Our History

A new vision.

Hospice of the Valley was founded in 1977 as a not-for-profit organization by a group of citizens that shared a vision about a new way of caring for the dying. Led by the Rev. Q. Gerald Roseberry, the agency was established as the first hospice in Phoenix, Arizona, and was among the first in the nation. Volunteers worked in rent-free space at the Maricopa County health department.

In the early days, a few volunteer nurses, social workers and community volunteers drove from one end of the Valley to the other to offer medical, social and emotional support to patients and families. The pioneers' work was funded by donations and grants. Mary Audrey Mellor and Blanche Hopkins were among the first volunteer nurses and community leaders who also helped organize fundraisers. “The Friends of Hospice” was established in 1980 and continues today.

As Maricopa County grew, so did Hospice of the Valley. And as hospice became more accepted nationwide, it was added as a Medicare benefit in 1982, establishing its place in the health care system with a secure financial foundation. Now Medicare accounts for more than 90 percent of our revenue. Arizona has one of the nation’s highest utilization rates for hospice.

Read Rev. Roseberry’s account of the Early Years of Hospice of the Valley.