Maya began as a volunteer end-of-life doula in January of 2021, and joined the Hospice of Homer office in November 2023. Born and raised in Homer, Maya studied literature and ceramics at Marlboro College in Vermont, helped restore an 1860s farmhouse in Wisconsin, and worked as a pastry chef in California before returning to Alaska and beginning her journey in end-of-life care. Her favorite part of connecting with clients is listening to their stories and learning about the different chapters of their lives, as well as those of their families.

Maya loves cross-country and backcountry skiing, reading, quilting, making enormous pasta salads, and hanging out with her senior Siberian cat, Nora.

Tanya "Ruthie" first visited Alaska in 2017 and developed a love of all things Alaskan. After several more visits Ruthie made the leap and moved from North Carolina in the summer of 2020. With her son and dog in tow she made the 5,000-mile trek and has never looked back. She brings over 25 years of experience and knowledge in the medical field including Clinical, Administrative, Home Health care & more.

Ruthie has a love of photography and enjoys capturing photos of landscapes, wildlife and the incredible people that call Alaska home. She is excited to be a part of the Hospice of Homer team and looks forward to serving the Homer community and surrounding areas.

Tonja moved to Homer with her partner and 8-year-old son in 2020 to be closer to her partner’s family. Born and raised in Oregon, Tonja was the Director of an in-home care agency that she helped create and run. She has experience working with the geriatric population, including those with dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, MS, and a variety of other ailments. Tonja’s education and training is diverse, and she is always looking for more and new ways to learn.

At the age of 16, Tonja began caring for her maternal grandmother who had Alzheimer’s disease. Over the years, she also cared for her paternal grandmother who had lung cancer, her paternal grandfather who had ALS and her aunt who had COPD and liver disease. Tonja has a passion for working with those needing Hospice and end of life care. She wants to help comfort, care for and educate those going through this process.

Tonja also runs a small microgreen farm and enjoys reading, writing, true crime and going on new adventures with her son.

Holly joined Hospice as the Director of Development and Finance in June 2020. After earning a BS in Business Finance, Holly worked with industry in Alaska and on the East Coast developing her skills in accounting, budget development, human resources, project controls, project management, and data management.
She moved to Alaska in 1999 and made the full-time move from Anchorage to Homer in 2017. Hospice of Homer reorganized in 2022, and Holly was named Executive Director. She enjoys taking in the big picture of our community’s growing needs and creating a path for Hospice’s evolution. Holly spends her time out of the office with Nadine (her sweet pound pup) and enjoys relaxing outdoor adventures, yoga, good books, and using her powers for good.

As a heart-driven professional, Maria Walker has dedicated her career to championing diverse social and environmental causes including: Fairbanks Rescue Mission Recycling Center, which trained and employed homeless clients to operate the center; One People, One Earth climate change initiative that built bridges of understanding across interfaith, Alaska Native, youth, and scientific communities; and Converse Hope Center, a nonprofit empowering victims of crime and inspiring hope.

With almost two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, Maria has worn nearly every organizational hat imaginable from advocate, board member, founder, executive director, to nonprofit consultant. Today, she is honored to serve Hospice of Homer as the Development Coordinator, which for Maria, is a "coming full circle” role. In 2003, she organized her first fundraiser for Hospice of the Tanana Valley; an event inspired by the kindness she received as a child (and carried with her into adulthood), from the Hospice nurse who cared for her father as he was passing away from cancer.

When Maria is not in the office, you’ll find her enjoying Nature’s beauty, hanging out with hubby Shane and pooch Kenzie, or reading a historical fiction book by the woodstove.