Excellent Care Inspires Lasting Gift
Gabriele has had time to reflect deeply on the importance of health care.
At 76, the Fort Langley resident says she’s “at that age” when the loss of loved ones is becoming more common. But years spent caring for family members through illness and loss have also shaped the way she thinks about giving back.
Recently, as she reviewed her estate plans, Gabriele chose to include Langley Community Health & Hospital Foundation in her Will.
“What really got me thinking about including the Foundation in my Will was this idea of prevention and wellness, especially in its programs for youth and seniors that I see in the community,” she says.
For Gabriele, the decision was rooted in a lifetime of experiences with the health care system.
Over the years, she has cared for many loved ones through illness and recovery. Her husband was hospitalized several times during his battle with cancer. In 2018, her mother spent seven weeks in hospital before moving into long-term care. More recently, Gabriele cared for her brother throughout his cancer treatment and was by his side at Langley Hospice during his final days.
“Through all of those experiences, I always felt like we were well cared for,” she says. “When my husband was in the hospital, we always felt they looked after him well.”
After a long career managing a cardiac rehab centre, the retiree volunteers with the YMCA, hospice and cancer care organizations. She practises yoga, works with a personal trainer, enjoys long walks with friends and rarely misses a dance event at Fort Langley’s community hall.
Gabriele is one of a growing number of Canadians choosing to leave charitable gifts in their Wills after seeing firsthand the impact organizations can have on their lives and communities.
Recently, the Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) released a national study examining charitable bequests and estate planning. Based on a survey of 1,246 Canadian adults, the study found that the number of Canadians leaving charitable gifts in their Wills doubled from five per cent in 2019 to 10 per cent in 2025. Forty-four per cent of Canadians said they are likely to leave a charitable gift in their Will.
Similarly, after undergoing two surgeries at Langley Memorial Hospital, Langley resident Wayne Wilkie credits Langley Memorial’s medical team with helping him regain his health.
“The care I received was exceptional,” he says. “Leaving a gift in my Will is my way of saying thank you and making sure the hospital has the resources to take care of my community long into the future.”
And for Gabriele, a gift in a Will is about helping future generations access the same care and support that helped her family through some of life’s most difficult moments.
“As I’ve gotten older and had more opportunities to experience the benefits of hospitals and health care services, I’ve come to see how important these organizations are. I love that the Foundation is about more than just the hospital,” she says. “They’re supporting people throughout the community.”