Jayne Brechwald worked locally for the Public Health Department for 23 years, after working in 3 other counties as a Health Educator, followed by the role of Executive Director for the American Lung Association. Since retiring she has been very busy. As well as volunteering with Hospice of Santa Barbara for 18 years, she volunteers for Cottage Hospital, Sansum Clinic, Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, she is on the Board of Safety Town and is the President of the Parkinson’s Association of Santa Barbara!

Jayne joined the Volunteer Training Program in 2005, primarily to learn more about the dying process and how to think about it, deal with it, cope with it, for herself as well as for family members. As well as helping many patients as a Patient Care Volunteer, Jayne became a co-presenter for groups at the Alliance for Living and Dying, advising people in the community about their 5 Wishes Advance Directives. When HSB took over the Alliance and started our own Advance Care Planning Dept, Get It Done SB!, Jayne smoothly moved into this role, helping individuals complete their MyCare documents as well as co-presenting at events in our community.

Working with clients on their ADs has been rewarding and Jayne often hears “I feel so relieved” once the document has been completed. Jayne feels this is important work and helps everybody to be prepared and clear about their wishes. For hobbies, Jayne loves to read, take beach walks and travel – she finds India particularly fascinating and has been twice. How many other people can say that they marched in Kennedy’s Inaugural Parade in 63!