Staff
Chilliwack Hospice Society
Sue Knott (she/her)
Executive Director
Sue Knott is the Executive Director for Chilliwack Hospice Society. Her role is to work with the Board of Directors to implement their vision for the Society. All the staff report to Sue. Sue is responsible for the overall results of the Society and ensuring that the staff can do their jobs without roadblocks. Sue joined the Society in October 2016. Sue was also a City Councillor for the City of Chilliwack for 14 years She is a Past President of the Chilliwack Mt. Cheam Rotary Club, and a past member of the Rotary Club of Chilliwack. Sue is the current Vice President for Soroptimist International Chilliwack. She has two grown daughters, Melody & Haley. Sue loves cooking, baking, interior design, and paints in her spare time. She especially loves spending time with her beautiful granddaughter, Ellie Sue.
Tammy Genzale
Financial Manager
As the Financial Manager Tammy Genzale takes care of all things Finance. It is her job to ensure that the Society’s financial and organizational commitments are met. Tammy has been working with Chilliwack Hospice Society since 2007 and has had many roles with the bulk pertaining to finances. Her working career has been with charities, extensively with administration and finance. What drew her to work for Chilliwack Hospice Society are the Society’s Core Values. She feels honoured to be working for an organization that upholds these values. Tammy is married with 5 daughters and 7 grandchildren and enjoys motorcycling, exploring vineyards and drinking wine with her husband Rino.
Candice Quesnel, BSW, RSW
Palliative Services Manager
Candice Quesnel, BSW, RSW, joined Chilliwack Hospice Society as Palliative Services Manager in 2024. With her she brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion to her role, holding a Bachelor of Social Work degree and a diploma in Social Services with an Indigenous concentration. Candice oversees the training, support, and scheduling of our dedicated, skilled palliative care support volunteers at Cascade Hospice Residence, as well as providing essential support to palliative patients both in hospital and within the community. A key part of her position is also to facilitate groupwork, with an emphasis on anticipatory grief and caregiver support, enhancing the services already offered by the Hospice Society‘s bereavement programs.
Karlee Gross, BA (she/her)
Child & Youth Program Manager
Lucy Fraser, MSW (she/her)
Director of Programs
Lucy Fraser, MSW, is our Director of Programs. Lucy oversees our grief groups and facilitates the Traumatic Loss Group. Lucy also provides 1:1 and family grief support, as well as overseeing and participating in our Relaxation Program. Lucy has been with the Chilliwack Hospice Society since 2004. Lucy is a single parent, having raised 3 now grown children. She also loves spending time with her 3 cats and her dog that she shares with her daughter. Lucy is an avid birdwatcher, spending lots of time at the Yarrow Wetlands and the heronry.
Desmond Devnich, AA (he/him)
Director of Marketing & Communications
Desmond Devnich, AA, is a cause-driven professional with extensive experience in marketing, communications, event planning, and community engagement. He has been connected with Chilliwack Hospice Society since 2012, first as a volunteer and later as an independent contractor, before joining the staff full-time in 2021. Since then, he has been promoted to Director of Marketing and Communications, advancing the missions of both the Society and its Thrifty Boutique social enterprise. In his role, Desmond raises awareness of the Society’s grief support programs, palliative care services, educational opportunities, and fundraising initiatives, ensuring the community knows where to turn when navigating death, dying, and grief. He oversees media and public relations, social media, website development, email newsletters, advertising, and print materials, strengthening community connections and brand visibility. Desmond acts on behalf of the Society as a partner representative for Chilliwack Healthier Community, is a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society, and is actively involved with the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce. He is often heard singing the National Anthem at local events. Desmond is an honourary Paul Harris Fellow.
Kaylee Lovesy, BSW (she/her)
Child & Youth Program Manager
Kaylee Lovesy, BSW, joined Chilliwack Hospice Society at the beginning of 2025 as a fourth year Bachelor of Social Work practicum student from the University of the Fraser Valley. Upon the completion of her Professional Communications Essentials associate certificate, Social Service Worker diploma, and most recently her Bachelor of Social Work degree, Kaylee moved into the role of Child and Youth Program Manager in April 2025. Driven by a passion for client-centered care, Kaylee embraces the family systems approach that supports children, youth, and families through their grief with compassionate programs, activities, and resources tailored to their unique needs. Kaylee has experience working within the non-profit sector and enjoys being a part of a team that has the common goal of providing programs that best fit the needs of the community. With the use of play and art therapies, she meets children and youth where they are at in their grief journeys, and truly loves that supporting our youngest clients through times of death, dying, grief, and loss is what she gets to call ‘work’.
Deanna Fedorkew (she/her)
Community Education Manager
Deanna Fedorkew brings a wealth of warmth and community spirit to her role as Community Education Manager at Chilliwack Hospice Society. She joined the team in February 2024 after seven years working in the dental field. Deanna’s connection to Chilliwack Hospice Society runs deep—she first volunteered as a middle school student, inspired by her mother, Coletta Holmes, who was an integral part of the Hospice team then.
Deanna is passionate about making a positive impact and finds great joy in contributing to a compassionate, cause-driven organization. Outside of work, Deanna loves spending quality time with her husband and their two energetic daughters.
Sharilyn Jackson (she/her)
Event Manager
Sharilyn Jackson has been with the Chilliwack Hospice Society since October 2018. Sharilyn manages our annual fundraising events — the Hometown Hoedown for Hospice and golf tournament — and helps coordinate various events for the Society and Thrifty Boutique throughout the year. Sharilyn and her husband, David, have been married since 1990. They have been, along with their two sons, part of the Chilliwack community since 1995. She enjoys theatre and travel — especially to New York City and to the Disney parks. Sharilyn is very happy and proud to be part of the Chilliwack Hospice Society family.
Volodymyr Ivashyna, MEEP (he/him)
Receptionist
Volodymyr Ivashyna serves as the receptionist at the Chilliwack Hospice Society, where he is the first point of contact for visitors, ensuring a welcoming environment and supporting daily office operations. Originally from Ukraine, Volodymyr moved to Canada approximately a year and a half ago. He holds a Master’s degree in Ecology and Environmental Protection from Sumy State University and a diploma in Foreign Economic Activities Management from Dnipro National University. His diverse career spans ecological engineering, teaching, and media. Volodymyr’s personal journey as a newcomer has fostered a deep appreciation for inclusion and diversity, values he embodies in his role at the society.
Thrifty Boutique
Sandy Parker
Thrifty Boutique Manager
Sandy Parker is our Thrifty Boutique Manager. Sandy oversees the day-to-day management of our Thrift Store and the 70 wonderful volunteers who make it all happen week after week. She organizes events for the store, getting us out into the community as much as possible. Sandy has worked for the Chilliwack Hospice Society since February 2014, after being a volunteer for two years. Sandy has been married since 1992 and has 2 boys, and has lived in Chilliwack since 2003. Sandy loves doing renos & reading and spending time with family & friends.
Stephanie Heinrich
Thrifty Boutique Assistant Manager
Stephanie Heinrich is a Thrifty Boutique Assistant Manager. Stephanie assists the manager in the day-to-day management of our Thrift Store and helps co-ordinate the volunteers. She also helps with all the events that Hospice puts on. Stephanie has worked for the Chilliwack Hospice Society since July 2012. Stephanie has been married to her husband Rob since 2000, and has 3 children: Micah, Danika and Jessica. She has lived in Chilliwack her whole life and even bought the house she grew up in from her parents. Stephanie loves being outdoors; camping, gardening and playing around on their side-by-sides with the kids. She loves baking and cooking, but most of all sharing these things with family and friends.
