Forrest General Hospital Hospice Celebrates the Life of George Betz

George Betz was an 84-year-old military veteran, but had never fought a tougher battle than what he had been going through the last eight months. Betz, who had been on hospice since September 2023, had squamous cell carcinoma of the maxillary sinus. The diagnosis was totally unexpected, and Betz was placed on hospice immediately after his diagnosis. While there were options for treatment, Betz decided to forego those and enjoy what time he had left.

Daughters, Diane Kemp of California, and Tricia Tillotson of Illinois, along with their aunt, Wendy Songy of Louisiana, Betz’s sister, had been serving as caregivers since he was diagnosed. Because of work and travel, doctor’s appointments, and prior commitments, they rotated their schedules around each other in order to be with him. Betz’s other children included Jana, Billy, and Cherie.

Diane said during the first couple of months her dad was able to get around, and they were able to have a day or two when he could be by himself, but most recently they overlapped their time with him. “My sister would come in on a Friday, and I would fly out on Saturday. He was OK for us to leave him and run to the grocery store or run a quick errand or two, but not for extended periods of time,” she said.

Tricia was quick to say they could not have cared for their dad like they did without the support of their immediate families, as well as extended family, friends, and neighbors. “Everyone has been so helpful and supportive during this time,” she said. “Dad’s friends from the Moose Lodge called, texted, or stopped by, as did friends from one of his and mom’s favorite places in Hattiesburg, The Mahogany Bar. They used to drive up to The Hog, as they liked to call it, once a week, even when they lived in Poplarville. And there have always been neighbors who have stepped up to help whenever we needed anything. We couldn’t have done it without all of these people.”

Betz grew up in Old Metairie, Louisiana. He served in the Navy before transferring to the Army. At the time George married Josephine in 1979, he was living in Pass Christian and working as an electrician on an oil rig for Shell Oil. They moved to Cameroon for a couple of years with his work but ended up back in the South, eventually settling on 40 acres in Poplarville. With their doctors in Hattiesburg, the couple ended up in the Hub City. Josephine passed away in 2016.

During his lifetime, Betz had been very active in the Moose Lodge as photos, certificates, and plaques on the walls of his Hub City home attest. For his 30 years of service, he earned the highest honor in the Moose Lodge – the coveted Pilgrim Degree of Merit.

Betz’s cancer diagnosis started out as a pinpoint, but had eventually taken most of the left side of his face. Unable to speak clearly, he communicated by texting on his cell phone. Awake, active, and alert, he still watched TV and played games on his computer. But Diane had noticed in recent months her dad’s energy level had really gone down, and he was not taking in as much of the energy-boosting shakes as he once did.

Home hospice had been a blessing for the family since her dad did not want to be out in public places due to his appearance.

“We had never talked about hospice before as an option down the road, because his diagnosis came as a shock to all of us,” Diane said. “Working with Forrest General Hospice made things so much easier for us.”

Forrest General Hospice nurse, Jadee Hall, RN, BSN, took care of Betz and thought he was the sweetest person she had ever met. “He was so appreciative of what we had done for him,” she said. “He was incredibly kind and patient although he had a very, very difficult diagnosis.”

“The nurses were very straightforward with him and told him the truth, so he knew what was going on,” said Diane.

A hospice aide went to the home three times a week to give Mr. Betz a bath, made sure ointments were administered as needed, and took care of his nails and hair. But they also took care of his family. “They came in and visited with him and us,” said Diane. “They watched over us as well. They asked if there was anything we needed help with, and if we could handle this. And if we couldn’t, they explained there was the option for home care hospice.”

She explained that the nurse visited twice a week and checked all of Mr. Betz’s vitals, his wound, and asked of any concerns his caregivers might have. “Because Mr. Betz couldn’t talk, if he had any concerns he would text them to the nurse, and she told him the truth,” Diane explained. “We also talked with her about what was going on. And she asked about issues and concerns and what she could do for us as a family.”

Hall said Betz loved his wife, Josephine, dearly, and her photo was everywhere in the small apartment. “His No. 1 goal was to go and be with her. He often pointed to a photo of the two of them on the wall. It broke my heart, he was so ready to go. But he was awake, alert, and talking. While he was in some pain, that was being controlled, of which he was appreciative. I told him that while I couldn’t shorten his illness, I was not doing anything to prolong it. But I promised him that I was not going to let him suffer, for which he thanked me.”

Diane was happy with the care and compassion her dad received, and she was confident in his care when she was not with him. “Everybody treated him with the utmost respect and courtesy,” she said. “Everybody who came here said he was the best. By the first or second visit they were just in love with him.”

“I highly recommend Forrest General’s Home Hospice service,” Diane said. “They have really been there for us.”

There are so many times that hospice isn’t considered until, unfortunately, it becomes necessary and difficult to talk about. Forrest General Hospice is there for families when that time comes, to provide the highest quality care to both the patient and their family members.  The entire hospice team – physicians, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers – brings unique skills and expertise to help make every moment matter.

In George Betz’s case, that time came on Thursday, May 30, when he passed away at Asbury Hospice House where he had been transferred to spend his last days. With family by his side, it was finally time to make that long-awaited heavenly trip home to be with his wife, Josephine. His goal has been accomplished.

To learn more about our services, visit www.forrestgeneral.org/hospice.