A different path through familiar hallways

That's the answer former food service worker Nancy Jennings gives when asked why she chose to return to St. Joseph's Health Care London (St. Joseph's) as a volunteer.

For years, Nancy started her mornings the same way. She worked in food services, first in the Tim Hortons at Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care and later in the cafeteria at St. Joseph's Hospital with Compass Group. Over time, she became someone staff, patients and visitors knew well.

In 2025, Nancy was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer and made the decision to retire.  When Volunteer Services associate Myles Torrens learned Nancy would need to step away from work because of her illness, knowing how much St. Joseph’s meant to Nancy, he  encouraged her to consider volunteering when she felt ready. He gave her his contact information and told her to reach out when the time was right.

Nancy held onto that idea throughout her treatment.

When her oncologist finally told her she could begin volunteering, she didn't hesitate.

"As soon as I got the okay, I got butterflies in my stomach," Nancy says. "I was so excited."

She knew exactly where she wanted to volunteer, and it was a spot Myles could have guessed as well – the information desk outside the cafeteria. While working in the cafeteria, Nancy regularly noticed patients and visitors struggling to find clinics, elevators and departments.

"It was a busy area," she recalls. "People were always asking for directions."

Nancy suggested to Volunteer Services that an information desk outside the cafeteria would be helpful addition. Today, Nancy sits behind the very desk she advocated for, years before she knew how meaningful it would be for her. .She spends her volunteer shifts helping people navigate the same hallways she knows so well, but for Nancy, volunteering is about much more than directions.

A recent interaction stands out in particular. After helping a patient find their way through the hospital, Nancy learned she was a breast cancer survivor. That simple request for directions turned into a conversation and feeling of belonging for Nancy.  

Life changed significantly following her diagnosis, and community became more important than ever. 

From affectionately referring to her breast care nurses as “Pink Sisters” to finding friendships during treatment with people who understood what she was going through, community “gives you a sense that you’re not alone,” says Nancy.

 That continues today at St. Joseph's, where Nancy finds purpose in the relationships that surround her.

Twice a week, Nancy takes her place at the information desk. While the path that brought her back to St. Joseph’s is different than the one she imagined, the familiar hallways and welcoming faces remain the same.  

"I love seeing people," Nancy says. "It's comfortable and I feel at home here."