Colleagues of “shining light” Roberto Villaneuva, who collapsed and died on the Intensive Care Unit where he worked at Walsall Manor Hospital a year ago, are holding a memorial service to honour the much-loved Charge Nurse.
The father-of-three died on 22 September 2022 and was a key member of staff on the unit.
This Friday 22 September, at 11.45am, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust’s Chaplaincy – Spiritual Care Team will lead a short service and two minutes’ silence for Rob, as he was known, on the unit, where his widow Aldanel also works as a Nurse. And a poem written by Sister Claire Horney and Lynne Thorpe will also be read out before LED candles are lit in his memory.
A memorial service has been arranged at 12noon at St Mary’s The Mount Catholic Church in Glebe Street, Walsall.
Angela Dixon, Matron on ICU, said: “Many of us cannot remember a time on ICU without Rob.
“His ongoing commitment and enthusiasm for critical care, particularly his never tiring involvement in the development and success of the new unit, has meant that whenever we think of ICU we think of Rob
“As colleagues we witnessed his professional growth starting at Walsall as a Staff Nurse then through promotion to a senior Charge Nurse. The leadership, dedication and support he has provided to the critical care team over many years has earned him love and respect from all members of that team
“At work Rob had a smile for everyone and when you were on shift with him he always made the day easier with his jokes and light heartedness. At the same time, you knew you could rely on him to lead the team through difficult and stressful shifts – of which our ICU has seen many.”
Siobhan Rudd, Professional Development Nurse, worked with Rob, who was 50, for 20 years and said he was loved and cherished by staff and patients alike.
She said: “Robert was an excellent mentor to all and a friend to everyone he met. He was well known for his infectious smile and devious laugh and was a shining light within ICU.
“At Christmas he was Santa for staff ,delivering presents to those working and held easter egg hunts for staff. He was caring and compassionate, with a kind word for everyone. The patients loved him and he was an amazing Nurse. He was a pioneer for change, making sure care was always delivered to the best of our ability and we will always miss him.”
Colleagues wrote the following poem to remember Rob:
Our Hero Rob
A Year has passed since we lost our friend
The sadness and upset will never end
We miss him so much each and every day
Time’s a great healer so they say
But his laughter we can still hear don’t know how
And still can hear him say “Oh Wow”
He looked after the pumps equipment too
A very clever man with all he knew
He loved his family, his job too
In fact, he loved everyone he knew
He was definitely one of the best
It broke our hearts to put him to rest
We send to him up above
Our kindest thoughts and all our love
His presence we miss
His memory we treasure
Loving him always
Forgetting him never