Kaweah Health hosted its third-annual celebration of life last week, honoring teammates who died in the previous year. Photo contributed

Kaweah Health last week recognized the lives of three team members during its third annual celebration of life. The gathering is a chance to honor, celebrate and memorialize Kaweah Health employees who have died while actively employed the previous year.

“While families have funerals and burials, employees sometimes have no outlet to express their grief and to remember and honor those who were a part of their work families,” said Gary Herbst, Kaweah Health’s CEO, noting that the event was started by the Kaweah Health Employee Connection Committee. “This helps us to never forget them and what they meant to the Kaweah Health organization and our community.”

Each team member was honored with a moment of silence and plaques that will be affixed to Kaweah Health’s memorial fence.

After 29 years at Kaweah, Ileane Quintana was described by Nurse Manager Laura Robertson a valued member of the team who knew the operating rooms backward and forward.

“Her expertise was amazing. She had been with us for so long that it showed in everything she did. We feel her loss in our unit and we think of her often,” said Robertson.

Thomas Gilbert, a 9-year employee, was a senior integration developer for the Kaweah Health Information Systems and Services team.

 “He was not just a coworker, he was a very kind-hearted soul who touched so many in our lives,” said Luke Schneider, director of ISS Application Services. “Tom had a heart of gold, his kindness knew no bounds. He was always willing to help lend a hand even when it meant putting his work aside. He lived his life with kindness, courage, compassion, humility, and he made this word a better place just by being in it with us.”

Summer Hopper, a food service worker, had only been working at Kaweah for a month before her passing. Even though her time in the department was short, she is missed by coworkers.

“She was very excited to start this new journey with us at Kaweah Health and we were very excited to have her join our team,” he said. “It is unfortunate how quickly and suddenly we lost her.”