Your Chaplains

The Spiritual Care Department is pleased to announced that we have 7 new chaplains for 2022 who will be joining us at the beginning of the year to ensure that all of the residents who have requested emotional and spiritual support (over 90 residents at this time) will be visited with prompt, compassionate and skilled care. Our new chaplains will be participating in a 9-month training program taught by experienced supervisors Liz Gimmestad and Joan Jolly in conjunction with their clinical visits. Our new chaplains will receive ongoing mentorship from the Spiritual Care Director (Eileen Burdick) as members of the Spiritual Care Department.

Thank you for welcoming our chaplains to Josephine and onto your floors in early 2022. For questions or additional information, please contact Eileen at extension #215 or via email at eileenb@josephinecc.com.

Rev. Eileen Burdick MDiv, BCC - Spiritual Care Director

Eileen has 7 years of experience in clinical chaplaincy, 12 years as a congregational pastor, and 15 years in international business. She is a Board Certified Chaplain endorsed by the national Association of Professional Chaplains and was ordained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Ernie FosseChaplain

Ernie served as President and as Chairman of the Board for 9 years at Trinity Lutheran College. He also served on the Northwest Washington Synod Council of the ELCA for 8 years. Ernie worked at Boeing and Microsoft as a Database Analyst Administrator. Recently retiring from his role on the Board of Directors at Josephine, he joins Josephine’s Spiritual Care Department as a Chaplain.

Deborah HubenthalChaplain

Deb is a retired educator with 40 years of teaching in early and primary education. In addition, to teaching at public schools, Deb is a certified Montessori teacher. She earned her Master’s in Educational Curriculum. She has lived on 5 acres on Pioneer Highway for 45 years transforming it to an arboretum. Deb attends St. Aiden’s Episcopal Church and studies spiritual teachers of many backgrounds spending time in contemplative spiritual retreats.

Bill LeDucChaplain

A Minnesota native, raised in Port Orchard, WA Bill went to college at St Cloud and University of Minnesota, served Navy for 6 years, Coast Guard for 16 years and Customs and Border Protection for 8 years. Proud Papa of 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren so far. Bill volunteers at Kiwanis and the Lutheran church in Anacortes, rides his bike and plays a lot of pickleball.

Suzanne LeeChaplain

Suzanne is a resident of Stanwood since 1996 and has been a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon since 2001. She and her husband have raised two children with their youngest graduating college in December 2021. Her education includes a BA in International Studies as a China Specialist. She also has a Masters Degree in Teaching. Currently Suzanne enjoys people, animals, singing, gardening, and most importantly knitting.

Jeff ParrisChaplain

Jeff has worked for the federal government since 1989 as an Office Technician. He graduated from Trinity Lutheran College in 2016 and has a knowledge of German and the Netherlands. Jeff currently attends Our Savior’s in Everett and is active in the Pacific Opera in Victoria B.C. His volunteer work includes Catholic Community Services, Everett-Ryan White Foundation, Central Lutheran (Everett)’s homeless ministry, and Our Savior’s (Arlington) homeless laundry program.

Bob RamborgerChaplain

Bob retired from Verizon in 2010. Since then he has been doing volunteer work at several different places. After 38 years in Edmonds he and his wife moved to Mount Vernon six years ago. While in Edmonds Bob was a Stephen Minister at Saint Matthew Lutheran Church and was a Chaplain Assistant at Swedish Hospital. Since moving to Mount Vernon Bob have been volunteering at Skagit Valley Hospital, Habitat for Humanity and the Neighbors in Need food bank. Bob and his wife are members at First Lutheran in Mount Vernon.