Photo description:

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS 49.8 Jocelyn House Christmas Feature piece on one of Manitoba's only hospices on the day they gather for Christmas carolling with family and friends. Photos capturing the bitter sweet joy as residents in their end-of life stages take part in Christmas festivities with family and friends for the last time. Jocelyn House resident Kahte Tydik holds a small manger scene given to her by her sister while sitting in her room at Jocelyn House Monday. This room is the same room Jocelyn Hutton spent her last days in before she died in 1980 at the age of 17. A remarkable teenager, Jocelyn lived the last months of her life sharing her message of acceptance, purpose and faith. Jocelyn House is the result of Jocelyn’s wish to die at home supported by family, friends and her community. Her parents, Bill and Miriam Hutton donated their home to the community after her death and founded the first free-standing hospice in Western Canada in 1985. This is for Melissa Martin's Dec 23rd feature. Dec 18, 2017