What began as a dream of helping neighbors almost fifty years ago is turning 45 this year. Emilie Sasko was a nurse, volunteer, mother of 12 and a dreamer. She had a dream that she was being called to create a hospice, and supported by her deep faith, family and friends, founded the second hospice in the State of Florida. Emilie inspired others with her belief in the concept of neighbor-helping-neighbor, and Hospice of St. Francis began as an all-volunteer organization.
Now known as St. Francis Hospice Lifestage Care, we continue to care for our community as an independent, not-for-profit provider. Our scope of services includes palliative care, hospice, and the Space Coast’s most extensive array of grief support programs. Emilie’s founding principle of neighbor-helping-neighbor is always in the forefront of our minds and our hearts.
We are deeply grateful to celebrate our 45th anniversary of serving Brevard County residents. It is an honor to be chosen to provide care for our neighbors in their most sacred time of life. We are proud to carry on Emilie’s legacy of service to other by fulfilling our mission of: Uplifting Lives. Uplifting Each Other. Uplifting Our Community.
We invite you to share your story of how our team made a difference to you and your loved one by emailing Foundation@Reflectionslsc.org or calling 321-360-3456.
It has been one of the greatest honors of my life to co-labor alongside Hospice of St. Francis. Twenty-one years ago, as I was founding A Granddaughter’s Promise, this was the very first hospice I was introduced to—and it forever shaped my understanding of what soul-driven, purpose-filled care could look like.
My dear friend Paula Hodge was instrumental in that early journey. Through her guidance and your team’s unwavering compassion, I came to see hospice not as the end, but as a sacred beginning. That vision, first inspired by Emilie’s legacy, became the foundation of my own work.
Over the past two decades, A Granddaughter’s Promise has had the privilege of referring hundreds of patients and families to Hospice of St. Francis—because for both personal and professional reasons, you have always been our first choice.
As you celebrate 45 years of service rooted in love and community, I want to say thank you. You will always be my favorite. I’m honored to have you in Brevard County, and I’m so excited to see how your legacy continues to bless the next 45 years and beyond.
With gratitude and admiration,
Christine Canavan,
Founder – A Granddaughter’s Promise