An Unanticipated Gift
When her husband and two children predeceased her, Armine Welch had to decide what to do with her estate. This Palo Alto resident was an only child of only children, so she had no living blood relatives. Her decision had an impact on Pathways, which last year received a significant and unanticipated trust gift from Armine.
Pathways helps Armine celebrate a life of highs and lows
"Armine remembered six organizations, organizations that meant something to her during her life," said Barbara Brown, a Palo Alto C.P.A. who is trustee of Armine's estate. Pathways cared for Armine's husband Hugh in 2003 and also cared for Armine in her final months. On Armine's last birthday in 2009, the Pathways hospice team brought her a cake and balloons to help her celebrate a life that was full of highs and lows.
Born in Chicago, Armine came west and graduated from UC Berkeley in 1936. While at Berkeley she met Hugh Welch. After World War II, Hugh joined Bechtel as a job engineer, designing and overseeing construction of refinery and petrochemical plants. With their two young children, Janet and Kent, the Welchs moved to Saudi Arabia and spent 15 years there.
Armine was a woman with a remarkable zest for life. A tall and striking woman, she was a prolific painter and avid bridge player. The Welchs held frequent parties in their Palo Alto home, and Armine was known for her acerbic wit and great sense of style.
In 2000, tragedy struck the Welch family when their daughter Janet succumbed to breast cancer at age 57. Within the next three years, Hugh and Kent would be gone as well, Hugh dying of congestive heart failure, and Kent of liver disease. It was at this point that Armine made the decision to include Pathways in her estate plans. A few years later, she began to experience symptoms of dementia.
Why a trustee can be so important
"Having a trustee in place became crucial for Armine," Brown explained. It was Armine's attorney who contacted Brown to serve as successor trustee, knowing of Brown's long experience assisting clients with trust plans as well as her 20-year history as the Welchs' CPA. As Armine became increasingly ill, Brown became more involved in the details of her life, including arranging for her care when Armine became incapable of caring for herself.
Although Brown now serves on the Finance Committee of Pathways Hospice Foundation, she had no part in Armine's decision to name Pathways in her plans. In fact, professional ethics prevented her from revealing that Pathways was included in Armine's trust plans until after Armine passed away in April 2010. "I know that Armine took pleasure in her plans for her estate," Brown said. "She left money to her alma mater, the sorority she belonged to in college, and a select group of local organizations. She was pleased to know that these groups, including Pathways, would use the funds to help others in her community."
Pathways is privileged to receive this gift, which will help us maintain the quality of service our patients and families need and deserve.