who was wearing a beautiful navy
blue dress, was escorted via wheelchair
down the corridor connecting the two wings
of Morrison Manor by her brother Steven
and her son Matt.
The Rev. Donald Bullard of Pembroke
officiated the ceremony. Bullard, who has
known Bodnar for about 12 years, was
honored to be a part of their special day.
“Everything was wonderful,” Bullard said of
the ceremony. “It was geared towards (Lisa)
and her commitment to people and to her
family. I really think that it pleased her and
was everything she expected.”
Following the ceremony, the couple cut the
cake and celebrated with their loved ones
who were present.
Sadly, Lisa Bodnar Morazan passed away
just 27 short hours later. Her new husband
was holding her hand as she took her last
breath.
“I think that she lived long enough Friday to
get the wedding in, and then she was ready
to leave,” Bullard said. “I think that was the
last thing she needed to do.