Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

Maryann Raab named Hospice board chair

Maryann Raab of Portola Valley has been named board chair of Mission Hospice & Home Care, a charitable, nonprofit organization that provides end-of-life care to patients in the San Mateo County area.

She joined the board in 2008 and recently served as vice chair. She said her focus for the coming year is to raise major gifts to support plans for additional programs to offer a "full continuum of care."

In 2008, Mission Hospice had 20 to 30 patients. Since then, the organization has added home care and a transition (pre-hospice) program. It now serves an average of 120 patients at a time.

Originally from the Midwest, Ms. Raab moved to California for college. After living in England and Spain, she returned to the U.S., working in real estate in San Mateo County from 1985 to 2005. She and husband Kirk Raab live in Portola Valley.

She said she was inspired to volunteer at Mission Hospice partly due to her late father's experience with a hospice program in Denver.

"I was just blown away by the professionalism and compassion of the hospice staff," she said. "As a family member, you're so vulnerable during that time, and the hospice team just comes in and scoops you up and takes care of you."