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Hospice Chautauqua County has been the recipient, since 2007, of funds raised at the annual Marcy Morreale Memorial Benefit held in Frewsburg.

Hundreds of friends and families gathered recently at the Carroll Rod & Gun Club to honor the memory Marcy Morreale. The benefit brought in $4,000 for Hospice Chautauqua County, $500 for the Marcy Morreale Scholarship Fund and some additional monies to be used for startup costs in 2010.

According to Michelle Anderson, daughter of Marcy Morreale and benefit chair, the 2009 benefit proved to be a huge success.

"I am overwhelmed with the generosity and overjoyed with the outcome," she said.

More than 240 steak fry dinners were served to the guests. The benefit was filled with activities from beginning to end, including an auction, bake sale and gun giveaway.

"I have received numerous compliments and statements of 'a good time was had by all,''' Mrs. Anderson said. "This benefit would not be possible without the love and support of my family, our friends, the many volunteers and the community businesses. "

"The Marcy Morreale Benefit has a significant impact on the level of care we are able to continue to provide to patients and families facing a terminal illness," said Ron Sellers, Hospice Chautauqua County president and chief executive officer.

Hospice staff provided comfort and care to Marcy Morreale and his family during the end stages of his life. Mrs. Anderson said she is grateful to Hospice and the agency's staff members for caring for her father and his family with such compassion and warmth.

"Hospice was such a comfort to my father and our family," she said. "I wanted to do something that would help other patients and families and the only way I could think of was to do something that would help Hospice."

The benefit has raised almost $11,000 over the last three years for Hospice Chautauqua County, and Mrs. Anderson said she is confident the Marcy Morreale Memorial Benefit will go on for years to come, but asked that the donations made not overshadow the memory of her late father.

"He was truly a wonderful man, husband, grandpa, son, businessman and friend,'' she said. ''Without those memories, this event wouldn't have the meaning it does."

For more information on the benefit or ways to volunteer in the future, e-mail Mrs. Anderson at marcymorreale@windstream.net. For more information about Hospice services, call the Hospice Office at 338-0033.