Elsie Elerby of Sharon said her husband, Robert, a hospice patient with kidney cancer, talks with their minister on a regular basis when he comes to visit.

"They talk about football, things of the day," Mrs. Elerby said. "One day he came, and we were talking very spiritual. The minister said, we'll join hands and do a word of prayer, and my husband did a prayer and he blew us all away.

Mrs. Elerby said the family is fortunate her daughter has several friends whose husbands are ministers.

"We have a lot of spiritual support," she said.

When a patient is dying, spirituality often enters the picture, whether that person has been spiritual in life or not.

Geraldine Williams, pastor of the Ruth A.M.E. Church in Sharon and chaplain for Sharon Regional Health System's hospice program, said she sometimes runs into families or patients who haven't been spiritual before death began approaching and are now looking for answers.

"If the family has been lax over the years in spiritual care, you have to make quality decisions about how you'll proceed," Ms. Williams said. "You can still give necessary and needed care to the family."

As a chaplain, Ms. Williams said she listens and allows people to choose their own spiritual path to peace, harmony and understanding.

"It's a point of never infringing upon the spiritual or cultural persuasion of a person or family," she said. "If you sit and listen you find out how much of a spiritual nature they are. We try to bring the patient and the family a deep sense of spiritual comfort."

She said patients with a limited amount of experience in spirituality sometimes realize the end has come and they have no where else to turn.

"They realize their mortality is about to be non-existent. They reach out to God, and because of our teaching, God is merciful and compassionate and is always working to embrace one of his creation," Ms. Williams said. "So we make every effort to strengthen that at the time of death. We offer them the peace and comfort of knowing that God is always there for you."

Ms. Williams said she offers the patient God and Jesus Christ, if it's appropriate. She never tries to convert anyone.

After the patient dies, Ms. Williams still offers her services to the families.

"If they have a need you will give them spiritual care and you will follow up even if the patient is deceased," she said. "You always offer that option to them. The chaplain will be willing to continue outreach, discussion and visits."