Family Reflects on Fulfillment of Mother’s Final Wish

Dorothy Greveson, 62, spent her final full day “being alert,” smiling as a pony visited her bedside. Ms. Greveson, diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2020, passed away three days later, on 30 August 2023. Her daughter, Stacey Kelly, stated that Ms. Greveson, an avid horse lover, “wasn’t ready to let go” as her life approached its conclusion. However, her final wish was granted following a special visit at her end-of-life hospice. Ms. Greveson, a resident of Clowne, Derbyshire, was admitted to Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield in 2023 for end-of-life care. Her daughter described the experience as “extremely tough watching mum get weaker and weaker.” Ms. Kelly, 27, remarked, “She wasn’t ready to go and that was the hardest part of it all – knowing that her age was just a number as she was so young at heart.” She characterized her mother as “adventurous and courageous,” noting her affection for horses, foreign travel, and time spent with her children and granddaughter. Towards the end of her life, Ms. Greveson was in “such pain and was miserable,” according to Ms. Kelly. Nevertheless, her situation improved upon her admission to Ashgate. Ms. Greveson’s ultimate desire was to see a horse for “one last time” before her passing. Ms. Kelly recounted, “Ashgate made that happen and brought a pony to her room. That brought the biggest smile to her face – it was the most she’d moved since arriving.” She added, “That was mum’s last full day being alert, and it’s a memory we will always cherish and be grateful for.” These significant moments led Ms. Kelly to endorse the hospice’s Light up a Life Appeal, an initiative that enables individuals to dedicate a star in a “virtual night sky” in honor of their loved ones. Ms. Kelly confirmed that she, along with Ms. Greveson’s other children—Liam, Louise, and Dale—intends to dedicate a star to their mother. A spokesperson for the hospice further stated, “The fundraising campaign aims to raise funds so future patients can access the same support Dorothy did when they need it most.”