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Woman Decorates Hospice Houses

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By DIANE LOEBEL, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 17, 2007

Updated: 12/16/2007 08:23 pm

WHO: Linda Harns

CLAIM TO FAME: She has given her time and decorations and Christmas trees from relatives to bring cheer to Gulfside Regional Hospice houses at Lafayette Street and Sunset Bay in west Pasco.

ACCOLADES: "Thanks to Gulfside's wonderful friends like Linda Harns, our hospice patients will have a brighter holiday season," said Lisa Bricker, Gulfside's vice president of development.

SOME BACKGROUND: A Chicago native, Harns, 57, moved to Florida 10 years ago when she learned her mother, Tenuta, had Alzheimer's disease. She's now in the end stages of her illness and has been a Gulfside patient since July.

She lives with her daughter and son-in-law, David, in Holiday. Gulfside nurses visit the home several times a week to check on their patient and were impressed with the Christmas decorations in the Harns' home.

Asked if she would help make the two hospice houses festive, Linda Harns jumped at the opportunity.

"Everyone enjoys the holidays and I feel that by decorating the Gulfside Hospice houses it provides some pleasure for everyone staying at the houses this holiday," she said.

Ideas came easily to Harns, who had worked in sales at a floral and Christmas showroom in Chicago for several years.

She decked the halls of the hospice houses with decorations from family members.

"I've decorated businesses for the holidays for many years but this is the first time I did it for an organization," Harns said.

A career salesperson, she worked for many years selling fragrances before her employer was sold.

Now she handles reservation sales for Continental Airlines.

Her husband Dave owns AAA Equipment Supply, which deals in automatic gate systems.

They have two sons in Chicago and two grandsons.

WHAT'S NEXT: Harns has offered to volunteer with Gulfside if she's needed in the future. Right now her job and her mother occupy most of her time.

HER PARTING QUOTE: "I love Christmas and I appreciate how wonderful everyone at hospice has been. It's a great organization."

Want to suggest an Everyday Hero? Contact Diane Loebel at (727) 815-1081 or e-mail dloebel@tampatrib.com.

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