Michael Valentine Aureli, president and CEO of Arkansas Hospice, died June 28 after unsuccessful treatment for cancer. He was cared for in his final days by the hospice program he founded. He was 61.
Aureli dedicated his career for nearly 20 years to providing quality hospice care to Arkansas.
“Michael Aureli was a visionary leader who changed the lives of those he touched,” said Judy Wooten, chief operating officer and acting executive director of Arkansas Hospice. “His love for the dying and passion for excellence set the standard for end-of-life care in Arkansas.”
Aureli was born on Feb. 14, 1950, in Pine Bluff to the late Albert Robert and Betty Louise Owen Aureli and attended Annunciation Academy. He was ordained a priest in 1976 and served as assistant pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in North Little Rock and pastor of St. Augustine Church in North Little Rock, Holy Trinity Church in England and Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock. He also served as spiritual director of Cursillo and the founding spiritual director of the Diocesan Council for Black Catholics. He also served as pastoral liaison to St. Augustine Center for Children in North Little Rock.
In 1991 he left the priesthood and began his career in health care administration.
With two master’s degrees — one in divinity and the other in business — plus 16 years experience as a pastor and 17 years experience in leading Arkansas Hospice, Aureli was able to use his talents to provide compassion to the patients and families. Aureli was also a successful business leader.
Aureli often shared the story of his mother in articles, videos and speeches as his personal connection with hospice and how it affected his involvement with the organization.
“In 1983, my mom was dying of ovarian cancer,” he said. “After three years of surgeries and chemotherapy, she was at a stage of serious decline in health. One morning, she said, ’Michael, I hurt so badly, please take me to the hospital.’ Quickly my sister and I wrapped her in a blanket — she must have weighed less than 100 pounds at that time — and rushed her to the local emergency room. Her physician, who had been with her throughout the illness, came in, sat down and with sadness looked her in the eye and said, ’I’m sorry, Betty. There is nothing more we can do for you.’ She cried. He cried. We all cried. My sister and I again wrapped her in a blanket and took her home. Mercifully, she went into a coma a few days later and died within a couple of weeks.”
Former development director Dee Brazil Dale said Aureli helped restart Arkansas Hospice in 1994 when the director and board members left.
“Michael persevered for years, against great odds and with limited resources, to pioneer inpatient hospice services in Arkansas,” Dale said. “When we opened the first inpatient hospice in 2000, the need was proved as patients came from all over Arkansas and beyond, and most importantly, the way was paved for other hospice programs to follow suit. Every patient and family — now numbered in the thousands — receives that care in no small part, due to the efforts of Michael Aureli.”
Aureli was a past president of the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of Arkansas and an active member of the Public Policy Committees of HPCAA and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
As president and CEO of Arkansas Hospice, Aureli was Arkansas Business Non-Profit Executive of the Year in 2002, was bestowed with the Paul Harris Award from the Little Rock Rotary in 2004, led Arkansas Hospice to receive the Arkansas Business Non-Profit Organization of the year in 2004, and guided Arkansas Hospice to receive national recognition when it was presented with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s M. Catherine Ray Award in 2004.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock July 1, with burial following at Calvary Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Aureli; one stepdaughter, Courteney; two brothers, Gregory Aureli and Thomas Aureli; and two sisters, Dora Aureli and Sandra Aureli.
Memorial donations may be made to the Michael V. Aureli Endowment Fund, Arkansas Hospice Foundation, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, AR 72116.
Arkansas Hospice president and CEO dies
