The Myton Hospices - People's Stories

John Pipitone was a dedicated and beloved member of his community. He served 24 years in the Army, worked at a school for 36 years and was a keen golfer.

Tanya, John’s daughter, shared:

He had his own mini community, made up of people from all different areas of his life. He was such a well-loved man by everyone who knew him.

In 2024, John was diagnosed with cancer of unknown primary after experiencing abdominal pain. He received visits from various healthcare professionals, and home help was discussed. Wanting to explore further support, John’s son, Dean, reached out to The Myton Hospices. After discussions with the referral team and his family, John was admitted to our Warwick Myton Hospice Inpatient Unit in early September 2024 for end of life care.

Tanya added:

We were lucky to secure a bed at Warwick Myton Hospice, and dad was very emotional when it happened. He wasn’t usually an emotional person, but 24 years in the army does something to a person. He had reached a point where he was exhausted from the constant pain. Having accepted what was to come, he found peace in knowing he had lived a full life and wanted to spend his final days in comfort.

As soon as we arrived at Myton, he felt so much better. It seemed almost contradictory, as we knew he was there for end of life care, but the doctors and nurses truly listened to him. They adjusted his medication to a level where he was comfortable. He did so well at Myton, and most importantly, he didn’t feel like a burden to his family. Of course he never was, but I think many people in his situation feel that way when they rely on loved ones for care.

Tanya expressed immense gratitude for the care her dad received:

Everyone at Myton was wonderful. The staff were so knowledgeable and compassionate, and made our experience from start to finish as smooth as possible. We were all in awe of the comfort dad was in during his last days, and it meant the world to us knowing he was cared for so well.

John sadly died on 21^st September 2024. After John’s death, his family set up an online tribute to honour his memory and continue his legacy.

They created a tribute page on Much Loved; the UK’s leading in-memory platform, where you can remember someone special and fundraise in their memory. Family, friends and colleagues are invited to add photos, videos and memories.

John’s tribute page is full of photos and stories from those who knew him, and is a real celebration of his life. John’s family also chose to fundraise for Myton through the tribute page, and with additional funeral donations, they have raised over £8,000 in his memory.

Tanya explained:

We were aware of tribute pages like these but didn’t realise they could be so personalised. Setting it up was incredibly easy, and it allowed us to share the link with Dad’s community so they could remember him in their own way. It was also a convenient way to communicate difficult details, like funeral arrangements. It did everything we needed and more.

Grieving is difficult, and everyone copes in their own way. For me, looking at the photos, reading the wonderful stories people have shared about Dad, and seeing the ongoing support for Myton brings great comfort.

We were overwhelmed by people’s generosity. We asked for donations in lieu of flowers, and the response was inspiring. Having experienced first-hand the urgent need for hospice care, we knew we wanted to give back. We were lucky to secure a bed at Myton, but we know not everyone is as fortunate. The impact Myton had on us is indescribable, and the thought that others might not receive the same care is heart-breaking.

Myton gave us the gift of time with Dad as his family, rather than as his carers. That is invaluable to us. The dignity and respect shown to all of us is something everyone deserves, yet sadly, not everyone gets that chance. If we can help in any way, even just through the Much Loved page, we will. Knowing we are making a difference for other families going through what we went through is Dad’s legacy. This experience was incredibly difficult, but if there is any silver lining, this is it.

You can set up your own Forever Loved tribute page through the Much Loved platform or we can do this on your behalf. This creates a special place where friends and family can come together to share memories, photos and messages in tribute to a loved one. It offers a meaningful way to stay connected, honour their memory and fundraise for causes close to their heart.

These pages can be set up at any time, whether a person wants to start to shape their own tribute page in advance, by loved ones after a death, before a funeral to share service details or collect donations in lieu of flowers, or later on to mark anniversaries, special occasions, or simply to celebrate a life well lived.

Many families, like the Pipitones find comfort in using their online tribute page to create a lasting legacy and raise funds in memory of someone special.