Olivia’s Angels hosted its annual Lighting of the Tree ceremony on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation, honoring loved ones and celebrating the program’s work supporting hospice patients with essential needs and meaningful end-of-life comforts.
Held each year as a tribute to patients, families and caregivers, the ceremony brings the community together to remember those who have passed and to recognize those who continue serving in hospice care. Olivia’s Angels is a program of the Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation that assists with the special needs of hospice patients. Community members could donate to “light up a life” in memory of someone special, to celebrate an occasion or as a Christmas gift.
Cindy Terk, chairperson of Olivia’s Angels, opened the evening with a tribute to Sister Olivia Prendergast, who helped establish hospice care in Amarillo. Terk said Sister Olivia’s compassion and vision shaped end-of-life care across the region and inspired the founding of Olivia’s Angels in 1990.
“She always believed it was her ministry,” Terk said. “We would not be here without Sister Olivia.”
Terk shared personal memories of caring for Sister Olivia during her final days and described how the program continues her mission of ensuring no patient goes without support.
“We don’t want any dying patient to ever want for anything,” Terk said. “Whatever they need, we make sure they have it.”
Olivia’s Angels helps between 100 and 200 hospice patients each year, assisting with needs ranging from eyeglasses and denture repairs to travel expenses for family members. Some requests are unusual but deeply meaningful — a final visit with a horse, a favorite drink or a comforting pet.
“I want them to feel good and be as happy as they can,” Terk said.
Honoring Dr. Randy Stewart
Terk introduced this year’s honorary tree lighter, Dr. Randy Stewart, calling him “the perfect choice” and praising his more than three decades of service.
“He has been our hospice doctor for about 35 years,” Terk said. “His compassion and his love for hospice are unbelievable.”
She then invited Dena Jenkins, a board member of Olivia’s Angels whose late husband, Dr. Dan Jenkins, was Stewart’s longtime medical partner.
Jenkins recounted how the two doctors first met during rotations at BSA Hospital — Dan as a Texas Tech internal medicine resident, Stewart as a medical student — forming a partnership built on faith, humility and a shared commitment to patient-centered care.
“They both believed in putting God first and practicing medicine with compassion,” Jenkins said. “Their partnership was never about competition — it was about complementing each other in service.”
When Stewart took the podium, he thanked both women for their remarks and spoke about the impact Olivia’s Angels has had on hospice care.
“In 35 years of doing this, I’ve never had to ask or worry about whether we had the resources to care for a patient,” he said. “Olivia’s Angels has always been there.”
Stewart shared warm memories of working with Sister Olivia Prendergast, describing her as a trusted presence who shaped how families viewed hospice care.
“When she walked into a room, people listened,” he said. “Families would say, ‘We’ll wait and see what Olivia says tomorrow.’ She paved the way for all of us.”
He noted that Amarillo’s inpatient hospice unit was among the first in the nation and the first west of the Mississippi, launched only a few years after the country’s inaugural hospice opened.
Before leading the countdown, Stewart thanked his wife, Deborah, “for putting up with all the calls” that come with hospice work.
Honoring Michael Terk
The program also recognized Michael Terk, named posthumously as an honorary tree lighter. Olivia’s Angels honored him for his longtime support of hospice, his generosity and his commitment to serving others.
Lighting the Tree
Stewart then gathered the crowd for the countdown.
“Three… two… one!”
The tree lit to applause, followed by a performance of “O Holy Night.” The ceremony concluded with a benediction.
Terk said she hopes the tradition — and Sister Olivia’s mission — continues for generations.
“I hope her legacy keeps living,” she said. “And I hope we continue to do this forever.”
As families stood beneath the newly lit tree, the moment reflected the heart of the evening — a community bound by compassion, dignity and the promise to carry forward the legacy of hospice care that Sister Olivia began.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Olivia’s Angels lights Christmas tree to honor hospice legacy
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
