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DECEMBER 2022 | JANUARY 2023 • IDAHO SENIOR INDEPENDENT SPOTLIGHTS 15

“From karaoke, I transitioned to church
worship. I love to communicate emotion
powerfully through music.”
Hendricks began visiting care centers
when an activity director invited him to
entertain residents with a concert about 20
years ago.
“As soon as residents heard music, they
came out of their rooms into the commons
area to listen,” he said. “My music ministry
has grown from there.”
He visits five care centers regularly.
In 2017, he began working as a hospice
chaplain after being invited to do a church
service at a memory care unit.
“With both hospice and church, I keep
in mind that we never know what someone
has been through,” he said. “We don’t know
their battles, so we should extend love and
kindness.”
To hospice nurse Barb West, Hendricks
is not only a co-worker but a friend who
ministered to her terminally ill husband.
“Serving as a hospice chaplain isn’t just
a job to him,” West said. “He’s really in tune
with people of all ages and is so gracious
toward everyone. Even after he leaves a
place, he still thinks of ways to make some-
one happy. He knows what to say that will
comfort each person a little differently for
whatever they are going through.” Pastor Dan Hendricks regularly visits Dallas Stoller at his home in Paul, Idaho. Photo by Nancy Kunau.
Two to three times a week, Hendricks
visits residents at Rosetta Assisted Living engaging with Dad. He’s kind, empathetic, he wanted to do was sit up in bed and eat
in Burley. knowledgeable, and humorous. If you look a meal. So, for 45 minutes I helped do this.
“All of us—residents and staff—love up the word joy in the dictionary, it would I held him up with my hand, so he could
when he comes,” said MaryAnne Hines, a be a synonym for Dan Hendricks.” eat. When my arm and hand got too tired,
supervisor at Rosetta. “Through music, he Hendricks gives people a genuine sense I sat with my back against his to keep him
really connects with people. He’s 6-feet, of hope, she said. propped up.”
4-inches tall and has a towering persona. “When people are discouraged or feel- Whatever situation Hendricks encoun-
Physically he seems bigger than life. When ing hopeless, Dan re-aligns them,” Kunau ters, he said he ultimately feels invigorated
he sings and dances with residents, it’s said. “He has the ability to encourage just visiting with people.
mesmerizing. They respond well to him and them to take another breath and to let “I love connecting with people, but
are smiling and laughing.” them know they have an amazing purpose music adds something special. It helps
Hendricks also visits Dallas Stoller at his here on Earth.” create an emotional bond that is both beau-
home in Paul. Sometimes instead of singing, Hendricks tiful and life-affirming,” he said. “I believe
“Dad brightens up when Dan comes and sits in comfortable silence. people need to know they matter, and my
sings,” said Nancy Kunau, Dallas’ daugh- “One man really had no interest in reli- singing is a way to tell them that.” ISI
ter. “He has such a gift for singing and gion or a visit from a chaplain,” he said. “All

33 Pouch 2 Where “The Man With the Hoe” carried the 38 Quite often
34 With 36-Across, “There’s no going back ... “ world, in an Edwin Markham poem 42 Supermarket chain with a red oval logo
35 Ship letters 3 Great sadness 43 Overhauls
36 See 34-Across 4 Plus 44 Put away
39 Brewery vessel 5 Iraq’s __ City 45 Titania’s Husband
40 Celestial feline 6 Brief “I think” 46 Serving as a symbol
41 Snoots put them on 7 Oceanus, to Gaia 47 Fin. neighbor
45 Other, in Oaxaca 8 Snacked 48 Loyalty
48 “Put everything behind you ... “ 9 “How sweet __!” 49 Start
53 Sigma follower 10 Sprint 50 “Human beings ... may hide their feelings,
54 Shorebirds related to stilts 11 Lose it but __ does not”: Hemingway
55 Crux 12 Public policy declaration 51 Fjords, e.g.
57 Cards 13 Cookout fare 52 Teach privately
59 Up on the latest 18 One less than tetra- 53 Foolish sort
60 Sax type 19 OB or ENT 56 Superskinny
61 “And look ahead.” 23 Rock’s Mötley __ 58 Battle of Normandy town
64 Force featured on “Bosch,” for short 24 Formal agreement 60 Claim
65 “So close!” 25 Four Corners state 62 Actor McKellen
66 Oodles 28 Roget entry: Abbr. 63 Andean root vegetable
67 They often take turns 29 Dress, with “up”
30 Le Monde article © 2022 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.
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1 __ Own Organics 37 Seaweed product