Twice a week, Mr. Rufus Eller (patient care unit CNA Lisa Barnett’s father) goes to Aldi’s and stocks up on bananas, which he delivers to Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, much to the delight of patients’ families and staff members, alike!

Mr. Eller has been making these deliveries for more than four years, since before his wife of 58 years died. Now Mr. Eller comes alone some days and brings friends with him on others. Very often, he visits PCU patients while he’s here. And once he leaves, Mr. Eller is likely to visit area long-term-care facilities to spend time with residents, some of whom are friends or neighbors.
One Sunday, a member of the congregation at Mr. Eller’s church told about the time, before the Lenoir FairValue store moved, when an employee asked Mr. Eller about the large number of bananas he purchased each week: “Do you raise monkeys?”

The truth is that Mr. Eller raises spirits of everyone around him. At 80 years of age, he still looks after his three daughters, the Hospice staff, PCU patients and families, and residents of long-term-care facilities.

When you have time, sit down and talk with Mr. Eller. He’ll tell you about his wife and about how people need to have visitors, especially in long-term-care facilities. He has always cared for family members (as one of 16 children, including three sets of twins). He lives compassion and generosity. You’ll be glad you took the time to listen!—Pam Hildebran