Founders and Visionaries
The Board of Directors and Staff of The Compassion Home are dedicated individuals with a passion for the vision of the Newaygo County Compassion Home to provide a loving and safe home for end-of-life care. It takes a community and the Board and staff at the Compassion Home are just a sample of the amazing people that support our mission and vision.
2026/2027 Board of Directors
Brandee Chase - President and Co-Founder
Energy, compassion, and unwavering support are just a few of the qualities you will notice when you first meet Brandee Chase. A graduate of Kent City High School, Brandee pursued her passion for caring for others by earning her nursing degree from Grand Rapids Community College and recently completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing through Grand Canyon University.
Brandee currently serves as a Cardiovascular Imaging and Procedural Nurse with Corewell Health and provides support in the Intensive Care Unit when needed. In 2026, she proudly celebrates 30 years in the nursing profession, a career she says she has loved every day and would never trade for another.Throughout her distinguished career, Brandee has gained extensive experience in cardiovascular imaging, home care, medical-surgical nursing, neuroscience, labor and delivery, and intensive care. In recognition of her dedication and service, she was honored with the 2026 Corewell Health Foundation Gerber Hospital Legacy Award at the Flannel Fest Gerber Hospital Gala.
Brandee and her husband, Jon, have been happily married for 29 years and are the proud parents of three children: Cole, Carter, and Chloee. She considers her family one of God's greatest blessings and is deeply grateful for the life they have built together. A devoted member of her church, Brandee enjoys serving both her congregation and the broader community. In her free time, she treasures making memories with family and friends, sharing laughter with those she loves, and spending summers up north on the family's cherry farm.
Brandee currently serves as a Cardiovascular Imaging and Procedural Nurse with Corewell Health and provides support in the Intensive Care Unit when needed. In 2026, she proudly celebrates 30 years in the nursing profession, a career she says she has loved every day and would never trade for another.Throughout her distinguished career, Brandee has gained extensive experience in cardiovascular imaging, home care, medical-surgical nursing, neuroscience, labor and delivery, and intensive care. In recognition of her dedication and service, she was honored with the 2026 Corewell Health Foundation Gerber Hospital Legacy Award at the Flannel Fest Gerber Hospital Gala.
Brandee and her husband, Jon, have been happily married for 29 years and are the proud parents of three children: Cole, Carter, and Chloee. She considers her family one of God's greatest blessings and is deeply grateful for the life they have built together. A devoted member of her church, Brandee enjoys serving both her congregation and the broader community. In her free time, she treasures making memories with family and friends, sharing laughter with those she loves, and spending summers up north on the family's cherry farm.
Amy Drilling - Vice President and Co-Founder
Amy has been a Newaygo County resident since 1995. Over the last 26 years, Amy has worked as a Registered Nurse (RN) at Corewell Health Gerber Hospital. She has had the privilege of serving this community as a Home Health Care RN, Med Surg/ICU RN, Skincare Center & Spa at Tamarac, Nursing Administrative Supervisor, Clinical Nurse Educator for Ferris State University and in her current role as a Cardiovascular Imaging RN. Of all the roles that Amy has performed, none has been more rewarding than assisting patients and their families with end-of-life care. In 2011, Amy was honored with being nominated for her empathy while caring for a patient in the ICU and won the Health Care Hero award and she has also been recognized as a DAISY award recipient for providing excellent bedside care. In addition to Amy's experience, she has a solid educational foundation with a multitude of certifications as well as a bachelor's degree in nursing from Ferris State University. Amy has been married to Rich for 28 years and has been blessed to raise three awesome children: Tia, Sequoya and Richard. Amy enjoys spending time with her family boating and camping when able.
Dorothy Paris, CPA - Treasurer
Dorothy is a retired CPA who enjoys serving the Fremont community in a number of capacities. In addition to serving as Treasurer on the Compassion Home, she serves on the Boards of Trustees for the Fremont Area Community Foundation and Dogwood Performing Arts Center, volunteers at the Fremont Library and is active in the music ministry at her church. Dorothy continues to travel extensively and loves to spend time, kayaking, hiking and visiting her three daughters and two grandsons.
Pam Zuchowski - Secretary
Pam is a lifelong Fremont resident and has recently retired from a 35-year teaching career. She earned her bachelor's degree from Ferris State University and her master's in educational technology from Grand Valley State University. Pam spent her teaching career in adult and alternative education, including 12 years teaching in the Newaygo County Jail. She taught in both the Newaygo and Fremont Public School Districts. Pam is a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fremont where she is chairperson of the public relations board and also volunteers in many other capacities. Along with her husband, Tim, Pam enjoys all outdoor activities, travel, reading, and paper crafting. The Zuchowski's have two daughters, Karlie and Kenzie.
Melissa Langholz
Melissa is a native of Michigan who has a joy and love for volunteering. Her heart of service started through opportunities in the church, which inspired a deep appreciation for how Christian service can improve the quality of the community. Through Christian non-profits Melissa has been led to international service on medical mission trips with her husband over the past 7 years. Melissa’s medical professional life started many years ago as a medical assistant in an urgent care facility. God opened doors to the business side of medical practice which led to director of operations for a medical billing and management company and finally to an office manager position for a large medical practice. This combination allows Melissa the opportunity to use her business skills with her heart for service. When she is not busy as wife, mother, and grandmother, she loves to fish and work in the garden.
Dr. Douglas Johnson
Dr. Johnson retired in 2018 from a General Surgery practice in Fremont from 1991 to 2018. He previously served as a surgeon in Japan with the US Air Force. Dr. Johnson grew up in Fremont, served in the US Army as a medic then attended Spring Arbor University. Medical School at Wayne State University and Residency in Grand Rapids. He is an Elder at Fremont First Reformed Church. Doug enjoy woodworking, remodeling, and converting old things into something new and usable.
Anna Hunt, RN, BSN
Anna Hunt is a graduate of Calvin College, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. She is a Registered Nurse with extensive experience across a wide range of healthcare settings, including labor and delivery, hospice care, hospital-based nursing, education, and home care. Throughout her career, she has remained deeply committed to providing exceptional care and advocating for older adults and their families.
In 2019, Anna founded and became the Director of The Cottages at Martin Lake, a reflection of her passion for creating compassionate, person-centered environments where older adults can thrive with dignity, comfort, and purpose. Anna is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN) and a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP). She also serves as a Certified Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Trainer through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners, demonstrating her dedication to educating others and advancing quality dementia care.
Outside of her professional life, Anna is the proud mother of three grown children and a devoted grandmother who treasures every opportunity to spend time with her grandchildren. She also shares her home with one very spoiled Vizsla. Anna enjoys spending time with family, exploring the outdoors, following sports, working on a good puzzle, and playing the piano when no one is listening.
Grounded by her faith and strong commitment to family, Anna firmly believes that older adults deserve the very best care, compassion, and dignity we can provide. Her dedication to serving others continues to shape both her professional work and her mission to enhance the lives of seniors and their families.
In 2019, Anna founded and became the Director of The Cottages at Martin Lake, a reflection of her passion for creating compassionate, person-centered environments where older adults can thrive with dignity, comfort, and purpose. Anna is a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse (CHPN) and a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP). She also serves as a Certified Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Trainer through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners, demonstrating her dedication to educating others and advancing quality dementia care.
Outside of her professional life, Anna is the proud mother of three grown children and a devoted grandmother who treasures every opportunity to spend time with her grandchildren. She also shares her home with one very spoiled Vizsla. Anna enjoys spending time with family, exploring the outdoors, following sports, working on a good puzzle, and playing the piano when no one is listening.
Grounded by her faith and strong commitment to family, Anna firmly believes that older adults deserve the very best care, compassion, and dignity we can provide. Her dedication to serving others continues to shape both her professional work and her mission to enhance the lives of seniors and their families.
Pat Koning
Pat Koning has been a dedicated healthcare professional in Newaygo County since 1994. She began her career as a Registered Nurse, spending 12 years in cardiology and intensive care before earning her Master’s Degree as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner from Michigan State University.Over the past 26 years, Pat has served in a variety of advanced practice roles. She began her Nurse Practitioner career in long-term care with the Clark and Holland Home systems in Grand Rapids, where she worked for more than eight years. She later transitioned to Corewell Health Gerber, serving as a Hospitalist Nurse Practitioner and working with inpatient cardiology. For the past 5–6 years, she has focused on primary care in the Newaygo area, where she continues to make a meaningful impact on her patients and community.Pat earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and her Master’s Degree from Michigan State University. She has been married to her husband, Don, for more than 37 years. Outside of work, Pat enjoys daily walks with her dog, as well as traveling, reading, and quilting.
Ann LaPres-Hindes - Founder and Honorary Board Member
As a registered nurse at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial, a highly respected and informal leader of clinicians, and the founder of the Newaygo County Compassion Home, Ann LaPres-Hindes had a vision and a goal – to help ensure that the citizens of Newaygo County were able to spend their last days on earth in a peaceful, supportive, loving and home-like atmosphere. Along with her passion for hospice work, Ann brings years of HR and bookkeeping knowledge, as well as extensive nursing experience in an Intensive Care Unit. Ann’s formal education includes an associate’s degree in nursing from Muskegon Community College, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN) from Baker College. She was Muskegon Community College’s Hadden Award recipient, which was given each year to a member of the graduating class who was chosen for superior scholarship and demonstrated the qualities that reflect the spirit of nursing. Ann has been married to her husband Craig for more than 35 years and has raised four adult children. She and Craig are also owners of Scott’s Meats Inc. in Muskegon, Michigan. When not working, Ann loves spending time with her children and seven grandchildren, as well as traveling, enjoying the outdoors, reading and serving others.
Honorary Lifetime Board Members
Ann Lapres-Hindes, Founder
Amy Drilling, Co-Founder
Brandee Chase, Co-Founder
Administrative Staff
Diane LaPres Rudholm, Executive Director
Newaygo County Compassion Home for the Terminally Ill, the county’s first full-service hospice home, has named Diane Rudholm as its first executive director. Rudholm will oversee the overall direction and operations of all services at the newly established NCCH, including fundraising, marketing and management of NCCH staff and volunteers.“I’m truly honored and humbled to be given this opportunity to do something that I love and serve families with care and compassion,” Rudholm said. “Newaygo County Compassion Home is meeting a genuine need in the Newaygo County community. For the first time, families will have peace of mind knowing that we now have a designated place where their loved ones can receive professional and compassionate end of life care, and I’m looking forward to my new role with the Newaygo County Compassion Home.”NCCH is expected to serve around 100 guests a year and can house three guests at a time. The home will be available to guests who are in the final days or weeks of a terminal illness, with each guest under the care of a hospice provider in Newaygo County.“Diane embodies the perfect blend of business and heart, and her experiences and passion are unprecedented, which will serve the community members to the fullest,” said Angela Kinch, Hospice Business and Program Development Manager at Spectrum Health.As executive director, Rudholm will report directly to and work with the NCCH Board of Directors to fulfill the Newaygo County Compassion Home mission and ensure ongoing strategic planning. Rudholm has been involved with the Compassion Home for a year from its earliest stages. She will work at the NCCH’s temporary location in White Cloud, and move to its permanent facility at 20 S. Stewart in Fremont, which will undergo renovations following a capital fundraising campaign in coming months. “Diane’s passion for the project, combined with her unique skill-set, makes her the ideal person for this enormous job,” said NCCH board member Dorothy Paris, CPA at H&S Companies PC.Rudholm is a licensed CNA and has a bachelor’s of science in health communications and administration, with an associate’s of business in sales and marketing. She has 25 years of experience in fund and business development, marketing, human resources and management from past roles at the American Cancer Society, Brunswick Corp., and GoodTemps Staffing Services.“Diane has a clear desire to move forward the mission of the Compassion Home while learning and growing with us. I truly believe that everything she has done in the past six months is a clear indication that God’s hand is at work in this community and in her desire to open the Compassion Home for His glory,” said Mary Henry, RN, BSN, OCN, retired Spectrum Health registered nurse.More than 80 percent of Americans prefer to die at home or in a home-like setting, yet only 20 percent get that opportunity. Many individuals end up in relatively sterile acute care facilities, surrounded by machines and strangers.
Compassion Home Care Coordinators:
- Chris Corwin
- Melodie Malone
- Melissa Hawes
- Barb Nelson
- Kristi Akershoek
- Jackie Ferris
- Danielle Hendrie
Support Staff:
- Sara Wolfsen, Accountant