On Sunday, Lehigh Valley Health Network closed the doors of the East Stroudsburg Hospice House, much to the surprise of county residents.

“It is with shock and dismay I learned that LVHN closed our Hospice House,” wrote Jacquelyn J. James in a letter to LVHN CEO Brian Nester. “Many people in Monroe County are deeply concerned over the decision to deny Monroe County residents the same final day’s option that the Lehigh Valley residents will continue to have.”

James’ 101 year old mother, Katherine James spent the last months of her life at the hospice, which is located on ground owned by East Stroudsburg University.

“Families who find themselves in need of hospice care, or close to that phase of a loved one’s life, are emotionally and physically taxed already,” she wrote. “They may not have the strength to rise up and loudly protest. However, there are many of us in Monroe County who will speak for them, who must speak for them.”

And many did. The meeting room was filled to capacity with residents concerned with the hospitals decision to close the hospice and move the hospice service to the main hospital.

“It was a valuable service,” said Catherine Wood, whose husband and other family members were served by the hospice. “Our dog was able to visit my husband and to lie in the bed with him. They won’t do that in the hospital.”

Former commissioner Janet Weidensaul said, “There are a lot of people whom this impacts.”

“People are looking to you to step up to the plate and help the people in this room who are helpless in this matter. You are in the position to get the information that they can’t get.”

“We can bring the passion,” she added. “But we need you to bring the leadership.”

Chairman John Moyer agreed to try to arrange a meeting with LVHN to discuss the matter.

Moyer said when the commissioners were approached about the merger between Pocono Health Center and Lehigh Valley Health Network, they were assured that the merger would mean better health care for the community.

“Obviously this is one area where it is not,” he said.

Vice chairman Charles Garris has a long tenure on the board of Pocono Medical Center.

Garris spoke to the profits that the hospitals are reaping while making decisions to eliminate services like the hospice, which according to Moyer was losing $ 40,000 per month.

“I never thought I would be on the side of taxing hospitals,” Garris said. “I was never pleased with the way the hospital came to be part of Lehigh Valley.”

Brian Downs, Public Information Officer for Lehigh Valley Health Network provided a statement:

“This was an extremely difficult decision to move the LVH-Pocono Hospice services from the Hospice House to the hospital. We believe it was the right decision for us to continue to provide the most appropriate level of compassionate, comfort care in the right setting for hospice patients and their families,” he said. “It’s important for the community to know that the service is continuing. And that our dedicated Hospice team remains the same. The level of service that the community has come to know and expect remains the same.”

Bricks at the hospice symbolize the donations made to the hospice over the years.

“We are actively reviewing ways with our donors to recognize and prominently display their ongoing support of Hospice and our Cancer program,” Downs said.

A number of those present at the commissioner’s meeting said that they had been contacted by LVHN and told that they could have the bricks back.