Lisa Whitney Brings Comfort and Laughter to Patients, Earns 2025 Caregiver Superstar Award
November 20, 2025
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Concord, NH — The Phaneuf Family Foundation’s 501(c)(3) board of directors is proud to announce Lisa Whitney of Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice of Carroll County (VNHCH of Carroll County) as the 2025 Caregiver Superstar of the Year.
Now in its third year, the Caregiver Superstar of the Year Award honors professional hospice caregivers in New Hampshire and Vermont who demonstrate extraordinary compassion, dedication, and service to patients and their families.
“Lisa personifies what this award stands for: compassion, dedication, and a commitment to making every moment matter for patients and their families,” said Buddy Phaneuf, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Phaneuf Family Foundation. “Her passion for hospice care and her selfless service to others truly set her apart.”
Whitney was nominated by Ashlee Chaine, LTC, Social Services and Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, and Sandy Ruka, Executive Director of Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice of Carroll County.
“Lisa exemplifies every quality one hopes to find in a nurse, a colleague, and a caregiver. She brings an extraordinary combination of clinical skill, compassion, and humanity to her work each day. For patients and families navigating the most vulnerable moments of their lives, Lisa is more than a nurse, she is a steady presence, a source of comfort, and often the person who brings hope, clarity, and peace to very difficult circumstances,” Ashlee and Sandy wrote in their nomination.
“What makes Lisa especially beloved is her sense of humor. Clients often say that her laughter and wit bring a sense of humanity and normalcy back into their lives. She has a remarkable gift for lightening even the heaviest of days, reminding patients and families that while we cannot always control the number of days we have, we can add quality and joy to the days we do. Her humor is never out of place. It is genuine, thoughtful, and deeply healing, allowing families to breathe, smile, and find strength in the midst of hardship,” they added.
The Foundation’s board of directors was deeply impressed by Lisa’s nomination and is honored to recognize her with the 2025 Caregiver Superstar of the Year Award, which includes a $500 grant for Lisa and $500 for Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice of Carroll County to be used toward something that benefits the entire caregiving team.
The award was presented during the Home Care, Hospice & Palliative Care Alliance Annual Conference on November 20, 2025, in Concord, New Hampshire.
About the Foundation:
Established in 2019, the Phaneuf Family Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to ensuring all New Hampshire and Vermont families have access to a dignified farewell. We do this in three ways:
- By providing financial assistance for funeral or cremation arrangements for individuals and families that cannot afford to finalize a service
- By providing support and recognition to professional hospice caregivers and organizations.
- By providing scholarships to students living in NH and VT who are attending a mortuary college in the U.S.
For more information about the foundation, visit phaneuffoundation.org.