A best friend and lifelong neighbor

Jean Yeiser was a founder and friend of Community General Hospital. She knew all about the hospital, just as a best friend and lifelong neighbor would.

Jean was a charter member of the Auxiliary (from 1962), and she was a lifetime Auxiliary member. She was Auxiliary President (1979-1983), and she served on the hospital board during that period. Jean started the holiday lights program more than two decades ago. She was chairperson of many Auxiliary committees over the years, serving notably as the chair of volunteer services for many, many years.

Jean was herself an active volunteer, and you could find her on Monday mornings on the main desk . . . until she passed away, February 20. She was 90.

In all her years in up here (that is, "he-ah"), Jean never lost her North Carolina accent -- nor the direct and friendly way she engaged and assisted others. What a dear and impressive woman. What a friend and colleague.

We are proud and thankful that Jean was such a part of the Community general family. Our sincere condolences to the Yeiser family and to her many friends.

We miss her.

Lights honoring lives

Many of the trees on the campus of Community General Hospital date from the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Those trees appear in stylized version on the disc that is part of the hospital's logo.

This week the Auxiliary to Community General Hospital illuminates two of those trees as it holds its 26th annual holiday celebration on December 2.

Tree lights may be sponsored in honor or in memory of someone.

Sponsorships are at the sliver ($25), gold ($50), and life light ($150) levels.