Staff

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.

Jennifer Dacre, BA, BA – CYC (she/her) Bereavement Services Manager

Jennifer Dacre, BA, BA – CYC, has been with Chilliwack Hospice Society since 2012. She started as a volunteer at Cascade Hospice and began working for the Society in July 2014. Jen is the Bereavement Services Manager providing one-to-one support to adult clients and families before and after the death of loved ones — both human and animal. An integral part of Jen’s role is to facilitate grief support groups, including First Step Grief Support Group, and to oversee our practicum students as they lead our Pet Death Grief Support Group. Jen has two amazing kids who have turned out pretty well, and two dogs that shed way too much. She has lived in Chilliwack since 1999. Jen loves reading, crafts, baking but not cooking, being outside especially near water, and spending time with the people and pets that she loves.

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.
 

Sharilyn Jackson (she/her) Executive Assistant

Sharilyn Jackson has been with the Chilliwack Hospice Society since October 2018.  Sharilyn creates the newsletter, updates our website with all our exciting events, inputs all our information onto our database and assists with all events.  Sharilyn and her husband, David have been married since 1990.  They have been, along with their 2 sons, part of the Chilliwack community since 1995.  She enjoys theatre & 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 Receptionist

Bio coming soon!

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.

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.

Franny Hills, BA (she/her/elle) Child & Youth Program Manager

Franny Hills, BA, is our Child and Youth Program Manager. Franny provides an accepting and safe place for kids to talk about their grief and loss experiences and helps them understand their feelings.  Grief is normalized through a variety of grief-related activities, sometimes involving art and play. Franny has lived in Chilliwack since 1994 and is married to the funniest and most supportive guy. Together they have two fantastic kiddos and a goofy little dog who keeps them busy. Franny loves spending time with her friends and family and can often be found at the dog park, tossing a ball for anyone who wants to fetch it.

David Hughes, BA (Hons.) (he/him) Child & Youth Program Manager

Bio coming soon!

Deanna Fedorkew (she/her) Community Outreach & Education Manager

Deanna Fedorkew brings a wealth of warmth and community spirit to her role as Community Outreach & 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.

Desmond Devnich, AA (he/him) Marketing Manager

Desmond Devnich, AA, has been involved in Chilliwack Hospice Society since 2012, first as an events and fundraising volunteer and later as an independent contractor. Desmond joined the staff as Marketing Manager in 2021, promoting the bereavement and palliative care support programs and services Chilliwack Hospice Society provides, and supporting the organization's events and fundraising initiatives, by creating and curating website, blog and social media content, email newsletters, and print materials, and working with legacy media for advertising and community engagement. He is also responsible for the digital marketing strategy for the Thrifty Boutique. He has served in various volunteer non-profit leadership roles in the Chilliwack community. Often Desmond can be found singing the National Anthem for sporting and community events. He is an honourary Paul Harris Fellow.
 

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.

Susan Greenway Thrifty Boutique Assistant Manager

Susan Greenway became a Thrifty Boutique Assistant Manager in 2020.  She has volunteered and worked for the Chilliwack Hospice Society since 2010 on weekends while working full time. Susan decided on volunteering at Chilliwack Hospice because it is such a needed organization in our community with so many services offered at no cost. Susan loves working in the intake room of the Thrifty Boutique - meeting such a variety of kind people that donate their items to the thrift store. These items stock our shelves and help towards keeping these worthy services going in the community. She is very honoured and proud to be a part of the Chilliwack Hospice Society! When Susan is not at the store, you will find her with one of her 6 grandchildren at soccer, hockey, ringette, a park or anywhere else they may want or need to be.

Thrifty Boutique Sales Assistants Wenona Guilderson Danika Heinrich Lois Makela Lily Poje Bonnie Yule