Endless Journey Hospice

11/04/2025

11/01/2025

Endless Journey Hospice: Extending Care Beyond the Bedside

With food insecurities rising due to the government shutdown, Endless Journey Hospice is taking proactive steps to ensure our patients and their families remain nourished and supported.

Our Compassion Pantry Project and Care Beyond the Bedside initiative mobilize our team, volunteers, and community partners to deliver meal kits, grocery support, and resources directly to those we serve.

This initiative reflects our mission: to walk beside every patient with dignity, comfort, and care — especially when the world around them feels uncertain.

🕊️ Because at Endless Journey, compassion never pauses.

At Endless Journey we encompass the holistic philosophy in that the client and their family will be nourished physically, emotionally, and spiritually as they

10/31/2025

🌿 Meet the Team: Alicia Wilborn, Clinical Liaison 🌿

When you meet Alicia, you instantly feel her energy — equal parts compassion, purpose, and determination. As the Clinical Liaison for Endless Journey Hospice, Alicia brings a powerful blend of sales strategy, spiritual grounding, and heartfelt connection to every encounter.

With over two decades of experience in healthcare, sales, and relationship building, Alicia’s mission is simple: to make sure no family walks their hospice journey alone. She bridges the gap between care and comfort — ensuring each patient, family, and partner facility experiences the full heart of Endless Journey’s mission.

A natural connector and advocate, Alicia thrives on creating meaningful partnerships within the community, breaking the myths surrounding hospice, and highlighting the stories of hope, healing, and honor that define the work.

Beyond her role, Alicia is a woman of deep faith, a devoted wife, mother, grandma, and a visionary entrepreneur who leads with grace and grit. Her purpose is simple yet profound — to bring light, education, and hope into every space she walks into, honoring not just the end of life, but the beauty still left to live.

10/29/2025

🌸 Meet the Team: Onna Funkhouser, CNA 🌸

Since joining Endless Journey Hospice in August, Onna has quickly become a trusted and compassionate presence for our patients and families. Her dedication, positivity, and heart for service embody what hospice care is all about.

Onna is known for bringing joy and comfort to every room she enters — connecting deeply with patients and reminding them they’re never alone. Her natural warmth and reliability make her an instant favorite among both patients and teammates.

Beyond her work, Onna enjoys caring for her growing collection of plants — a fitting reflection of her nurturing spirit and steady commitment to helping others flourish.

We’re proud to have Onna as part of the Endless Journey team — where care is personal, compassion is constant, and every moment matters.

10/28/2025

At Endless Journey we provide meals for several of our patients. We need help with delivering these meals. This is a very flexible volunteer opportunity. Please contact us for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.

10/28/2025

Volunteers NEEDED! There are several volunteer opportunities at Endless Journey, which means that there is something for everyone. Volunteers are needed in Omaha, Lincoln, and the surrounding areas. Please contact us for more information. We look forward to hearing from you.

10/28/2025

At Endless Journey our veteran volunteers provide companionship and support to our veteran patients and their families. We need local veterans to help us with Pinning Ceremonies, patient connections, and community education events. If you are a veteran in Omaha, Linclon or the surrounding areas and looking for a wonderful way to give back to others, this is it! We would absolutely love to have you as a volunteer at Endless Journey.

10/28/2025

💜 Meet the Team: Niki Smutz – Nursing Assistant 💜

For nearly four years, Niki has brought warmth, steadiness, and compassion to every patient and family she serves with Endless Journey Hospice. Her journey into hospice began when she witnessed the care and dignity EJ provided in the facility where she once worked — care that inspired her so deeply, she knew she wanted to be part of it.

Today, Niki serves families outside of the Omaha area, often working independently — yet her presence leaves a lasting mark. One family lovingly described her as “a willow tree,” flexible, calming, and always able to go with the flow. Her gentle strength and dependable spirit bring peace to those navigating life’s hardest moments.

Niki treasures the relationships she builds, finding joy in watching even the most hesitant patients grow to look forward to her visits. Outside of work, she’s a proud mother of four and soon-to-be grandmother, who finds peace in her garden and among her collection of over 50 houseplants (each cared for with the same love she gives her patients).

Niki reminds us daily that true care isn’t just about what we do — it’s about how we show up for others.

10/28/2025

💫 Meet the Team: Valerie Meyer, BSN, RN Director of Pediatrics 💫

When it comes to pediatric care, Valerie sets the bar. With 15 years of nursing experience — from intensive care to hospital leadership — she brings unmatched expertise, compassion, and advocacy to every family she serves. For the past two years, Valerie has led Endless Journey’s Pediatric Program with one mission: to ensure every child and every family feels seen, supported, and surrounded by care that never quits.

As a true champion for pediatric hospice and concurrent care, she’s not only a leader — she’s a lifeline. Whether she’s educating teams, guiding parents, or jumping in hands-on to comfort a child, Valerie leads with both head and heart.

Outside of work, she’s a proud mom of two busy kids and a new puppy, channeling the same energy and heart she brings to every family she serves.

Valerie is the backbone of our pediatric program — knowledgeable, fearless, and deeply human. Her leadership reminds us that compassion and excellence can coexist at the highest level.

10/28/2025

💜 Meet the Team: Emily M. – Pediatric RN Case Manager 💜

Some nurses are born with the gift of care, but Emily carries it with heart.

Emily began her journey with Endless Journey Hospice in June 2023 as an on-call pediatric nurse and transitioned to full time in October 2024. Her connection to hospice is deeply personal — her own family once received care from Endless Journey, and the compassion, guidance, and love they experienced left a lasting impression. She now pours that same comfort into every family she serves.

Emily’s favorite part of her role is the relationships she builds. She walks beside families through the hardest moments of their lives, ensuring they feel supported, heard, and surrounded by kindness. Her joy comes from seeing children smile, families find peace, and hope gently restored through care and connection.
Outside of work, Emily finds her own peace in the sunshine — boating, camping, fishing, and spending time with her husband of 15 years, their three daughters, two fur babies, and a new bearded dragon who’s still growing on her!

Her energy is as bright as her heart — spunky, loud, loving, and deeply compassionate. Emily is a true reflection of the Endless Journey mission: bringing warmth, dignity, and unwavering support to every family we serve.

10/27/2025

🎶 Meet the Team: Maddie Fanton, MT-BC 🎶

When words fall short, Maddie lets music speak. Joining Endless Journey in February, she quickly became known for using melody to bring peace, comfort, and even joy to patients and families during life’s most tender moments.

One of her most meaningful memories was performing a bedside “concert” with a patient surrounded by family — laughter, singing, and love filling the room. Days later, Maddie turned that moment into a heartbeat recording, giving the patient’s wife a forever keepsake.

Outside of work, Maddie recharges by fishing, reading, and cheering for her KU Jayhawks.

Maddie’s heart for others and gift of connection through music reflect what makes Endless Journey truly special — care that doesn’t just comfort but uplifts the spirit.

10/24/2025

💜 Meet the Team: Emily Neher – Nursing Assistant💜
Some people bring skill to their work — Emily brings heart.

Having served with Endless Journey Hospice twice now, Emily first joined our team in 2021 and recently returned this fall — proving that when you find a place that feels like family, you come home to it.
Emily’s first experience in hospice began with EJ, where she quickly discovered the profound impact of love, compassion, and teamwork in caring for even one family at a time. She approaches every patient interaction with professionalism, positivity, and deep empathy — qualities that make her an anchor of calm and care for those she serves.

A proud wife and mother of three, Emily’s motivation comes from her family and her faith. When she’s not caring for others, you’ll find her making memories with her loved ones — especially during her favorite season, fall, exploring local pumpkin patches.

Emily describes EJ best: “Every team member works behind the scenes to ensure each patient and their family are taken care of.”

We couldn’t agree more. We’re so grateful to have her back on this Endless Journey.